Member News

The MRPA Annual Conference Planning Committee is excited to bring to you the 2023 conference and is looking forward to providing diverse educational opportunities that will engage professionals from all backgrounds.

One of the most important parts of any Conference Planning Committee is the recruitment of high-quality speakers and engaging educational topics that will spark the interests of everyone in your organization. Please consider either submitting a proposal or forwarding a proposal to a person that may be interested in sharing their talents.

To submit an Educational Session Proposal please visit: https://form.jotform.com/230257023726147

The deadline for Educational Session Proposals is Sunday, March 12, 2023.

If you have questions, the Conference Program Team would be happy to assist you:

JJ Williams                                                 Dakota Krings                           

JJ.Williams@co.washington.mn.us            dkrings@minnetonkamn.gov

651-430-8245                                            952-939-8372

This year’s conference theme is Trailblazing. The 2023 conference team is devoted to delivering a conference that will explore all aspects of parks and recreation.

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The Spring 2023 issue of Minnesota Recreation & Parks magazine is printed/mailed and should arrive in your mailbox within the next couple of weeks. You can also view this issue as well as back issues online here. 

WILS Annual Assembly will be held on February 28 from 9 am - 1pm at the Theodore Wirth Chalet. This conference will host Jan Ficken and Jana Cinnamon. There will be opportunities to network and discuss with retired, experienced, and young professionals. Lunch will be provided.

Register now at https://wilszeta.square.site/

$20 for WILS Members

$30 for Non-Members

Minnesota State University will host the 2nd Annual RPLS Day on Friday, April 14, 2023 beginning at 1pm!

What is RPLS Day? What are the RPLS Awards? A brief explanation of what to expect: VIDEO (5:43)

RPLS Day Schedule | Centennial Student Union:

1PM | Networking Event | Perfect for those looking to make to friends or hire new colleagues

2PM | Hot Topics Panel | A lively exploration of current trends in RPLS

3PM | RPLS Awards | Our celebration of the vital and varied contributions of the RPLS Family

4:30PM | RPLS Day Social Hour | The 418 Room at Rounders Bar | 414 S. Front St. in downtown Mankato

To RSVP, please click HERE. You can use the same form to submit nominations for awards (until noon on Friday, March 3).

You are invited to apply for a John C. Potts "Pottsie" Leadership Development Scholarship to the 2023 NRPA Directors School. The American Parks & Recreation Foundation (APRF) is the philanthropic partner of the American Academy for Park & Recreation Administration.

Scholarship requirements and application: https://learning.nrpa.org/2023-directors-school-information

Minnesota Best is a concept in which members may share their great ideas with one another. It is a chance to promote the best programs, special events, facilities, parks and park features in your organization. Please take a moment to complete and return the informational form to Jess Skalicky jess.skalicky@burnsvillemn.gov by February 15. She will be organizing the information and working with the MRPA to distribute the results to the membership. 

One note: Minnesota Best is a different concept than MRPA's Awards of Excellence program. Minnesota Best is an information exchange amongst members, and these projects may be ones from any year. Also, the Minnesota Best documents are a great way to begin preparations for your agency's Awards of Excellence application, which will be sent to the membership in the coming weeks.

2023 - Minnesota Best - fillable.pdf

Nominations are now being accepted for the MRPA Awards of Excellence for projects completed in 2022.  The submittal deadline is Friday, February 24.  

MRPA recognizes agencies or organizations in Minnesota for outstanding achievements in the following categories:

• administrative or management strategies
• marketing and communications
• park and facility
• programming and events
• sponsorship and partnerships
• volunteer initiatives

The Awards of Excellence are presented by Minnesota Recreation and Park Association, and proudly sponsored by Hiway Credit Union.

Hosts Bryce Shearen and Meredith Lawrence 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.  

Episode - Bison Return to Dakota County

Join hosts Bryce and Meredith for a conversation with Dakota County Parks’ Tom Lewanski to learn about the reintroduction of a bison herd into the area.

MRPA is grateful to Landscape Structures and Flagship Recreation for their sponsorship of the podcast.

Join us in celebration! Minnesota Recreation and Park Association's Annual General Meeting and Awards Luncheon will be held Friday, January 13, 2023 in Owatonna. The MRPA Annual General Meeting begins at 10:30 a.m. Lunch and the MRPA Professional Awards presentations will then follow.

MRPA will honor the following outstanding parks and recreation professionals as this year's recipients of the MRPA Professional Awards: 

CLIFTON E. FRENCH AWARD Paul Peanasky, Faribault

JACK NILES AWARD  Reed Smidt, Woodbury

DOROTHEA NELSON AWARD  Annie Olson, Minneapolis

HORIZON AWARD  Meredith Lawrence, Mendota Heights

LEADERSHIP AWARD  Sonya Rippe, Plymouth

TOMMY JOHNSON AWARD  Plymouth Parks and Recreation

BOARD AND COMMISSION AWARD   Lynn Haney, Crystal

Congratulations to the 2022 MRPA Professional Award recipients!

Click here for the Annual General Meeting and Awards Luncheon form

Click here to register online

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota has formed a statewide partnership with National Fitness Campaign (NFC) to launch $500,000 in grant funding for municipalities and schools across New York, to support the goal of providing free world-class fitness to all Minnesotans. This funding will be allocated to support municipalities, schools, and organizations across the state in joining the growing NFC wellness campaign building healthy infrastructure to smart cities and schools of the future. NFC’s award-winning initiative is now planning its 500th Healthy Community in America, and is poised to deliver vital outdoor wellness programs helping to fight the obesity epidemic across the country.

If you are not yet familiar with the campaign, the program is designed to bring world-class healthy infrastructure to public spaces with the Fitness CourtⓇ, along with consulting, funding and community programming support. Please watch the National Fitness Campaign 3-minute video describing the program: Campaign Video. Through the partnership, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota and NFC will work with local towns, institutions and organizations who believe wellness is a priority, to bring the campaign to 10 municipalities and schools across Minnesota in 2023. As an affiliate partner with NFC, Minnesota Recreation and Park Association is pleased to provide priority access to application briefings for our members across Minnesota who may be interested in qualifying for funding and partnership. The briefing is a 30-minute zoom call which will qualify your community for a feasibility study and grant application.  If you would like to receive a briefing to learn more about the program and how to qualify, please fill out the short contact form on the program’s official web page: nationalfitnesscampaign.com/minnesota.