In this Issue...
Photo of the Month — Share Your Photos Too!
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Out With the Old, In With the New
The old Larson Recreation Center in Moses Lake has been demolished and contractors Leone & Keeble, Inc have broken ground on the new recreation center site. The new Larson Recreation Center will be 30,000 square feet, providing a large space for sports, camps, classes, and community gatherings. It will also have a large locker room and skate rental shop. The grand opening of the new center is planned for June 2022.
Do you have a must-see photo? WRPA would love to share your work from home photos and cool images taken at your parks and facilities. Submit photos via email at [email protected]. |
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How Do You Recreate?
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Getting In the Steps
Josh Morrisey from Spokane Parks & Recreation has MacGyver'd a treadmill, a baby grand piano, and an Amazon box into a "walking desk" where he puts in an average of 20,000 steps a day while he works!
Want to let others know how you are staying happy, healthy, or fit during COVID-19? Submit “How Do You Recreate” photos to [email protected].
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New Funding Opportunity for 2021 K-12 Youth Programs
The Deadline for 2021 Submissions Is this Friday, July 2, 2021!
WRPA, in collaboration with the Association of Washington Cities (AWC), is excited and proud to announce a $12 million fund program. This program is made possible by federal COVID-19 relief funds provided to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and it will enable local parks and recreation agencies throughout our state to expand summer outdoor education programs offered to school-aged kids!
Download the Application Guide & Project Cost Worksheet to get started.
The deadline for submissions is 5:00 PM, Friday, July 2, 2021.
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2021 Aquatics Network Skill Builder
Leading the Way to a Safer Pool
August 21, 2021 | 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM | Snohomish Aquatics Center
Spend the day developing the leadership and teamwork skills that are necessary to maintain a safe aquatic environment. Morning and afternoon sessions will be spent working in the pool while the mid-day session will be spent in the classroom learning about the characteristics needed to be a good leader. There are full and half-day registration options. Space is limited.
Learn more about the event and register.
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CPSI Blended Courses
Now Is the Perfect Time to Earn Your Certification!
Tuesday, November 2, 2021
Have you or your agency put off the Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) Course? WRPA is offering two CPSI Blended Course options in 2021. These courses provide professionals with the opportunity to learn online and take their CPSI exams locally.
With CPSI courses moving online it is now easier and much less expensive to earn your certificate.
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Spotlight Professional: Clayton Pray
City of Moses Lake
Clayton Pray was recently promoted to Parks Superintendent, City of Moses Lake Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services. He was previously working as the park foreman.
Clayton has been working in the maintenance field for 30 years. He has worked in a variety of areas including agriculture, fleet, industrial, and park maintenance.
One of his favorite parts about his job is, "...it is never the same. Every day has something new or different."
Read more about Clayton in the full spotlight.
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Flex Your Skill & Share Your Knowledge
Join the PREP University Speaker Pool!
The PREP (Parks & Recreation Emerging Professionals) Committee, is looking for volunteers to join a newly formed initiative focusing on Washington State university outreach. The creation of the new PREP University Speaker Pool provides experienced professionals with a chance to speak with students and professors about their experiences and perspective.
To participate simply, complete the application sharing details about your knowledge, skills, abilities, and specialties.
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Athletics & Fitness Network Promo
Consider Joining the WRPA Fitness/Athletic Network Group
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Oh, the Good Old Days! 2019 Fitness & Athletic Networking Event in Leavenworth.
From left to right: Bophary Du, from Burien, Cody Geddes and Hannah Thayer from Federal Way, and Kimberly Shelton from Everett |
Join us virtually to network, navigate COVID challenges, and dream of the days we get to once again meet in person.
The WRPA Fitness & Athletic Network is an active member group of parks and recreation professionals that serve our community’s active recreation needs. This includes programmers of large athletic complexes, school facilities, and smaller sports fields and courts. It also includes fitness professionals that program in community centers, small fitness facilities, and classrooms.
The networking group meets every other month, (somewhat sporadically) to discuss new trends in fitness and athletics, changes in guidelines around COVID-19 restrictions, challenges that are being experienced, and success stories. Our goal is to have every city in Washington that has fitness or athletic programs to be represented within this networking group. We thrive off of the connection that takes place in these groups.
Please reach out to Kimberly Shelton at [email protected] to participate!
Member login required.
