Member News

Having those Tough Conversations and Nailing It - workshop hosted by MASS on May 2-3 at Grand Casino Hinckley.  Members $159 and Non-Members $199.  The registration deadline is March 29. Thank you!

Click here to register online

Click here to pay for MASS membership online

The 2024 Conference Planning Committee is excited to bring to you the 2024 Minnesota Recreation and Park Association Annual Conference.  The Conference Committee is looking forward to providing diverse educational opportunities that will engage professionals from all backgrounds.

To submit an Educational Session Proposal please visit: ­­­­­

https://form.jotform.com/230257023726147

The deadline for Educational Session Proposals is Friday, March 15, 2024.  

If you have questions, the Conference Committee members would be happy to assist you:

Claudia Hicks, Co-Chair

claudiahicks@mankatomn.gov                                                  

Kevin O’Brien, Co-Chair

kobrien@ci.faribault.mn.us

Ben Boldt, Program Committee Chair   

bboldt@rochestermn.gov     

The third annual RPLS Day will be held Friday, April 12, 2024 at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center (aka Mankato Civic Center) beginning at 1pm. This year's event will provide the opportunity to connect with new friends and reconnect with old ones.  Please use this form to RSVP

RPLS Day Schedule: 

12:30pm | Doors Open

1:00pm | Musical Networking 

This session provides an opportunity to chat with students and professionals, recruit for employment opportunities, and enjoy the company of new and familiar faces.

2:00pm | The Six by Six

A new addition to our event! Six speakers get six minutes each to talk about timely and interesting topics in the field of parks and recreation management. A fast-paced and fun way to keep up to date on current trends, emerging topics, and bright ideas. MORE INFO on The Six by Six.

3:00pm | RPLS Honors

This session honors the varied contributions of current students, alumni, former faculty, community members, and other friends of the program. You can nominate yourself or someone else using the RSVP Form.

4:00pm | Social Hour

After a long day of learning, stick around on site to continue conversations from the day and celebrate the achievements of our friends. Cash bar will be available.

6:00pm | Adjournment

Watch the Official RPLS DAY 2024 Announcement Video

Please contact Jonathan Hicks, Minnesota State University, Mankato at 507-389-2747 with any questions.

WILS Annual Luncheon - Flyer
Wednesday, February 7
9 am - 1 pm
Shakopee Community Center
1255 Fuller St South
Shakopee, MN 55379

Congratulations to the following members:

CLIFTON E. FRENCH AWARD

Rick Birno, Golden Valley

NELSON - NILES AWARD

Joey Schugel, New Ulm

HORIZON AWARD

Chelsea Swenhaugen, Inver Grove Heights

BOARD AND COMMISSION AWARD

Peter Dugan, Eagan

LEADERSHIP AWARD

Aimee Peterson, Maple Grove

TOMMY JOHNSON AWARD

City of Richfield

We look forward to honoring the award recipients at the Annual General Meeting and Awards Luncheon on January 12, 2024 at the Maple Grove Community Center.

Click here for the registration form

Click here to pay online

Virtual Education in Partnership with Florida Recreation and Park Association (FRPA)

*Registration link will be emailed from FRPA

Reigniting your SPARRK - 24 Strategies to Jumpstart 2024!
December 6, 2023
noon - 1:30 p.m.

Play on Player: Celebrating Disability with Play
December 12, 2023
noon - 1:30 p.m.

Diversity Marketing in Parks and Recreation
January 16, 2024
noon - 1:30 p.m.

Project Management Essentials
January 31 2024
noon - 1:30 p.m.

Eat a Frog for Breakfast! Morning Fuel to Leap into your Day!
February 6, 2024
noon - 1:30 p.m.

Activate Communities Through Intentional Playground Design
February 13, 2024
noon - 1:30 p.m.

Click here for the registration form and further information

Click here to register online

Welcome to MRPA On the Air - a podcast for Minnesota Recreation and Park Association members and friends. Hosts Bryce and Meredith discuss everything parks and recreation throughout the entire state of Minnesota, including the latest MRPA news and events and what's going on in your association. MRPA is grateful to Landscape Structures and Flagship Recreation for their sponsorship of the podcast.

New Episode - Annual Conference 2023
Join hosts Bryce and Meredith for a conversation with Katie Yandell from the City of Plymouth about the 2023 Annual Conference.

The MRPA election for the Board of Directors and Recreational Sports Commission (RSC) is open. MRPA used the online platform, Election Runner, to ensure the integrity of the election. Election Runner has sent an email titled, Vote in the Election: MRPA Board of Directors.

Watch your inbox for the online ballot and check your spam folder if you don’t receive this email.  Also, if your system is set-up to send emails to your inbox under “Focused” or “Other,” please check the “Other” folder. 

All MRPA professional members will be able to vote until Wednesday, November 22 at 5 pm.

Here are the Board of Directors profiles:

President-Elect

Secretary

East Metro

West Metro

Southern Region

Please contact Michelle Snider with any questions at snider@mnrpa.org. We hope this format offers an accessible way to vote again this year. Thank you.

Hosts Bryce and Meredith discuss everything parks and recreation throughout the entire state of Minnesota, including the latest MRPA news and events and what's going on in your association. MRPA is grateful to Landscape Structures and Flagship Recreation for their sponsorship of the podcast.

Race and Equity - October 2023 

Hosts Bryce and Meredith talk with Radious Guess with the City of St. Louis Park and Annie Olson with Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.

Thank you to the delegates, exhibitors, volunteers, and sponsors for attending the 86th MRPA Annual Conference and Exhibit Hall at the Plymouth Community Center.  And a special thanks to the annual conference planning committee for an amazing conference! 

Thank you to the following 2023 Annual Conference sponsors:

Minnesota Recreation and Park Foundation - Education Partner

Landscape Structures / Flagship Recreation - Keynote Presentation

Bolton & Menk - Pre-Conference Institute, Breakfast on Thursday, and Golf Hole

KOMPAN - Pre-Conference Institute and Breakfast on Wednesday

St. Croix Recreation - Delegate Gift

SRF Consulting - Conference App

H+U Construction - Luncheon on Thursday

Stantec - Luncheon on Wednesday

OATI -- Luncheon for Off-Site Institutes and Students

TKDA - Breakfast on Friday

Hiway Credit Union - Keynote Presentation

WSB & Associates - Exhibit Hall

Musco Sports Lighting - Networking Event

RJM Construction - Networking Event

Sourcewell - Education Track

HKGI -- Directors' Forum

Confluence -- Session

Minnesota Wisconsin Playground -- Golf Hole

Spartan Promotional Group - Name Badges and Banners

Maintenance Rodeo Sponsors

MTI Distributing - Equipment and Prizes

Lano’s -- Equipment

Minnesota Equipment -- Equipment

Caribou Coffee -- Coffee

L&B Catering -- Donuts

Bituminous Roadways, Inc. Prizes

Pilot Rock -- Prizes

Donaldson -- Prizes