Washington Recreation & Park Association

Announces 2019 Annual Award Recipients

The Washington Recreation & Park Association (WRPA) celebrates people, parks, and programs with an award program honoring individuals and organizations for their contributions to the field of parks and recreation in Washington State. The 2019 award recipients were honored at our Annual Conference & Trade Show on Thursday, April 11th at the Hilton Vancouver in Vancouver, WA, USA.

American Academy for Park & Recreation Administration Offers Externship

The Externship Program enables outstanding young professionals 35 years of age and younger in the parks and recreation field to interact with and learn from members of the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, and other individuals who attend the NRPA Congress and its associated meetings. Up to four Externs are selected each year, of which two are Ernest T. Atwell diversity externships.

Last Chance to Register for
The WRPA Conference & Tradeshow
Registration Closes on Tuesday, April 2

Register Now

Only 5 Days Left to Register & Only 11 Days Until the Start of the WPA Conference & Tradeshow!

There is so much to explore and learn at the 72nd Annual WRPA Conference & Tradeshow! In addition to educational sessions and networking events, there will be lots of new and exciting opportunities for attendees to engage at the conference. If you haven't yet, be sure to register today!

L&I has filed an emergency rule effective today (Monday, March 11, 2019), regarding the prevailing wage for landscape construction and maintenance workers.

A law passed in 2018 raised the prevailing wage for this group from a low of around $13 an hour up to $50 an hour or more in some instances. This job category included higher-rate landscape construction work (like spreading top soil, seeding, planting and installing sprinkler systems), along with simpler landscape maintenance like lawn mowing and trimming.   

Local government agencies and landscape contractors expressed concern about the unexpected increase in cost for landscape maintenance under the new prevailing wage law. And in February, the Association of Washington Cities requested L&I undertake rule making to separate out landscape maintenance work from the traditionally higher-paid landscape construction work. L&I heard those concerns and has moved ahead with an emergency rule.

Field Turf Available

Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center is replacing the infield with new Astroturf. We have removed the old surface (Field Turf) and it is available for another park system if anyone wants it. There are several rolls that are 6’x60.’ Please let me know asap if anyone is interested.

Joe Mentor, Jr.
Phone (206) 838-7650
[email protected]

Congress Passes Public Lands Packages (S.47)

We wanted to flag that Congress passed the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreations Act (S. 47), a legislative package that has now been sent to the President for his signature. It includes more than 100 individual bills that address natural resources, parks, and water. Most of the individual bills were introduced in previous sessions of Congress, with the relevant authorizing Committees engaging in a significant stakeholder engagement process to inform the final, comprehensive package. The text of S. 47 was introduced this past December and voted on in each chamber over the past two weeks. You can read more about the process, including a list of individual key bills included, here. The President has ten days from Congressional passage to sign the bill into law.

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Learn & Have Fun WRPA Conference

2019 Socials and Activities

WRPA Legislative Update - Youth Athletics Facilities Program (YAF)

What is “YAF”? – The Youth Athletic Facilities grant program, administered by the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO), provides funds to build, renovate, replace, or acquire land for outdoor athletic facilities such as ball fields, courts, swimming pools, tennis courts, BMX tracks, field lighting, and skate parks. The program focuses on serve youth through age

WRPA’s Request – We are requesting at least a $12 million investment in the 2019-21 Capital Budget to help fund a ranked and evaluated grant list comprised of more than 60 project applicants who sought over $16 million.

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RIGHT NOW: Legislators are making important decisions about our great outdoors. Tell them that you support $130M for #WWRP, so that Washingtonians can continue to enjoy trails, parks, forests, and so much more.

Visit our Take Action Page right now for a sample message you can send to legislators! 

Early Bird Registration Ends Soon
Prices go up after Friday, February 8

Have you registered for the WRPA Conference & Tradeshow? Did you know that attendees get to choose from more than 45 educational sessions based on more than 10 different topics including aquatics, management, leadership, equity, programming, customer service, risk management, and finance? Register today and start picking sessions from the 2019 event schedule like the highlighted sessions below.

Learn More About This New Opportunity

No Child Left Inside Grant Program

Hello potential grant applicants and other interested parties! Washington State Parks and the Recreation and Conservation Office are excited to announce that the No Child Left Inside Grant Program (NCLI) will officially open for new applications on January 2, 2019.

The Washington State Legislature created the No Child Left Inside grant program to provide underserved youth with quality opportunities to experience the outdoors. Grant funds are available for outdoor environmental, ecological, agricultural, or other natural resource-based education and recreation programs serving youth.

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What's New to Conference This Year
Five Event Highlights for 2019

New Membership Structure

WRPA is excited to announce our recent updates to the WRPA Agency Membership and the addition of a new Emerging Professional Membership. We are proud to say that these new options will provide even more recreation and park professionals with access to WRPA's education, networking, and training opportunities. Membership Is Now Easier Than Ever

WRPA Stands By the Following Legislative Priorities 

The Board Of Directors recently approved the key legislative priorities for 2019. Check out the condensed version below and visit our Legislative Priority page to learn more about our position on these legislative issues in the Recreation & Parks Community.

• Provide Local Parks and Recreation Agencies with new Funding Options to Address Vital M&O and Preservation Needs and to Enhance Economic Development
• Enact 2019-21 Capital Budget – Including Key Funding Targets for WWRP, YAF, ALEA
• Protect Funding for Dedicated Accounts within the Capital Budget
• Support Efforts to Address Mental Health, Homelessness, Affordable Housing
• Oppose Legislation to Prematurely Place Regulatory Burdens on “Crumb Rubber” Fields
• “Big Tent” Outdoor Recreation Coalition
• Support efforts to make the system of outdoor recreation passes simpler, more equitable, and more convenient
• Advocate for Key “Healthy & Active Communities” Funding within the State Budget Process

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Learn More About How to Help

Dear WRPA Supporters,

I am writing on behalf of the LWCF Coalition to ask for your help to save the Land and Water Conservation Fund, our nation’s oldest and most important parks and conservation program, which will die at the end of September unless Congress acts. 

Help Promote Paddle Safe Week

Congratulations to the 2018 WRPA Award Winners

This summer, we want to honor the amazing people, parks, and programs that received an award at the 71st Annual WRPA Conference & Tradeshow. The WRPA Awards Program honors individuals and organizations for their contributions to the field of recreation and parks in Washington State. Last month more than 17 different awards were handed out to WRPA members, public citizens, and legislators. We have three major categories that we recognize: Professional Awards, Citation of Merit Awards, and Spotlight Awards. In addition to these categories, WRPA also acknowledges Mickey Corso Grant recipients and local legislators who make a difference for our industry.

If you have questions about the awards program, please contact the Awards Committee Chair, Cheryl Fraser.

The RCO Is Accepting Grant Applications for the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program

Hello, potential grant applicants and other interested parties!

The Recreation and Conservation Office is accepting grant applications for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program.

Don't miss your chance to join more than 350 recreation and parks professionals for the WRPA Conference.

Online Registration Closes April 23 at Midnight

Time is running out to register for the 2018 WRPA Conference & Tradeshow. Don't miss your opportunity to build new relationships with colleagues and vendors, learn about the issues facing our industry, and take a break to have some fun. Learn more about what conference has to offer below. Even if you have already registered, take a moment to see which activities and sessions you want to attend.