Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 08/15/2002

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Skatepark Seminar Series DELANO, Minn. - Skatewave Modular Skatepark Systems is presenting The Skateparks 360° seminars which are designed to educate skatepark develop- _77~-~ ers and park administrators on every aspect of developing and operating a suc- cessful skatepark. More than 100 seminars are planned over the course of the year and each is two hours, utilizing multi-media, expert speakers, testimonials, movie~ and audience interaction. Those interested in attending a seminar in their area can visit www. skateparks360.com for more information and on-line registration. Kompan Wins a Silver OLYMPIA, Wash. - For the second time in three years, Kompan has been award- ed the Industrial Design Excellence Silver Award, presented by the Industrial Designers Society of America and spon- sored by BusinessWeek. Kompan received the IDEA Silver Award for outstanding design for consumer products in 1999 as well. KOMPAN Galaxy, Kompan§ play- ground product line, was honored for its playground configuration that is almost transparent and apparently random, but activities can be connected to one anoth- er based on a few given rules. "We're just delighted to once again receive the recognition of one of the premiere design groups in the world," said Lani Wollwage, head of Kompan's US International Product Development Team. "Our focus on design is based on our philosophy that unique playgrounds stimulate and enrich a child's imagination, which enhances a child's play experience on a playground. Only from pure imagina- tion can come pure play." PlayCore/GameTime Among Finalists The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce has announced six finalists for its sec- ond Spirit of Innovation Award. The annual award recognizes innovative products, services and ways of doing business that have been created and implemented in the Chattanooga region. This year's finalists include PlayCore/GameUme for its universally accessible playgrounds. "This award was created last year to cele- brate the inventive spirit that is the engine of growth in our economy," said Jim Frierson, who is chairing this year's event. There were 29 qualified nominees and two rounds of judging. Finalists were picked by a national group of judges that included representatives of Oak Ridge National Lab, the Smithsonian Institution, the U.S. Council on Competitiveness, the International Economic Development Council and the Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership. In 2001 PlayCore and Chattanooga's Siskin Children's Institute formed a partneFship that resulted in the creation of a universally accessible playground. The playground at Siskin's Chestnut Street headquarters is also used as a testing facility for ADA accessible components. The PlayCore playground has given Siskin students the opportunity to play and interact independently with each other. Having the Siskin playground so close to the company's design and manufac- turing facilities in Fort Payne, Ala., allows GameTime to install, test and observe the use of the newest playground technology for children with special needs. Recently, PlayCore moved its corporate headquarters from Wisconsin to Chattanooga, a critical step in the collaborative effort of the two organizations. Volunteers Build Playgrounds All over the countW this spring volunteers came together to build play- grounds. The projects are designed and orchestrated by Learning Structures Inc., Somersworth, N.H. Playgrounds were built in only a few days with hundreds of volunteers dedicating their talent, energy and time. Learning Structures has been designing playgrounds [or 30 years, work- ing with 100,000 volunteers in more than 600 communities from New England to California. In each location, local children help design the playgrounds, materials are purchased and donated locally, and volunteers unite to build the structures· [www. parksandmcbusiness.com } August2002 ] PARKS&BEC BUSINESS