Annual KRPA Golf Tournament

The 2019 KRPA golf tournament will be held Friday, August 23 at the City of Cheney’s Cherry Oaks Golf Course.  Registration will be open at 7:45 am and tee off will be at 8:30 am.  Team fee is $160 or $40 per participant.

Register Here

New this year, the KRPA board has decided to make a change with the event.  Instead of having the tournament serve as a fundraiser for KRPA, the goal of the event has shifted focus more to being a great opportunity for socializing and networking with other KRPA members and vendors.  We hope the tournament will serve as a way members can bring fellow area members, their staffs and board members for a great time playing and meeting with other parks and recreation professionals in a fun setting at a great course. For questions regarding this year's golf tournament, please contact Brent Peintner at brent@cheneyrecreation.com.

Cherry Oaks is an 18-hole public/municipal course located in Cheney just 20 minutes west of Wichita off of highway 54. The course has hosted numerous KSHSAA regional and state golf tournaments over the years.  It continues to improve yearly with concrete cart paths, new trees, an outdoor pavilion and more.  Visit www.cherryoaksgc.com for additional information on the course.

Hays Aquatic Park

Sitting right off of I-70, Hays is a great day trip or excursion stop on your vacation drive. Hays Aquatic Park is a great place to adventure and let off some energy. Don’t forget to purchase your Splash Across Kansas card for your visit to Hay’s fun aquatic park.

Hays Aquatic Park is complete with two very challenging slides and a lazy river. It also contains leisure and competition pools with diving boards, concessions, shaded lounging stations and a splash pool for young swimmers.

Plan your visit to Hays Aquatic Park around other events going on in Hays. Consider visiting the Megalodon: The Largest Shark that Ever Lived exhibit at the Sternberg Museum which runs through the summer. Visit Hays has a complete list of upcoming events and great places to eat for your trip to Hays.

Wetlands Waterpark- Great Bend

Great Bend is only a few hours drive from Wichita and Topeka. It is a hidden gem in Central Kansas and well worth adding it to your summer bucket list, especially if you include a visit to Wetlands Waterpark in your plans. Don’t forget to purchase your Splash Across Kansas card for your visit to Great Bend's awesome aquatic park.

The Wetlands at Great Bend is located at 2303 Main in Brit Spaugh Park. The water park, owned and operated by the City of Great Bend. The original pool is still in existence, but many other changes have taken place throughout the years. In 2005, the pool underwent a major renovation.  With the addition of a new bathhouse and concession area, a modern water feature that includes a tipping bucket, several slides for visitors of all ages, a spray park, a zero depth splash pool, and numerous colorful shade structures throughout the facility, Wetlands Waterpark has become one of the finest water parks in Central Kansas.

Plan your visit to Wetlands Waterpark around other events going on in Great Bend. Consider attending the June Jaunt festival which runs May 31st-June 2nd or Party in the Park on August 10th. Visit the Great Bend Zoo. Wouldn't it be fun for the kids to get worn out at the Wetlands Waterpark and then attend an outdoor movie night?  Click here for a complete list of the City of Great Bends’s summer events.

Rock River Rapids- Derby

As the largest suburb of Wichita, Derby is an easy mini vacation for anyone in Kansas. Derby’s Rock River Rapids is a must for your summer bucket list. Don’t forget to purchase your Splash Across Kansas card for your visit to Derby’s awesome aquatic park.

Rock River Rapids is a full service aquatic park with concessions, lockers, a bathhouse and gift counter. There are numerous areas at the park liberally equipped with lounge chairs for relaxing. Rock River Rapids has four featured slides to choose from. Take a raft ride with a friend or kick up the excitement with a thrilling drop off the speed slide! The park also has a lap pool, a lazy river and a zero depth pool for the younger visitors.

Plan your visit to Rock River Rapids around other events going on in Derby. Consider attending the Smoke on the Plains: Derby BBQ and Music Fest which runs June 6-8. After splashing the day away, stay for the 1^st ever Family Camp Out at Derby’s newest park or attend Derby’s Theater in the Park at High Park Amphitheater for A Midsummer Night's Dream. Free and open to the public. Click here for a complete list of Derby Recreation Commission’s summer events.

Get the Heck INTO Dodge!

Dodge City isn't just a one-horse town but offers awesome events and amenities that you can enjoy this summer. Your Splash Across Kansas card will come in handy when you visit the Dodge City's Long Branch Lagoon.

Long Branch Lagoon is a western themed water park with over 27,000 square feet of water surface with attractions like Doc's Plunge, The Gunslinger, Cowboy Creek Lazy River and more.  It is positioned in Wright Park and the downtown Heritage District and close to the famed Boot Hill Museum, historic downtown and the Santa Fe Depot. 

