Teens in Auburn, WA were excited to hang out, have fun, and play as Auburn’s REC Teen Center reopened in September after an 18-month closure due to pandemic restrictions.
Washington has an abundance of natural beauty and a rich tradition of outdoor recreation. The COVID-19 pandemic and recent social and political unrest across the nation have simultaneously shined a spotlight on the high-value people place on outdoor spaces and the inequities that exist within them.
A recent national survey found that 70% of city-dwelling Americans agree that parks are critical to preserving an individual’s physical and mental health amid today’s challenges. Yet, as the demographics of our state change, historically and currently marginalized communities still do not have the same opportunities as their non-marginalized counterparts across nearly every measure including education, poverty, employment, health and more. Inequities based on race, ethnicity, gender and other characteristics continue to be deep, pervasive and persistent; coming at a great economic and social cost.
Fire Restrictions and Park Closures—Effective August 12, 20201
Washington State Parks is working with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources to identify wildfire high-risk areas and taking steps to mitigate those risks while closely coordinating with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Governor’s Office on closure planning.
In 2020, the City of Enumclaw was awarded a $30,000 grant from the National Fitness Campaign (NFC) as part of its annual grant program in the 2020 Healthy Cities Campaign. Additional funding for the project was made possible by the City and local businesses, both financially and in-kind.
Port Ludlow Resident Shares Opinion in Seattle Time Article
The following article, "Protect the legacy of our urban parks, a classic public good," was posted to the Seattle Times on July 22, 2021 and was written by Lee Springgate.
The Northwest Region had a great in-person gathering on Thursday, July 22 at Farmstrong Brewing Co.. Everyone who attended really enjoyed reconnecting! The Northwest Region is looking to continue connecting this fall. Much of the conversation revolved around what WRPA has to offer to members. The Northwest Region hopes to gain some new members following these conversations.
Thank you to all who showed up to connect. Here are a few photos from the event!
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Help improve and protect Washington's outdoors for years to come. Join a Recreation and Conservation Office advisory committee.
You can make a difference.
Happy Monday, everyone!
Last week, individual agencies that applied and were awarded SEEK (Summer Enrichment Experiences for Kids) funds through the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and in coordination with the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) were notified of this most exciting opportunity.
By Suzette Hart, Marketing & Development Director, Brain Injury Alliance of Washington
Youth sports create a direct connection between the parks and recreation field and the work of the Brain Injury Alliance of Washington (BIAWA). WRPA members organize and administer sports leagues and/or coordinate with sports leagues that use public facilities. BIAWA fully embraces the importance of play, participation, and engagement in sports. That said, BIAWA also recognizes the possibility that injuries can and do occur during play.
Most of us love our Region’s outstanding systems. These trails provide exercise, escape, and enjoyment. We understand that it’s vital to take care of the system that has quickly become one of the most recognized assets of our community. And visitors are discovering and enjoying our trails, too.
TREAD is leading a project called TREAD Map. This comprehensive trail mapping app allows locals and visitors to plan the next outing, share experiences and conditions out on the trails or water, create connections with other trail enthusiasts and provide all the various land managers with a portal to create two-way communication with user groups and individuals.
Westlake Chemical issued a statement on June 9, notifying customers of an electrical equipment failure that is affecting their chlor-alki production.
"Effective immediately, Westlake Vinyls, Inc. ("Westlake") and Axiall, LLC ("Axiall") are declaring a force majeure condition for chlorine, hydrochloric acid, and caustic soda manufactured and shipped from its Longview, Washington manufacturing facility.
This spring, we want to honor the amazing people, parks, and programs that received an award at the awards ceremony during the 74th Annual WRPA Conference, our first-ever virtual conference. 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.
Watch the Recordings Now
In 2021 offered several educational legislative webinars to help members and supporters better understand some of WRPA's 2021 legislative priorities. These webinars were free and recordings of these events are now available for you to view.
A Message from Roxanne Miles, WRPA Legislative Committee Chair
Once again WRPA partnered with the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition to host a Great Outdoors & Parks Legislative Day on February 4, 2021.
Executive Summary & Highlights
New study findings reveal that local park & recreation agencies provide an estimated 300,000 acres of park lands and support nearly 100 million users annually!
During the Fall of 2020, the Washington Recreation & Parks Association, Washington State Association of Counties, Association of Washington Cities, and Metro Parks Tacoma collaborated on a statewide survey to gather data on service demand and operational challenges facing local parks agencies, both preceding and as a result of COVID-19 through August 2020. The survey was the most comprehensive one of its kind to compile data on issues and challenges facing local parks and recreation agencies throughout the State of Washington.
A Message from WRPA Lobbyist Doug Levey
Good afternoon and Happy New Year, all:
This week Governor Inslee announced updates to the Healthy Washington - Roadmap to Recovery. Learn more by reviewing the highlights below and the articles from Medium.com and the Seattle Times.
A message from the Pierce County Parks
Testimonials from the City of Olympia's Community Members
The City of Olympia’s Recreation Department has worked hard since spring to adapt and evolve on the fly. By focusing on what we do best and following best practices for the new health and safety guidelines, we've been able to successfully serve our community during a really tough time. Here are just a few customer testimonials:
A message from the City of Burien 
Like many parks departments across the state and country, Burien Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services (PaRCS) had to dramatically shift its program delivery model in order to help maintain mental and physical health during this stressful time. Staff worked hard to set up and offer virtual classes and, once restrictions were lifted, limited on-site programs with lots of safety precautions, like mask and contact tracing mandates, health, and temperature checks, and routine room and equipment cleaning, in place.
