WRPA Announces Partnership with National Center for Safety Initiatives to Strengthen Background Check Process for Staff and Volunteers

Seattle, WA  / December 3, 2019 - Washington Recreation and Park Association announced today that it has formed a partnership with the National Center for Safety Initiatives (NCSI), a leader in youth-centered safety solutions to offer background checks as part of NCSI’s Affinity Program.

NCSI will serve as the official provider of background checks for the Washington Recreation and Park Association. A SportsEngine, Inc. company, NCSI provides the “Gold Standard” in background screening, serving youth sports organizations, national governing bodies and over 3,000 city and county recreation departments across the country. NCSI is accredited by the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS) and is the only background check provider endorsed by the National Council of Youth Sports.

Do you want to have a hand in improving and protecting Washington's outdoors?

The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) is looking for 50 volunteers to serve on its advisory committees, which help determine what new projects will happen around the state. The advisory committees evaluate grant proposals for parks, boating amenities, working farms and forests, and habitat conservation statewide. There’s a committee for just about any outdoor activity you’re passionate about.

Make a Difference for the Outdoors

Created in 1964, the Recreation and Conservation Office provides statewide leadership and funding to protect and improve the best of Washington’s natural and outdoor recreation resources. Volunteering with the RCO, you would join 200 other folks serving on 17 different committees to evaluate about 650 grant applications every 2 years.

The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), with the support of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is now accepting applications for Instructor Training Grants for Physical Activity Programs.

This grant allows local park and recreation agencies and their partners to train staff to implement theevidence-based physical activity programs- Walk With Ease, Active Living Every Day and Fit & Strong! A total of 130 Instructor Training Grants will be awarded.

WRPA Announces 2020 Legislative Priorities! 

WRPA is excited to announce the 2020 Legislative priorities. Some of the initiatives include:

• Strongly Support $50,000 Allocation to Update Outdoor Recreation Sector Economic Analysis
• Protect Funding for Dedicated Accounts within the Capital Budget
• Efforts to Address Mental Health, Homelessness, Affordable Housing
• And much more!

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Learn more about the awards program and congratulate past winners!

WRPA wants to honor Washington's exceptional people, parks, and programs. We know that you work hard as a park and recreation professional to enhance the lives of the people in your community. We want to celebrate that hard work!

The WRPA Awards Program honors individuals and organizations for their contributions to the field of recreation and parks. We have a variety of awards to help you gain recognition and this year we have made the nominations process much easier. 

TO:  WRPA Membership

FROM: Justin Brown, Longview/Travis Stombaugh, Si View Parks District – 2020 LEG Day Planning Leads

Shoreline Earns CAPRA Accreditation

The City of Shoreline is celebrating becoming just the third city in Washington State to earn national accreditation through the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). This esteemed accomplishment places Shoreline in the good company of Tacoma and Bellevue as they join the top 1% of Parks and Recreation agencies across the country.

Metro Parks Tacoma has won the prestigious 2019 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management, the top achievement in the industry.

The NRPA Annual Conference is one of the premier annual meeting of the park and recreation community. The three-day event brings together more than 8,000 park and recreation professionals, citizen advocates ands industry suppliers for amazing networking opportunities, hundreds of education sessions and the industry's largest trade show showcasing the products and services of nearly 400 exhibitors.

WWRC Annual Breakfast

Hello all – I hope you have saved the day and are planning to attend the Washington Wildlife & Recreation Coalition breakfast on September 19, 2019, at 7:00 a.m. in Seattle!

This is the 30th Anniversary of the WWRC so we’ll be celebrating the incredible work of the Coalition and all of our wonderful partners. The breakfast is free but they will ask for a donation to support their efforts. WRPA and WWRC are amazing partners who have together advocated and influenced for over $1.3 billion in state, local and private dollars through the WWRP program (that’s a lot of acronyms). You all know the wonderful work they do which helps us create healthy and vibrant communities.

Agency Member Feature: Pierce County Parks & Recreation

Juvenile Court + Parks & Recreation + Cooperative Extension + Community Partners = No Child Left Inside

The Pierce Outdoor LIFE (Leadership Instruction & Field Experiences) Program is an outdoor adventure intervention offered as a "positive probation" alternative for court-associated youth age 13-17. The program is coordinated by Pierce County Parks & Recreation, Pierce County Juvenile Court, and the Washington State University Cooperative Extension and Community Partners. At-risk youth often struggle with school attendance, unhealthy relationships, crime, and violence due to poor social skills, lack of understanding of their learning style, interpersonal conflict, and unresolved personal issues. This program provides positive risk-taking opportunities for teens, replacing negative risk-taking behaviors and building a healthy connection between the youth, nature and their community.  

