Recreation and Tourism Management

Mason student helps Town of Warrenton manage return to recreation

Colleen Rich — Fri, 17 Sep 2021 15:12:44 +0000

Mason student helps Town of Warrenton manage return to recreation Colleen Rich Fri, 09/17/2021 - 11:12

Christopher Frost. Photo courtesy of Frost

Christopher Frost had two goals. He needed to complete an independent study to finish his master’s degree in exercise, fitness and health promotion at ��ӽ紫ý. And he wanted to give back to the Town of Warrenton, Virginia, where he’s lived since 2018.

Frost decided that his independent study would be helping the Warrenton Aquatic and Recreation Facility (WARF) determine the needs of its community during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the summer, Frost conducted a survey to determine whether WARF patrons who had stayed at home during the pandemic were planning to return to the facility and, if so, for what types of activities.

“We knew some people had stopped using the facility because of the pandemic, but we didn’t know how many were planning on returning and when and what their interests would be,” said Frost. “By finding out, the town and WARF could prepare for the areas in which there would be higher demand.”

WARF opened in 2007 as a response to the growing recreational needs of its population, according to its website. It is a 59,738-square-foot building featuring an indoor competition pool, a leisure pool and a therapeutic spa. It also has a fitness room and a multipurpose room in which fitness classes are held, along with paved hiking paths, playing fields and an inline skating rink and skate park.

Frost said that about 450 individuals responded to the survey. Of those individuals who responded, about half had stopped using the facility during the pandemic. Frost learned that patrons were planning on returning fairly soon and that they were most interested in lap swimming and walking the paths surrounding the indoor facility.

Frost said he hoped that the survey was helpful for the facility as it allocated its resources and planned for the future. He also learned that about half of the respondents don’t live in Warrenton but, presumably, either work in the town or live nearby or both.

“This was the perfect project for Chris,” said Joel Martin, assistant professor and academic program coordinator for kinesiology in the College of Education and Human Development. “During his time in the military, he saw firsthand the importance of proper exercise on the health and well-being of soldiers serving our country. He knows the role exercise should play in people’s lives.”

Over the summer, Mason graduate student Christopher Frost conducted a survey to determine whether Warrenton Aquatic and Recreation Facility patrons who had stayed at home during the pandemic were planning to return to the facility and, if so, for what types of activities. Photo by Christopher Frost

Frost retired from military service in 2019. An avid photographer, he is now pursuing an undergraduate degree in fine arts at Mason.

“Chris’s findings should help to improve the fitness and recreational offerings of the facility, which is serving the very fast-growing town of Warrenton,” Martin added.

Frost said that the best part of the project was that he got better acquainted with Warrenton.

“I just got to better understand the people in my community and provide them with a service,” said Frost. “I found it very fulfilling.”

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Northern Virginia parks, including aquatics facilities, to be busy this summer, Mason expert says

Colleen Rich — Tue, 04 May 2021 16:07:26 +0000

Northern Virginia parks, including aquatics facilities, to be busy this summer, Mason expert says Colleen Rich Tue, 05/04/2021 - 12:07

Paul Gilbert. Photo provided

Northern Virginia residents can expect robust attendance and a plethora of outside opportunities at local and regional parks this summer, said Paul Gilbert, ��ӽ紫ý’s executive-in-residence for the College of Education and Human Development’s Recreation Management Program.

“Just about all the park agencies in the area are planning to have their pools and waterparks open in the summer, and expect high attendance,” said Gilbert, who is also executive director of NOVA Parks. “Last summer, the park pools were mostly closed. This summer, people are going to be interested in returning to normalcy.”

NOVA Parks is busy hiring summer employees, including lifeguards, to get ready. As restrictions ease over the coming months, Gilbert expects even more people will want to take advantage of the variety of activities local and regional parks have to offer.

“Over the pandemic, people were already exploring the outdoors in new ways, because so many other things weren’t available,” said Gilbert. “We saw unprecedented use of hiking and biking trails. Now that people have discovered or rediscovered how fun the outdoors can be, I anticipate they will continue to gravitate to parks.”

Besides hiking, said Gilbert, local parks offer boating, golf, campgrounds, fishing and batting cages, among other activities. Gilbert recommends Fountainhead Regional Park in Fairfax Station as an excellent place to rent an aluminum boat and fish in a well-stocked reservoir.

“Right now, there’s still some hesitancy to hop on airplanes, so people are looking for vacations that are closer to home,” said Gilbert. “NOVA Parks has great campgrounds at Bull Run and Pohick Bay.”

Gilbert also points out that several parks, including Algonkian Park in Sterling, have housing people can rent on the Potomac River if they want to be outside, but not necessarily camping.

“If you want to enjoy nature, but don’t have all the gear, we have cabins and cottages you can rent,” said Gilbert. “The housing ranges from rustic cabins to full-blown houses.”

In addition, Gilbert says that Upton Hill Regional Park in Arlington will be opening a ropes facility in June called Climb UPton.

“There really isn’t anything like it nearby,” said Gilbert. “It will have 90 different features. You can choose your path based on level of difficulty.” Gilbert said the facility will include zip lines and an approximately 50-foot drop for anyone “who wants an adrenaline rush.”

“It’s going to be a great summer,” added Gilbert.

To reach Gilbert, contact him at pgilbert@nvrpa.org.

For more information, contact Anna Stolley Persky at apersky@gmu.edu.

About ��ӽ紫ý

��ӽ紫ý is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls 39,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity and commitment to accessibility. Learn more at www2.gmu.edu.

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Mason alumnus 'stays in the fight' at World Series with Nationals

Damian Cristodero — Fri, 25 Oct 2019 17:46:27 +0000

Mason alumnus 'stays in the fight' at World Series with Nationals Damian Cristodero Fri, 10/25/2019 - 13:46

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