Latest News
Do you have an idea for a great educational session for conference? Do you have a skill that you could share with your fellow members? Please take a minute to share it with KRPA by turning in your Educational Session Proposal form (pdf). This form must be filled out completely (typed only) for the session to be considered by the branch board. Branch representatives will contact speakers to confirm or decline session proposals. The KRPA Office will finalize all contractual arrangements with selected paid speakers. Session Proposal forms are due by May 2, 2022.
Commercial companies MUST be a conference exhibitor at the $825 or higher to present a session at the conference. To become a conference exhibitor or corporate partner, please contact Jamie Reed.
In 1981, the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration began the Legends of Parks and Recreation Program. The program creates and shares one-on-one video interviews of distinguished administrators, educators, citizen advocates and policymakers who have made outstanding contributions to the field of Parks and Recreation. They are seeking nominations to honor individuals for the 2022 Legends Program.
To nominate an individual, please consider the following criteria:
1. Experience (professional and/or volunteer related to the field of Parks and Recreation).
2. Explanation as to why this person is being nominated as a Legend (provide one or more of the following chief accomplishments):
i. Major project(s) completed.
ii. Instituted concept, idea, or support for same.
iii. Made advancements in outdoor recreation in their field.
iv. Significant positive changes for the betterment of parks and recreation through their leadership.
v. Applied research to the field of parks and recreation.
vi. Any other significant contributions.
Membership in the Academy is not required as a nominator or nominee. Return completed nomination form to Dan West and Leon Younger no later than June 4, 2022.
Legends Nomination - Nomination Form 2022.pdf
If you have any questions please feel free to contact Legends Chair, Dan West at danwest@broward.orgor Leon Younger, Legends Vice Chair at leon.younger@prosconsulting.com.
Share your park and recreation stories with us! From 'I can't believe that just happened..." to "Only in park and recreation, would you hear..." we want to hear all your stories.
At the 2022 KRPA Conference in Manhattan a few weeks ago, we asked attendees to share their "Tall Tales" from parks and recreation. Here are some of our favorites:
To share your story, click here to fill out a short form. You may stay anonymous if you like. If you share your name with your story, it would be for us to follow-up for more details if needed.
Below you will find some prompts to get you started:
Before You Head to Manhattan
Be prepared. Make the most of your time and resources at the 2020 KRPA Conference and Trade Show by sitting down and formulating a plan first.
1) Download the conference app
The KRPA conference app contains all of the essential information that you will need while attending conference. It has the schedule, the speakers, the vendors, maps for the conference center, and more. You should have received an email inviting you to the app from Crowd Compass. If you did not, please click here to learn how to access the app. Don’t forget to allow push notifications from this app during your time at conference so you don't miss out on any important updates.
2) Review the schedule.
This one’s a no-brainer. Set a goal for what you’d like to learn at the conference, and use the schedule to devise a plan to meet your goal. Log-in and create a customized agenda within the conference app. Make sure to attend conference-wide events such as the keynote speakers. If you prefer a hard-copy, please remember to print the schedule-pdf before you arrive at conference.
Also, make sure you are registered on the KRPA website for the park tour, the Olympic, and Painting social.
3) Bring some extra cash
- Silent Auction Purchases. Don’t forget there will be a silent auction at the Trade Show and run via Facebook. Andy from Manhattan Parks and Recreation has done a great job gathering items for this year's silent auction. It will be full of items from vendors, apparel, gift cards, and more. You will find a treasure that you might want to take home, so be prepared. - "Great Scotch" Spirit Pull. Bring your cash and your luck to the Branch Award Social. The conference planning committee will host the "Great Scotch" spirit pull at the Branch Award social on Wednesday, January 19th. The "Great Scotch" fundraiser is a blind draw where every ticket buyer wins. A variety of spirits are placed in individual bags so the labels can’t be seen. The spirits range from beer, wine, scotch and more. The wrapped bottles are numbered. Each person who buys a $20 Great Scotch ticket then selects a number that corresponds to a bag which could contain anything from a bottle of smooth Glenlivet Scotch or a case of Natty Light. - Trade Show Raffle. The "Save the Scholarship Fund" fundraiser will be a raffle drawing for great prizes like the Oculus Quest 2, gifts cards, cash and more throughout the Trade Show. Purchase 10 tickets for $20 from a KRPA Board member or at the registration table. Participants then enter the raffle by placing their tickets in prize can of your choice placed through the Trade Show. Is it better to put all your tickets into one drawing, or distribute them over all the drawings? The choice is up to you. The winning ticket for each prize will be drawn at 2:30pm. Winners do not have to present at the time of drawing.
4) Watch the 80's Classic "Back to the Future"
Here's a special tip for this year's conference. Grab some popcorn and take a break before next Wednesday to watch "Back to the Future." Whether you grew up dreaming of riding a hoverboard or wonder "What's a DeLorean?", this movie is worth your watch!