WRPA's Aquatics Network Pools Knowledge and Skills at a Fantastic Training Opportunity

On Saturday, June 8, 2019 the WRPA Aquatics Network hosted their Aquatic Skill Builder training. There were two speakers, two sessions, practice scenarios, and 100 attendees from 20 different agencies! Thank you to everyone that was able to make it to the training and learn valuable skills from Bill O'Melia and Pete Quincy. 

WRPAToday Newsletter

WRPA's bi-monthly e-newsletter WRPAToday is an amazing resource for Washington's park and recreation professionals and their organization. This newsletter contains information about local updates from WRPA members, as well as,  WRPA news, details on events/professional development opportunities, national industry trends, and articles from affiliate organizations like NRPA. WRPA just released the latest newsletter last week. Take a moment to read this May issue, which highlights, a photo of the month, legislative updates, upcoming trainings, and more. 

The Leadership Development Network

The Leadership Development Network is hosting its next FREE Virtual Round Table discussion/meeting on Tuesday, May 21st in partnership with the Young Professional Network. Please add the date to your calendar, join us and share!  These discussions are somewhat of a mixture between a webinar and round table session featuring experts in the field discussing relevant topics and trends with the opportunity for interaction.

Here are the details for this Wednesday:

DOH Seeks Local Partners for the Washington Healthy and Active for Arthritis Management Program

The Department of Health (DOH) recently received a five-year grant from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), as a part of the “State Public Health Approaches to Addressing Arthritis” cooperative agreement and developed the Washington Healthy and Active for Arthritis Management (WHAAM) project. The goal of the WHAAM Project is to increase physical activity among people with arthritis as a way of reducing and managing pain, with a focus on non-metropolitan and Native American communities.

This goal will be accomplished by:

Congratulations, Award Recipients!

This spring, we want to honor the amazing people, parks, and programs that received an award at the awards banquet during the 72nd 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. A variety of awards were handed out to WRPA members and public citizens. 

There are three categories recognized for WRPA's Awards Program: Professional Awards, Citation of Merit Awards, and Spotlight Awards. In addition to these categories, WRPA also acknowledges Mickey Corso Leadership Grant recipients.  

Join the Oregon Recreation and Parks Association for an Educational Event

More design charette than lecture, Park Planner Palooza VI is an opportunity for park planners and designers to receive training (and CEU credits), discuss cutting-edge planning initiatives, and view innovative projects with other park and recreation planners from around Oregon in a relaxed, informal atmosphere.

Lacey, WA, April 26, 2019

The City of Lacey is saddened by the recent passing of Jim Sheler, who served as the city’s first Parks and Recreation Director from 1974 until retirement in 2009.  “Jim established an incredible legacy for our community and indeed the greater South Sound,” said Lacey Mayor Andy Ryder. “He was an untiring force in laying the foundation for one of the finest municipal park systems in the region.”
 
When Sheler arrived at Lacey, the fledgling city had been incorporated for only eight years.  Its newly-created parks department had no permanent employees, no dedicated budget, and only three parks—Wonderwood, Lake Lois, and Homann—comprising a total of 54 acres. 
 
Over the next 35 years, Sheler oversaw expansion of the city’s park system to 26 locations encompassing more than 500 acres—including Rainier Vista Community Park, Woodland Creek Community Park, Huntamer Park, the Regional Athletic Complex, and Lacey’s community and senior centers.  Sheler also initiated the city’s highly-regarded comprehensive recreation program, which serves more than twenty thousand participating residents and visitors annually.  By the time of his retirement, Lacey’s parks department employed thirteen people, and had an annual budget of $3.2 million.
 
In 2010, the Washington Recreation and Parks Association (WRPA) honored Sheler with its Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes outstanding commitment and contributions to the field of parks and recreation.
“Jim was truly passionate about Lacey and building a park’s system that would benefit and be enjoyed by all ages,” said City Manager Scott Spence.  “He was the personification of outstanding public service, and one of the most dedicated professionals I’ve had the pleasure of working with.”  

A public Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, May 3, at 1:00 p.m. at Mills & Mills Funeral Home, 5725 Littlerock Road SW, Tumwater, WA 98512.  Contributions to the “Lacey Parks & Recreation Jim Sheler Memorial Fund” can be made in-person or via postal mail to Lacey Parks & Recreation, 420 College Street SE, Lacey, WA 98503.

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.