Congrats Parks & Recreation Professionals

You Have Helped Make this Year So Much Better

WRPA is so proud of the hard work you and your team have put in this year. We know that 2020 has given us many challenges to overcome, but we wanted to take a moment to congratulate and thank all of the parks and recreation professionals out there who have worked so hard. Just look at all the ways you have made this year better. Check out some of the big wins we have recognized this year, and share your own big wins in comments on the blog and on social media (be sure to tag WRPA)!

Also, be sure to catch up on the latest blog posts and the success stories that are being submitted by WRPA members. 

 

Full Timeline of 2020 Accomplishments

 

February 5 Event — 
WRPA Funding Options For Parks Forum

April 10 
Volunteers & Leaders Brainstormed Recourses 
COVID Resources Page Launches
 

 May 4 Event 
Social Distancing Day Camp Webinar

May 12 Legislative
Collective Recovery Plan & Safe Start Advisory Groups

Learn More About the Western States Pact 

May 29 — 
WA Campgrounds Re-Open

State Public Lands Managers to Reopen Campgrounds in 22 Counties

June 1 Legislative
A Message from WRPA's Lobbyist
Outdoor Parks & Rec Guidance, 1% Property Tax, New 'Framework' on Gatherings, and Vashon Park District Bill

June 5 
Letter & Statement from the WRPA President
Responding to the Current Social Injustices

June 17 Legislative
Land & Water Conservation Fund: Senate Passed Major Conservation Package

June 24 
Aquatics Facility & Training Guidance
Collaboration Between WRPA Aquatics Network, Washington State DOH, and Washington State Labor & Industries Yields Guidelines for Aquatic Facilities

July 27  Legislative — 
Passage of the Great American Outdoors Act:
Assuring $900 Million per year for Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)

July 29 Event 
Racial-Identity Caucus: White Allies

July 30 Event 
Racial-Identity Caucus: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)

August 19 
WA State-Wide Parks & Rec Survey

We Need Your Support in Collecting Data for All of Washington State!

September 10 Event 
WWRC - Celebration of Community & Conservation

September 17 Event 
WRPA Golf Meet Up - Tumwater

September 28 Event 
WRPA Aquatic Network Conference

October 1 Event —
WRPA Golf Meet Up - Bellingham

October 14-15 Event
WRPA Virtual Fall Summit

November 17 Event 
Certified Playground Safety Inspector
Blended Learning Course

 

 February 3 & 4 Event
WRPA Risk Management School

— February 6 Event
Legislative Day

— April 24 Legislative
Letter to the Governor
WRPA Sends Out Recovery Plan Proposal & RCO Match-Reduction Proposal

— May 5 Legislative 
Request for Federal Support

Western States Ask Congress for $1 Trillion in Coronavirus Relief

— May 21
#RecreateResponsibly Social Media Campaign
Share on Your Social Media How to #RecreateResponsibly

— May 29
Equity-Based Planning Decisions & Inclusive Policies & Programs

Tools for Centering Equity from NRPA

— June 3 Legislative
Protect Existing Resources

S. 3422 Great American Outdoors Act

— June 15
 A Message from the Administration Network

Phase 3 of the Governor’s “Safe Start” Re-Opening Plans

— June 23
A Message from Maryke Burgess
Making the Most of Your WRPA Membership After a Layoff

— July 17
WRPA App Connects Members on the Go
WRPA Membership App Launch

— July 29  Legislative
Requested Funding Levels for WWRP, YAF, and ALEA Programs
WRPA Writes Letter in Support of Recreation Funding; Shares Updated Economic Analysis Report

— August 13
“Hot-Off-The-Press” Good News From the Recreation & Conservation Funding Board (RCFB): Funding for Key Programs!

— August 26
Creation of WRPA's Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Committee

Q&A with Chair Shanyankia McElroy

— August 3, 10 & 17 Event
COVID-19 Risk Management Virtual Workshop Series

— September 8 Event
Certified Playground Safety Inspector
Blended Learning Course

— September 10
ORPA Partners with NRPA to Connect & Inform Professionals

Conversations with NRPA! Register Today!

— September 25 Event
WRPA Golf Meet Up - Auburn

— October 2 Event
WRPA Golf Meet Up - Longview

— October 8 Event
WRPA Golf Meet Up - Tukwila

— November 06
Support Eastern Washington University Parks & Recreation Programs!

 

Quotes from Members & Collaborators 

“Meeting every Tuesday during this pandemic period for the WRPA Programmer’s Meeting has kept me motivated to program, engaged with WRPA professionals, and looking forward to every Tuesday afternoon! I love connecting with my friends to share what is new, what has changed with our departments, what people are offering, what is working/not working and how to interpret every new set of guidance that is passed down to us! I hate missing the meetings because then I feel out of the loop!”

Megan Vining, CPRP, CYSA
Recreation Supervisor, Pullman Parks & Recreation

It’s been great to network with my peers, exchange ideas, concepts and get insights on matter that would have taken time to research and/or review. The network works well together, supports one another and many new partnerships have formed from it. I am glad to have found the resource early on in the pandemic and plan to continue to network with my peers long after it’s gone. The wealth of knowledge among the group is a wonderful source to better my City. Thank you.

Max Prophet
Recreation Supervisor Peter Kirk Community Center City of Kirkland - Parks & Community Services

Thank you WRPA for another excellent educational opportunity. This year’s Fall Summit did not disappoint! It was well planned, well run and very beneficial. The topics and speakers were both informative and inspirational. Although we all miss our traditional, in-person conferences, it was great to see and hear everyone in the various Zoom breakouts. I look forward to sharing the information with my co-workers and hopefully see everyone again in April! Thanks again to everyone who made it happen.

Lauren Woodmansee
Recreation Supervisor, Bellingham Parks and Recreation

"I’m an extravert…and was a skeptical on how much I might enjoy a “virtual” conference…but leave it to parks peeps to pull it off. I found the sessions I attended to be pleasantly interactive and FUN!"

Guy Michaelsen
Principal, Berger Partnership

Washington Cities Insurance Authority is honored to partner with WRPA on training and education events and have been doing so for over 20 years!  We started by supporting the Certified Safety Inspector Certification (CPSI) thru our WCIA member-funded Reimbursement Programs and then added speaker sponsorships.  Our sponsorship opportunities grew to annually backing events such as:

  • Washington Recreation & Park Association (WRPA) Pacific Northwest Aquatic Conference
  • Washington Recreation & Park Association (WRPA) Risk Management School
  • Washington Recreation & Park Association (WRPA) Fall Summit

  This year we were fortunate for the opportunity to collaborate with Peter Mayer, WRPA and other Washington State Risk Pools to be a part of the:

  • Washington Recreation & Park Association (WRPA) COVID-19 Risk Management Virtual Workshop Series

This program was a perfect complement to WRPA education series; taking a page out of the WRPA Risk Management School with a timely topic educating parks professional on risk management issues and concerns surrounding COVID19.  It gave us an opportunity to showcase our risk pool services and sponsor a liability prevention featured speaker; all while learning from parks professionals who were sharing their expertise on programs and services provided by their entity.

Patti Crane
Member Services Manager, Washington Cities Insurance Authority

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