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NRPA Parks & Recreation Magazine Highlight
"COVID-19 and Parks and Recreation: One Year Later"
April 15, 2021, Department, by Jennifer Cox
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In the midst of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, a racial justice movement, growing economic pressures, health crises, and devastating impacts of climate change, park and recreation professionals are continuing to serve their communities by maintaining essential infrastructure and providing innovative and vital programming. They also stepped into new roles to protect, strengthen and heal their communities. During the past year, local agencies scaled up childcare programs and learning centers, offered shelter to people without housing, managed food distribution programs, served as testing and vaccine distribution sites, and coordinated disaster response — all while maintaining critical infrastructure that promotes physical and mental health and a healthy environment. COVID-19 continues to highlight what has been true for many years: parks and recreation is vital to ensuring that all people — no matter their race, ethnicity, income, age, location, or gender identity — thrive.
Read the full NRPA article to learn more.
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Guest Post on the WRPA Blog
Keeping Youth Safe Playing the Sports They Love – BIAWA’s Connection to
Parks & Recreation
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...Read More
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Share Your Skills; Volunteer with WRPA
Join the CEC to play an active role in recruiting, evaluating, and selecting speakers!
Do You?
- Have ideas for Annual Conference session topics?
- Know of any amazing speakers that would be ideal for the WRPA Annual Conference?
- Have any staff who are looking to become more involved with WRPA on a committee level?
If you answered YES to any of these; please visit the Continuing Education Committee webpage. There are a variety of ways that you can participate in contributing educational and training content for the Annual Conference and other training opportunities. We will be revamping and opening the speaker RFP soon. Join the committee and support this important effort!
Please email Sarah Olson or Jennifer Papich Committee Co-chairs with any questions or to become more involved.
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WRPA Today App
Have You Downloaded it Yet?
The WRPA Today app brings the power of your WRPA membership to your mobile device!
- Read up on the latest news
- Browse upcoming events
- Connect with recreation and park professionals
- Keep up to date on the latest by turning on your notifications
- And more!
Never feel disconnected from WRPA again while on the go with the WRPA Today membership app.
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WRPA Blog Highlights: Read the Latest
Keeping Youth Safe Playing the Sports They Love – BIAWA’s Connection to Parks & Recreation
TREAD | Trails for All
Force Majeure on Select Chemicals to Affect Aquatics Industry
Congratulations, 2020 & 2021 Award Recipients!
2021 Legislative Webinar Series Recordings Now Available
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Thank You to Our Renewing Members!
Information Pulled June 15, 2021
Agency Members:
- Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation
- Key Peninsula Metro Park District
- Moses Lake Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services
- Pierce County Parks & Recreation
- Redmond Parks & Recreation
- Sammamish Parks & Recreation
- San Juan Island Park & Recreation District
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Other Member Types:
- Bob McGarvey, Northwest Playground Equipment, Inc.
- David Erickson, City of Wenatchee
- Doug Farmer, Aberdeen Parks & Recreation
- Dustin South, Anacortes Parks & Recreation
- Erin Snodgrass-Thim, White River Community Activities Program
- Jason Keliher, White River Community Activities Program
- Justin Brown, Longview Parks & Recreation
- Krista Bashaw, Camas Parks & Recreation
- Megan Vining, Pullman Parks and Recreation
- Paul Avery, Chehalis Parks and Recreation
- Robin Pittman, Manson Park & Recreation District
- Stacie Barnum, Aberdeen Parks & Recreation
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Welcome New Members!
Information Pulled June 15, 2021
Agency Members:
- Kitsap County Parks Department
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Other Member Types:
- Bryden Barbee, WCRP
- Kathleen Sis, YMCA of Snohomish County
- Kenneth Kollmann, Washington Counties Risk Pool
- Erich Bao, GGLeagues
- Nathanael Gardner, Eastern Washington University
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If you aren't yet a WRPA member consider joining today.
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We Want Your News!
 Do you have news to share with your WRPA colleagues? Send any updates, photos, happenings, and socials to WRPA, so that we can feature your article in the next WRPAToday e-newsletter!
Send Us Your News Now!
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Recent Job Postings
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Volunteer Opportunities
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Thank You, 2021 Sponsors!
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WRPA is membership-driven. We achieve only what we ourselves commit to doing. By sharing your energy and expertise, you will make WRPA an even more effective professional resource.
In fact, without you, we would not be able to offer any programs! Consider volunteering and helping our organization grow. Learn more about opportunities that have recently become available!
Join a WRPA Network
WRPA has several dedicated groups or "Networks" that meet on a regular basis and communicate online. These networks provide WRPA members with the opportunity to make personal, ongoing connections with other professionals. By joining a network and using the online platform, you too can increase your passion for the work you do every day.
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