Welcome to Our First Updated
WRPAToday Newsletter

Photo of the Month

Finding a Way to Maintain Some City History

This month, Andy Coleman, Director of Walla Walla Parks & Recreation, provided the above image from the Arbor Day unveiling of a bronze tree limb that was placed in Pioneer Park. The former limb had been on the 115-year-old London Plane tree for generations and was a famous spot for kids to play and families to take photos.

When the Walla Walla Foundry heard that the original decayed limb needed to be removed they offered to bring it back in bronze at their expense.

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How Do You Recreate?

Take a Break & Go Skiing!

These pics come to us from the WRPA Communications Committee Chair, Carl Strong, from Spokane Parks & Recreation. The three eldest Strong kids taking a break during their first experience downhill skiing on February 3 and the youngest of the Strongs looking on from the sidelines. The family took a Thursday off of work and drove up to Mt. Spokane and utilized their Magic Carpet lift.

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Spotlight Professional: Joanna Lanning

Grounds Maintenance Worker, City of Walla Walla

Joanna Lanning is a groundskeeper at the historic Mountain View Cemetery, in Walla Walla. This is one of the oldest municipal cemeteries in Washington State with burials dating back to 1850.

Joanna's piece of advice for fellow parks and recreation professionals is...

"Keep your eyes wide open, don't be afraid to ask questions, don't be afraid to make mistakes, embrace challenges, express your ideas, and work hard. Network with other park and recreation employees and keep advancing your education through training and seminars."

"Recruiting and Retaining Young Adults to the Park and Recreation Workforce"

January 20, 2022, Department, by Kevin Roth

Last month, I wrote about the particularly acute labor shortage facing employers across the United States. As recently as October, employers reported having more than 11 million open positions. State and local governments were not immune, with nearly a half-million unfilled noneducation jobs. Read More

Announcements & Highlights

March 17 Webinar

Join us for the one-hour webinar, "Workplace Trends, Resources, and Strategies: Disaster Cascade and Long-Term Recovery Management."

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March 9–11 CPSI Course

Registration for one of the nation's comprehensive playground risk management courses will be closing on February 25. Take the course, exam, or both.

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April 13–15 Conference

More than 200 parks & recreation professionals are already signed up to join us in Bellevue. More than 50 are first-time attendees. We hope you will take part too!

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Online CEU Events

You are invited to join Northwest Playground at 1:00 PM PT every third Thursday of the month for the rest of 2022! This is a great way to expand your knowledge and earn CEU credits.

LEARN MORE

Mickey Corso Grant

The Mickey Corso Leadership Grant is awarded to professionals and students looking to continue their education in the field of recreation and parks. Applications are being accepted until March 1.

APPLY NOW

Industry News & Legislative Updates

State Task Force Recommends Increased Sharing of School and Community Athletic Facilities

A statewide task force commissioned by the Washington State Legislature is recommending increased sharing of school and community athletic facilities as a way to increase physical activity for youth, especially those underserved.

Kids in Washington are not moving nearly enough, the task force noted in its new report. Before the pandemic, only about 24 percent of youth in sixth through twelfth grades were getting an hour of physical activity daily, the amount recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to maintain physical and mental fitness. That percentage has remained about the same since 2012 and is slightly below the national average of 28 percent. The problem is worse for youth of color, girls, those from lower income families, immigrant youth and those with physical disabilities and long-term health problems. Read more.

Volunteer Opportunities

WRPA is a membership-driven organization. By sharing your energy and expertise, you can help make WRPA an even more effective professional resource.

Become a volunteer and help WRPA grow. Learn more about valuable opportunities today!

More About Volunteering

Join a WRPA Network

WRPA Networks are specialized groups that meet on a regular basis and communicate online. Joining a WRPA network gives you the opportunity to meet others in your specific field, like aquatics, maintenance, programs.

Find your WRPA Network today.

View the List of Networks