Tag: park benches

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Napping on a Park Bench

NO, THIS IS NOT A GUIDE ON “HOW TO NAP ON A PARK BENCH“!
THIS IS A GUIDE ON “HOW TO PREVENT IT“!

In larger cities, finding individuals sleeping on your park benches may not be out of the ordinary. Fortunately, in the small city of Lexington, VA where our headquarters office is located, this does not present much of a problem. However, in a city not so far away from us, loitering on park benches seems to be causing an issue. The article title reads:

“BENCHES REMOVED FROM PARKS TO KEEP HOMELESS FROM LOITERING”

Now, while that may seem like the best solution…we beg to differ! Removing benches because people are hanging out on them and using them too much doesn’t seem like a problem but perhaps it’s the fact that people are sleeping on them. Every park deserves to have park benches, here is how you can keep them:

1. If you are looking to purchase new benches to replace old ones or are constructing a new park, perhaps your best option to avoid individuals sleeping on your benches and disrupting other people while enjoying the landscape is to purchase shorter benches. While a longer bench will provide more seating and you would need less of them, if you will be placing these benches in an area where homeless people tend to hang out, a shorter bench will make it difficult for a tired wanderer to stretch out.

2. If purchasing new benches is out of your budget then amending your existing ones is certainly an option. By placing a sleep inhibitor on your existing benches, you are putting a piece in the middle of your bench (on the seat) that will interfere with homeless people getting comfortable on your benches. The great thing is that we also have these little accessories for tables and table seats if it’s your picnic tables that are being transformed into a bed at night.

Completely removing all of your benches may not be the best solution. Give us a call at 877.777.3700 and let us help you with other options that will help you keep your benches (and picnic tables)!

ParknPool | Lexington, VA | sales@parknpool.com | 877.777.3700

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Thinking About Starting a Dog Park?

Dog parks are by far one of the leading features on the wish list of municipal and community parks. Dog parks can be wonderful additions to a community, whether as an inclusion to an existing community park or as a stand-alone, dog specific park. People who are thinking about building a dog park should be aware that there are many pitfalls to be encountered along the way.

Although important and necessary components, building a dog park is not just about the business plan or the architectural illustrations. It is not just about that perfect parcel of land you want to use, the type of fencing you will install or the unique sign you want to place at the entrance. Before you do anything, learn about your market, learn dogs and the people who own them.

To have a safe park, you must have rules and make sure they are adhered to – you must have a supervised park. While many who use dog parks may be experienced dog owners who realize they still have a lot to learn about dogs, a lot of people are first time dog owners who think they know everything. Dogs have to be interested in being social in the first place for them to have a positive experience at a dog park. Imagine mixing all dogs into an off-leash environment? You really never know what will happen, so it’s imperative to have supervision.

There are several models of dog parks. Municipal dog parks are usually free and open to the public 24/7. Although most have posted rules, there is no one to make sure people abide by those rules. These parks are the ones where most problems are encountered. Member based parks usually charge a fee and require people and their dogs to be registered. Many fee based parks require dogs to pass a temperament test before they are admitted to the park, and people are asked to attend an orientation session. It is not a good idea to mix small and large dogs together in an off-leash environment. Many dog parks have both a small dog area and a large dog area.

Here are a few things to consider that may help you choose the right spot for your future park:

  1. Size It Up:
    The size of your park may depend solely on the availability of land. But it is recommended at least 1 acre but they can be as big as your community can manage and maintain. If space isn’t an issue, consider an area large enough that it’s possible to rotate high traffic areas annually or even seasonally.
  2. Pack It In:
    Consider how your community will use the park. Remember that people need to enjoy the park too! It’s important to plan for seating and shade so everyone stays comfortable when they visit your park. Don’t stop there! Do you want to include room for agility equipment, a sand box, pond or fountain, climbing wall, walking trails or anything else you can think of that your community and its dogs would love? A community meeting can help determine what’s feasible and preferred by the future park patrons.
  3. Water, Water Everywhere:
    Consider a water source for humans and dogs as well as a dog rinsing station. On especially muddy days, being able to rinse your dog off to keep cars from getting the full dog park experience can make a nicer day for everyone.
  4. Plan For Clean Up:
    To help keep your dog park pleasant and as clean as possible, place waste stations and trash receptacles a decent distance apart (approximately 4 per acre depending on the layout). Ensure the park is easily accessible for landscaping crews so it’s simple to keep your park lush and neat.
  5. Show Your Spirit:
    Remember that designing your dog park extends to the spirit of the park. One key way to do this is to set the stage for responsible pet-ownership and behavior in the dog park by developing and posting park rules. Some sample rules may include:

    • Dogs must be properly vaccinated and it is recommended that they be spayed or neutered.
    • Puppies under 4 months of age and female dogs in heat are prohibited.
    • Do not bring dog foods into the dog park.
    • Owners must clean up after their dogs.
    • Dogs with a known history of aggressive behavior are prohibited.
    • Dogs must wear a collar with identification at all times.
    • Dogs must be leashed when entering and leaving the park.
    • Leaving dogs unattended is prohibited.
    • Children under the age of 16 must be supervised by a parent or guardian.
    • Maximum of 3 dogs per person, per visit.
    • Watch for dogs on the other side of the entry gate when entering or leaving to prevent escapes.