5) Bring the right gear
· Pack enough business cards. Make sure you have some business cards handy to share with new contacts.
· Bring layers of clothes. Conference center rooms notoriously fluctuate in temperatures because of the location or number of session attendees, so dress in layers and you will be prepared for any situation
When You Arrive
6) Come to the registration desk
Don’t get stuck at the registration table and miss your first session. Visit Jamie Reed and her awesome volunteers early to pick up your nametag, your CEU form (if needed) and get any questions answered.
7) Divide and conquer
If you’re attending with coworkers, try and see as much as possible. Splitting up for sessions will maximize how much you’re able to learn and ensure that each of you has unique insights to take back to your company. On your own? Discovering how your agency fits into the larger Kansas park and recreation field and how other agencies run, is an invaluable insight. A conference provides a unique opportunity to pick the brains of fellow members and agencies, which leads us to Tip #8.
8) Connect with fellow KRPA Members Networking with other professionals in your field is a highlight of the KRPA conference and our association. Make time to connect with fellow members. Attend the branch social and meet people in your field of expertise. Exchange information--- when you have questions and need help later in the year, you’ll have the new connections to contact for support.
When you are home and waiting for the 2022 KRPA Conference in Overland Park
9) Gather your thoughts
All that information you gathered from sessions and new contacts from the conference and the trade show can quickly be forgotten if not organized right away. Write down your key takeaways. Enter new contacts into your address book. Fill out the KRPA post-conference survey which will be on the app and sent out via email.
10) Prepare to share your Ideas for future when you arrive home
Send follow-up notes and LinkedIn requests to your new contacts while the conference is still fresh in your mind. Include a personalized message to accompany your request on LinkedIn. Remember to make yourself memorable by reminding your new contact what you discussed.
Schedule a team meeting for the week or two after conference. Share the insights you gained at conference that are likely to be useful to your agency. Or, write an email to document the most valuable information. There’s no better place than a conference to take stock of the state of your agency and your profession.
2021 Kansas Esports State Championship Winners Announced
After two tournament days, we have the winners of the inaugural Kansas Esports State Championship. Competition was held for 4 games: Rocket League, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Fortnite and Super Smash Brothers.
Participants from 6 agencies across Kansas competed on October 22-23, 2021 virtually to be crowned the winner. Join us in congratulating Logan of Lenexa Parks and Recreation as the Mario Kart champion, Anthony of Lenexa Parks and Recreation as the Super Smash Brother champion, Luke of Maize Recreation Commission as the Fortnite champion, and Anthony & Andrew of Lenexa Parks and Recreation as the Rocket League 2v2 champions.
Special thanks to all our participants and the KRPA esports committee for bringing this tournament to fruition. KRPA partnered with Mission Control to host this state tournament. We look forward to holding another esports tournament next year. More information to come.
This Won’t be the Off Season We Were Hoping ForSponsored Post by Kathy Stanley, Commercial Aquatic Services
As one of the most challenging pool seasons we’ve experienced comes to an end, our initial reaction was one of relief. And before the sigh could escape, more hits have started coming.
We received notification from one of the chemical companies that prices will be increasing 15% – 30% in the coming weeks. We’re seeing equipment prices increasing by 10% – 50%. This, after watching the prices climb all year, across every product line.
These increases are due to escalating costs of raw materials, freight problems, packaging components, labor shortages, increased labor costs, and most recently – Hurricane Ida. All of these factors have created the ‘Perfect Storm’ if you will, with no end in sight. We’re still suffering the devastating effects of the Winter Storm Uri that brought severe destruction to much of the southern states. All available inventory was snatched up for repairs of the facilities, that were not prepared for the freezing temperatures they had to endure for days on end.
The resin industry initially was struggling from COVID-19, when Winter Storm Uri hit, and the latest hurdle now being Hurricane Ida. These resins are needed for plastic processors across the country. Without the necessary supply, factories are unable to manufacture injection molded parts. The already short supply, coupled with the high demand, has our industry feeling the pain in every nook and cranny.
The chemical supply chains are suffering as well. This goes beyond the chlorine production plant fire in 2020. We all thought if we could just get through 2021 summer season manufacturing would be able to catch back up again. But these supply problems are so closely intertwined. Without the molded plastics, we don’t have buckets, or jugs, or drums to hold the chemicals. With the rail damage from the hurricane, we don’t have a way to ship product out. If we can’t get the ingredients, we can’t manufacturer the products. The plants had to shut down for the hurricane, if they suffered damage in the storm, the damages have to be repaired – but where will the parts come from? This vicious circle is exhausting.
