Learn more about the following:
Relief to Citizens – Direct Income Assistance Payments
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.
Serve Washington understands that organizations are responding to community, employee, national service and volunteers needs related to COVID-19. In an effort to recognize the challenge we are all facing together and provide some flexibility, Serve Washington has amended the timelines and due dates, as allowed within our authority, for the following requests for grant applications:
We have received some inquiries from conference registrants and sponsors/exhibitors about how our plans are evolving in light of the emerging public health concerns posed by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). WRPA is closely monitoring updates from the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding the situation in communities where cases of the virus have been confirmed.
We are currently in the process of planning for a future date, however, nothing has yet been confirmed. At this time, our cancellation policy still stands (April 1, 2020, minus a $20 fee). WRPA will not be issuing refunds until a new date is set. For our vendor-partners, in particular, cancellations will be assessed on a case by case basis. We request all current attendees, speakers, and partners to stay tuned for additional communication before making the decision to cancel. Thank you for your support during this time.
I wish I wasn’t writing this e-mail, but I need to. Barring some unforeseen circumstances, our WRPA priority local parks funding options bill (ES HB 2625), which was tantalizingly close to passage this Session, is not going to make it up for a Floor vote by the Friday COB deadline. The bill is in the Rules Committee – and were it to get to the Floor, the votes are there to pass it. But we are doubtful it will get there.
What I can tell you is that we worked very hard to get this bill out of the Senate Ways & Means Committee last Friday, and had “pulls” lined up for the Senate Rules Committee both Wednesday and today to get 2625 to the Floor Calendar. We also had strong support from the Senate Floor Leader (Sen. Liias) who spoke to the bill in the Ways & Means Caucus – and had support in that Caucus discussion from Sens. Keiser and Conway.
In advance of the 2020 Legislative day in Olympia, WA WRPA and NW Playground hosted its first Funding Options in Parks Forum at the DoubleTree Hotel. This well- attended, half-day event included presentations with the intent on having a conversation regarding funding options for park districts, cities, and counties and sharing with one another the various types of funding each agency is currently utilizing.
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2020 "Pottsie" Leadership Development Scholarship, which honors the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration's former Executive Director, John C. Potts.
Good Morning, Everyone!
Here is my usual Weekly Report and Weekly list of hearings – I’d note that on the Weekly Hearings list, with fiscal committees coming down the homestretch and public hearings reducing in numbers, all my recommendations for today (2/10) and tomorrow (2/11) are “MONITOR.”
The WPRA Student Connections Committee is dedicated to providing engaging professional development opportunities for students and young professionals who are looking to further gain insight into the exciting field of parks and recreation. One way we achieve this is through our mentoring program.
This program pairs distinguished professionals (our mentors) with a student or young professionals (our mentees) who can benefit from have a networking relationship with a current professional in the industry. If you’re interested in participating in this unique mentoring program for the 2020 campaign please fill out the simple form below no later than Feb 15th, 2020.
What are your primary functions as the State Lobbyist for the WRPA?As WRPA’s state lobbyist, I’m responsible for helping to develop the annual Legislative Agenda, promoting priority issues for WRPA, and protecting WRPA’s interests to head off any legislation or budget initiatives that are adverse to us. I’m also responsible for ongoing communications with WRPA Member agencies, for keeping local parks officials informed and aware of happenings in Olympia, and hopefully for enhancing agencies’ knowledge of how to move the needle forward for local parks and recreation overall.
The annual Great Outdoors Day/Legislative Day is a day in Olympia and on “the Hill” where both WRPA and our co-sponsors, the Washington Wildlife & Recreation Coalition (WWRC), can bring a concentration of Members to Olympia to speak with a unified and loud voice about our priorities and about the importance of outdoor recreation and the outdoors when it comes to quality of life, public health, economic development, and environmental stewardship.
The WRPA Fitness/Athletic Networking Network gathered in Leavenworth, WA for a two-day retreat on November 14–15, 2019. They discussed various hot topics, pain points, and the latest trends in municipal fitness and athletics. There were 21 park professionals present and everyone had a great time learning and networking together. Chelan County PUD graciously provided the meeting location at no charge, just a couple blocks away from downtown Leavenworth. It was a wonderful time to be in Leavenworth, as the Christmas lights were up, but it was not crowded.
King County Parks’ Youth Sports Grants support fit and healthy communities by investing in programs and facilities that reduce barriers for youth in King County to access physical activity.
Physical activity is critical to youth development – intellectually, emotionally, physically, and socially. Youth in King County do not get enough exercise. They face many barriers to playing on teams, joining programs, or participating in outdoor recreation, including lack of transportation and financial constraints. And race and place only deepen these disparities, widening the gap between these youth and their more affluent peers. Through its youth sports grants program, King County Parks is striving to reduce barriers and close this gap in communities across King County.
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.
Have you expressed an interest or submitted an application for the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program? The Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) is seeking your input on the possibility of establishing a maximum amount of funding that can be applied for in any one grant in the WWRP Trails Category. Currently, there are no grant limits.
If you could please take 5 minutes to participate in a survey no later than December 10, 2019, we would be most appreciative. We will share the results with the Recreation and Conservation Funding Board to help them make an informed decision about this issue.
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.
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.
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.