Already have your dog park plans ready? How can we help?

ParknPool | Lexington, VA | sales@parknpool.com | 877.777.3700

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Tips for Buying “Green” With Your Government Credit Card

With your government credit card in hand, you have the opportunity to help the environment while buying products that meet your facility’s needs.

Federal agencies are being encouraged to buy products that are made with recycled content, have less packaging, are energy efficient, don’t create hazardous waste, and incorporate other environmentally preferred characteristics.

Buying Products with Recycled Content:

Recycled content products contain “recovered materials” or “post-consumer materials” or both. “Recovered materials” means materials that have been removed or diverted from solid waste – in other words, trash – including solid waste created by manufacturers. “Post-consumer materials” are materials that we discard at home and at work that are separated or diverted for recycling instead of going to a landfill. Whatever your job, you will most likely be asked to purchase products from recycled materials. Employees in facilities and maintenance may be asked to purchase park benches and picnic tables. Both of these products can be made with recycled content.

Buying Products with Reduced Packaging:

Packaging is a significant solid waste problem. Approximately 23.7% of the volume and 19.4% of the weight in materials found in city landfills is attributed to just packaging alone. The amount of trash we generate can be reduced simply by buying products with reduced packaging. Consider buying a larger quantity in a single box rather than smaller quantities in multiple boxes.

There will be many situations where you will need to buy products containing hazardous materials but by avoiding them when possible, we can work together to reduce the amount of unnecessary waste in landfills and support the manufacturing of products using recycled materials.

Give us a call at 877.777.3700 for a list of ParknPool’s products that contain recycled content.

ParknPool | Lexington, VA | sales@parknpool.com | 877.777.3700

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Site Furnishings to Compliment your Style

There are multiple resources for finding the right site furnishings for your public space, let ParknPool be one of them for you!

In areas where municipal officials or hired contractors are charged with maintaining and developing spaces such as parks and public gardens, they not only need to offer attractive site furnishings but also keep an eye on the budget assigned. How the space is furnished can often be the key element leading to financial stability and community satisfaction.

Site amenities should be based on comfort and user friendliness, choosing one piece over another depends on the overall style and design of the space. For example, in some areas movable tables and chairs are more suitable than permanent mounted site amenities. Also, an attractive color can enliven a space and attract people to use it but comfort is an important factor in purchasing a park bench or picnic table.

Materials:

Choosing materials should be based on the application with durability maintenance and product life at top of mind. Common durable materials include steel, aluminum, concrete, recycled plastic, or wood. There are also plastic coated options that provide the added benefit of color to park benches, picnic tables, trash receptacles and playgrounds.

Choosing:

Observing how people use amenities will help in selecting the right kind for your particular area. For example, keep in mind that two-seat benches where there may be only one person sitting at each bench creates a waste of seating. There are also special considerations depending on the environment, such as:

  • Urban Areas – Urban furnishings need to stand up to vandalism.
  • Freezing Areas – Snow load capacity needs to be considered. Drinking fountains need to be shut down.
  • Coastal Areas – Saltwater can affect certain materials.

Themes and Designs:

Certain companies (hint, hint: ParknPool) work very well with their clients to provide them with site amenities and furnishings with a personal touch. Manufacturers can offer custom plaques, add special designs into steel, and provide custom labels for added messaging. Common requests include radius benches to fit specific areas, wall-mounted benches or even benches with a more unique design.

Maintenance:

Maintenance is essential in all public areas. Choosing furniture and amenities that are easy to clean and store will help your maintenance crew. Products that are low maintenance can be a better deal than some of their more expensive counterparts, it all depends on how much time and resources you can devote to the upkeep.

Accessibility:

As in all other public areas, accessibility also needs to be considered in outdoor areas as well. Keep in mind that the ADA recommends measurements for space under tables for wheelchair accessibility but there are no official guidelines for benches. Certain considerations can also be made to accommodate for older or disabled individuals such as height of the armrests and the placing of any seating areas (preferably near walkways and paths).

In the end, when furnishing a park or recreational area, it’s important to provide plenty of places for people to picnic, enjoy the views, rest their feet and throw away their trash!

ParknPool | Lexington, VA | sales@parknpool.com | 877.777.3700