August 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 53

Make the Most of Your Underutilized Space
By Eduardo Tamez Zamarripa

A

t sports and recreation facilities across the country, space is at a
premium. Meanwhile, it's becoming more and more clear that
parks and recreational spaces play an increasingly important
role in the physical, emotional and environmental health of
communities everywhere.
* How close are neighboring
homes to the unused space you
are looking to transform?
* Do you envision lighting being
included as a way to expand opportunities for play?
Once you've determined the
space you have to work with at
your facility, the types of activities
that you envision accommodating
by transforming that area, and other needs and specifics with regard
to your project, you'll be in a better
position to explore options.
Another key consideration is
finding a solution that's capable
of serving a multitude of recreation and programming activities. And, when you have zeroed
in on potential solutions for
transforming unused space, you
will need to consider additional
factors, including:
* How complicated is the installation process and how long will it
take?
* Is the equipment durable and capable of withstanding continual
usage and harsh weather?
* How inclusive is it and do you
need it to meet certain requirements, such as accessibility standards set forth by the Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA)?
* Is it customizable and capable of
meeting the specific available dimensions at your facility?
One such solution to consider

PHOTO COURTESY OF MUSCO SPORTS LIGHTING, LLC

According to a recent annual
report published by The Trust for
Public Land, " The COVID-19
pandemic has underscored that
close-to-home parks are crucial
to a community's quality of life.
During this crisis, people have
turned to their parks like never before - for fresh air, exercise, meditation, solace and a much-needed
break from the stresses of a quickly changing world. "
Clearly, it's essential that park
and recreation agencies find creative ways to make the most use
of the outdoor space they have to
work with. Utilizing your space
more efficiently can help increase
recreation programming initiatives
and expand opportunities for your
local community.
However, coming up with innovative ways to transform unused and underutilized areas at
your facility into high-quality play
spaces isn't easy. As you begin to
think about and ultimately create
a plan to move ahead with such an
endeavor, here are some helpful
questions to ask at the beginning
of the process:
* How much unused or underused
space do you have to work with?
* What kinds of activities do you
believe would best meet your
community's needs?
* Is the space you have to work
with a good fit for those activities?

Multipurpose products can help activate
underutilized space.

is an all-in-one, modular solution
that includes LED lights, fencing,
goals, benches, lockable storage
and ADA-compliant access, such
as Musco's Mini-Pitch System™.
With multipurpose products and
some ingenuity, park agencies nationwide are transforming their
unused and underutilized areas,
such as old tennis and basketball
courts, and transforming them
into high-quality spaces that also
meet the needs for any number of
other activities.
Remember, finding creative ways
to make the most of your facility's
space is as important now as it's
ever been. With a little imagination
and planning, you can do amazing
things for the members of your
community.
Eduardo Tamez Zamarripa is Market Development
Specialist at Musco Sports Lighting (eduardo.
tamezzamarripa@musco.com).

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