The Rec Report | Winter 2025

Connecting to the Power of Recreation + Sport

Welcome to the fourth issue of the Rec Report, ISG's hub for sharing success stories, helpful resources, and ways to connect in the recreation industry. As we close out 2025, the 363 ISG professionals from 19 practice groups involved with ISG's sports and recreation projects this year want to thank you for subscribing to this newsletter, the 21 sports and recreation clients who worked with us for the first time, and the clients who continued to partner with us on sports and recreation projects this year.

Shift The Strategy On Court Repairs With
Post-Tension Concrete

Redwood Falls, MN

Redwood Falls School District broke out of the traditional court repair cycle with its post-tension concrete tennis courts. Post-tension concrete courts are becoming a compelling alternative, especially in freeze-thaw climates with smoother play, less downtime, and fewer maintenance needs.

A Grand Return:
First Hockey Season In The Revamped All
Seasons Arena

Mankato, MN

All Seasons Arena is welcoming hockey players and fans back after a major renovation. In the latest Blue's Flash, ISG Development Strategist Darren Blue and City of Mankato Director of Administrative Services Parker Skophammer visited the renewed arena to walk through the upgrades and highlight the elevated experiences that players, fans, and staff are about to have.

Recreation Department Operational Analysis + Forecasting

ISG offers operational analysis and forecasting services to help recreation departments understand how their programs and facilities can continue to evolve and meet the needs of their residents. By evaluating benchmarks like staffing levels, participation trends, maintenance costs, scheduling efficiency, and organizational structure, we find opportunities to maximize your resources.

With forecasting tools that project future staffing needs, program demand, and facility capacity, ISG empowers agencies to make proactive and strategic decisions. These services lay a strong foundation to plan for sustainable growth, equitable access, and long-term impact.

Interested to learn how your community can plan and prepare for the future? Contact Jay Lotthammer.

What project do you have on the horizon? ISG's funding and planning experts can help with the application process. Check out some of the upcoming
application deadlines:

Go Outside Fund

Due: March 1, 2026

Major League Soccer Go Play Fund

Due: December 15, 2025

Walmart Spark Good Local Grant

Due: December 21, 2025 and
April 15, 2026

T-Mobile Hometown Grant

Due: December 31, 2025

AARP Community Challenge Grant

Due: March 2026

American Sports Builders Association (ABSA) Technical Meeting Recap

San Antonio, TX

Mitchell Workmon, Nathan Hermer, and Amanda Prosser attended the ASBA technical meeting last week where they explored sport facility design trends and evolving standards, including the following takeaways.

Early selection of track and field equipment, such as pole vault standards, landing mats, and other event-specific products, is essential as exact sizes, types, and colors directly affect layout, safety clearances, and long-term operations.
National Federation of High Schools requirements can exceed World Athletics guidelines, particularly in multi-level facilities. Understanding competing standards meets all design levels of play.
With no formal standards for event placement, engaging meet operators during design is needed to incorporate preferences for athlete queuing, timing logistics, and spectator flow.
Trending sports like pickleball experience rapid annual updates. The 2025 ASBA Pickleball Construction & Maintenance Manual highlights evolving needs for safety zones, divider fencing, and circulation.

ISG's continued involvement with ASBA strengthens the facilities we design. By taking part in the meetings that establish national standards and best practices, ISG projects are informed by trusted third-party expertise, giving clients confidence that their investment is built on the most current industry guidance.