This post isn’t to cause panic for our industry, but rather an awareness. And through that awareness, maybe, just maybe, bring more preparedness. Budgets will have to be adjusted, prices will need to increase for everyone, and it’s up to us to communicate this information as early, and as frequently as necessary to make sure that everyone understands what we’re facing.
The 4 Recreational Trends Hitting the Region Sponsored Post by: Landworks Studio, 2021 KRPA Women's Leadership Summit Sponsor
As we’ve created city-wide parks and recreation master plans over the last few years, we’ve noticed a series of recreational trends. No matter the size of the community these items are highly valued by residents in all areas. In fact, over the last year, the cities of Andover, Kansas; Joplin, Missouri; and Smithville, Missouri all shared similar wants and needs when it came to planning for parks and recreation.
The four primary trends we identified included:
While these four items were popular in the region, the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) identified a few other trends. The first is a focus on health and health equity. Technology is another, as parks and recreation departments determine how to not only make facilities more technologically advanced, but also better utilize the data they collect. Navigating climate change and creating virtual programming are other concerns.
One timely trend is the integration of Insta-worthy parks. In an effort to further increase facility usage, NRPA reports that many cities are incorporating photo opportunities. This tactic provides natural, grassroots promotion, as residents and visitors share their experiences online.
In addition to these trends, parks and recreation facilities saw a surge in usage as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Social distancing practices created an increased need for outdoor spaces and recreational activities. In fact, not only did some city parks experience 50 percent¹ more visitors than previous years, but there was also a record-breaking number of bicycle sales in the year 2020. The number of leisure bike sales skyrocketed 121 percent compared to 2019². This increased need for outdoor space and recreational activities influenced trends in Andover, Smithville, and Joplin. After going through the master planning process with all three communities, it was clear the parks and recreation departments were attempting to keep up with the change in demand. They looked to our studio to help them do it.
To learn more about our master planning process or how to incorporate these trends, contact our team at www.landworksstudio.com.
¹ WHYY, PBS, NPR – Philly Parks Dept: City parks saw 50% more visitors in 2020, December 26, 2020 ² New York Times- Thinking of Buying a Bike? Get Ready for a Very Long Wait, May 18, 2020
Meadowbrook Park, Prairie Village, KS - This park was master planned and designed by Landworks Studio, once built, it acted as the catalyst for the adjacent residential and commercial development. (Images by: Landworks Studio)
Colorado Park & Recreation Association (CPRA) is leading the way for a national recruitment videos for parks and recreation across the nation. You are invited (and KRPA highly encourages you) to participate in this fun and important opportunity.
KRPA Recruitment Committee has been working hard to put together a Recruitment Toolkit to roll out in January 2022 to aid KRPA member agencies in recruiting employees and promoting the profession across the state. This national video and possibly a local Kansas video will be available as part of this toolkit.
CPRA has teamed with Gametime to produce this recruitment video. NRPA has also come along side to support this effort.
How can you participate and help? CPRA and KRPA need short video vignettes of P&R professionals from seasonal to full-time and everywhere in between! We want to highlight the reality of the industry from your point of view. We hope to use these testimonials to show job seekers why a career in P&R is a viable and sustainable path with a variety of opportunities available. Tell them why you chose Parks & Rec!
PR Marketing Video Submission Instructions.pdf
What could your submissions include? - Short video interview under 30 seconds (Ideally close to 10 seconds of solid testimonial) - B-Roll: A wide variety of different shots that illustrate the story and interview audio - Slow pans with slight movement showing the surroundings of your position Ex: The view of the pool from a Lifeguard stand or underwater footage with a GoPro - Dynamic action shots with different angles Ex: Instructors giving programming classes with unique viewpoints - Whatever else you imagine when describing how much you love your job! Ex: Staff laughing together; connecting with your community, etc.
Content Requirements: -All contributors must choose a Category and a Prompt to work from! (Only 1 each per submission!) - Categories: Aquatics and Lifeguards Customer Service and Facilities Parks Trails and Open Space Programming (Summer Camps, TR, Youth, Athletics, etc.) - Prompts: “I love my job because…”-“I choose P&R as a career because…” “A career in P&R means…”-“P&R provides me with…” “I stay in P&R because…”-“Every day I get to…” “Over the past _ years, I’ve gotten to…”
Formatting Requirements:- 16 x 9 horizontal shots - 1080p (Standard 1920 x 1080) Can find in video settings on most phones or recording devices 4k is fine, but no smaller than 1080p will be accepted - Audio: Shoot in a quiet location Separate mics are ideal when possible The closer to the mic the better!
Recording Requirements & Tips: Frame: 1/3 Rule: Have subject on 1/3 of the camera view Interviewers: Start recording a few seconds before your subject starts speaking - This will ensure that you capture the entire story Place interviewer off to the opposite side from subject, so subject is looking diagonally across the screen -Even if no interviewer is present, pretend there is!
Subjects: - Wear agency t-shirt/uniform or other logoed clothing items if possible - Start with your name, agency, title, and how many years you’ve been in the field - Restate your chosen prompt to begin your story Ex: “I love my job because…” then continue with your quick, personal story - Do NOT look directly into the camera - Speak to an (imaginary or real) interviewer off to the opposite side of the camera - Keep the sun to the side (ideal) or in front of you! - Keep content quick and to the point, and stay enthusiastic!
Sending in Submissions: - Please submit all content to amanda@krpa.org. - All Submissions are due by September 8th, 2021!o
In your submission be sure to tell us the name of your employer, city, and state! • Include name of subject and their agency in file descriptions Submit a Release Form with all content - A Release Form is required to be signed and submitted by every video subject If the subject is under 18, their parent(s)/guardian(s) MUST sign the release!
Other Details:
We cannot guarantee that a submission will be used in any of the videos in this campaign, but we truly appreciate your contribution! We hope to create a library of content to be available to YOU and your peers nationally for any further projects or marketing that would benefit from these collected stories. Thank you for your contribution to this resource and for helping us share the good word about the industry we all love!
Timeline: - Submissions due by September 8th - Campaign rolls out in January 2022!
KRPA is thrilled to announce a partnership with Mission Control and to host the first ever Kansas Recreational Esports Championship. This state-wide tournament will be an opportunity for your community to compete against other communities for the chance to be crowned champion.
We'll host an educational webinar led by Mission Control on August 5th at 2pm. The webinar will address the basics of esports, the esports event and answer your questions regarding it all. Call link information is below. We look forward to seeing your town start esports and compete for the championship!
Does my agency have to use Mission Control to run our esports qualifiers?
No, you do not have to use Mission Control to run your qualifiers. There are many ways to run your qualifying tournaments or leagues, and they will be discussed at the webinar.
How do I stay connected with other communities participating in this new opportunity?
KRPA has started a discussion thread in the Locker Room. Click here and let us know if you are coming to one of the webinar to learn more about this first-ever esports state championship.
Have questions?
If you have immediate questions, please contact Jamie Reed at jamie@krpa.org. A big thank you to the KRPA Esports Committee for their hard-work on this championship. Committee Members: Jimmy Kegin, Eudora Parks and RecreationJeremy Reimer, Lenexa Parks and RecreationJaima Nicholson, Maize Recreation CommissionAndrea Kelly, Maize Recreation CommissionTrent Buchman, Blue Valley Recreation Commission
Topic: Esports Education
Time: Aug 5, 2021 02:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
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Safe Sitter, Inc. is now offering a special opportunity to KRPA members: become a Safe Sitter® Registered Provider and offer licensed babysitting training courses at a significantly reduced cost.
For a limited time, KRPA members can apply to become a Safe Sitter® Registered Provider and avoid paying the $699 registration fee. Each member agency approved for the program will pay a discounted registration fee of $399, which includes a Game Pack, Graphics Pack, online Instructor training for one Instructor, marketing resources, and program support. Additional Instructors can be trained for $85 per person.
Ongoing costs are minimal: every student in a Safe Sitter® class must have a Student Handbook ($18) which includes a Completion Card. Registered Providers order Handbooks from Safe Sitter, Inc. National Headquarters and then set and collect their own fees for their classes.
Safe Sitter® courses prepare young teens with the life and safety skills they need when they are home alone, watching younger siblings, or babysitting. All courses are Instructor-led and filled with fun games and role-playing exercises. Students learn:
· Safety Skills: Students learn how to prevent unsafe situations and what to do when faced with dangers such as power failures or weather emergencies.
· Child Care Skills: Students learn tips to manage behavior that will help them stay in control of themselves and the children in their care. Students also learn the ages and stages of child development, as well as practice diapering.
· First Aid & Rescue Skills: Learning skills such as choking rescue and CPR is often students’ favorite part of the class. Students also learn a system to help them assess and respond to injuries and illnesses.
· Life & Business Skills: The ability to screen jobs, discuss fees, and greet employers will set students up for success now and in the future. Students practice these skills through various role plays.
Safe Sitter, Inc., a nonprofit organization, has over 900 Registered Providers across the country. The program was created by nationally-recognized pediatrician Dr. Patricia Keener in 1980 with the goal of partnering with organizations to have their own Instructors trained to teach the program.
KRPA member agencies interested in applying to be a Safe Sitter® training site should contact Amanda Christian at Safe Sitter, Inc. (317.596.5001 x802 or achristian@safesitter.org). The link to the application is https://safesitterinc-abkbr.formstack.com/forms/new_site_application. Additional information about Safe Sitter® can be found at www.safesitter.org.