Plan your visit to Long Branch Lagoon around other events going on in Dodge City. Visit Dodge City has put together a wonderful summer brochure to guide you through all the summer attractions going on in Dodge City.

Haven't purchased your Splash Across Kansas card yet to get your 2 admissions to Long Branch Lagoon + 16 other aquatic parks across Kansas? Don't miss out! Purchase your card here.

Healthy Hometown Grant Opportunity for KRPA Members

How could your agency use $5,000 to improve health and well-being in your community? We want to know! Healthy Hometown grant applications are now available. KRPA will award $15,000 in grants to selected agencies.

Learn More Here >

Healthy Hometown is a community health improvement grant provided by Kansas Recreation and Park Association (KRPA) and the Powercat Health Partnership (Kansas State University, Kansas Health Foundation, and Stormont-Vail Hospital) to provide enhancement dollars to Kansas recreation and park agencies who support healthy lifestyles through programs and initiatives that promote healthy communities. Click here to apply. Applications are due by April 19, 2019.

Thank you to the Powercat Health Partnership for their support of health and wellness in Kansas!

Parks & Recreation Marketing Grant
Applications due by April 1, 2019

Could your department use an additional $500 to assist in promoting your programs or events? Sunflower State Games is offering you the opportunity to apply for the 2019 Parks and Recreation Marketing Grant.

HOW DO WE APPLY?

Easy! Just complete and submit the application form to Sunflower State Games Office by April 1st. All applicants must be members of the Kansas Recreation and Park Association. Only one application may be submitted per department/community.

INSTRUCTIONS

1) Submit the application form to our office by April 1, 2019.

2) Submit documentation of your selected Promotion Options by June 28, 2019. Items 1 & 2 of the Promotion Options listed below are required to be considered eligible. A minimum of four additional Promotion Options (items 3 - 9 listed below) must be selected. Documentation must include the following: a) Itemized explanation of how your department implemented each of the selected Promotion Options. b) Proof of inclusion for each of the selected Promotion Options (pictures, links, hard copy, etc). Submissions may be sent electronically via email in PDF format to mgross@sunflowergames.com or shipment of hard copies to: Sunflower State Games, 501 SE Jefferson St., Ste. 22, Topeka, KS 66607

PROMOTION OPTIONS

#1 REQUIRED - Distribution of Sunflower State Games Event Brochures to patrons and general public (brochures to be shipped in March)

#2 REQUIRED - Display Sunflower State Games event posters at Community Centers & Sports Venues (posters to be shipped in March)

#3 Placement of Sunflower State Games logo or ad with external link from department web site (logo or ad provided by SSG upon request)

#4 Ad or article placement in printed Seasonal Program (Ad or article provided by SSG upon request)

#5 Ad or article placement in monthly or seasonal Newsletter (Ad or article provided by SSG upon request)

#6 Event Calendar Listing (electronic or print)

#7 Inclusion in Team or League event schedules

#8 Social Media Mentions tagging SSG on at least two platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat)

#9 OTHER: Please include on a separate sheet additional resources that you plan to utilize in promoting the 2019 Sunflower State Games

SELECTION PROCESS

Recipient of the $500 grant will be selected by the SSG Staff and Board of Directors based on the above criteria. Additional consideration will be given to organizations that exceed the minimum requirements listed above. Grant recipient will be notified in August. A formal presentation will be made at the 2019 SSG VIP Reception on September 30th in Topeka. Expense report to be submitted to SSG upon use of Grant Funds.

Questions? Call the Sunflower State Games office at 785-235-2295 or email mgross@sunflowergames.com

Click Here to Download the Session Proposal Form.

More questions? Email Jamie Reed or call (785) 235-6533.

Kansas Recreation and Park Association is excited to offer a special summer opportunity for Kansas residents to stay-cation in 2019. There is so much to do across the state from museums, trails and parks, but we are highlighting some of the amazing aquatic facilities in the state through the NEW Splash Across Kansas program. Whether your family is traveling for sporting events or just planning fun day trips, we want you to incorporate stops at Kansas aquatic facilities in your summer plans. Watch this video to learn more: https://youtu.be/tVransAeHt8

COST

$40 

PARTICIPATING AQUATIC FACILITIES

There are 16 participating aquatic facilities across Kansas. Click here for a complete list and more information about each aquatic facility.

VALUE

You will receive 2 admissions to each aquatic facility with your punch card. With an average daily rate of $7 per aquatic center per person, this is a great deal.
32 visits x $7 average =
$224 value

Splash Across Kansas cards are NOW available to purchase through the KRPA store.

2019 Day at the Capitol

Wednesday, February 27, 2019 starting at 9am

Kansas Statehouse/Visitors Center Auditorium, 4-N, Topeka

Join KRPA members and staff from around the state to advocate for parks and recreation!

Come join fellow KRPA members for a one-day event as we head to the statehouse to meet with our legislators. We will have access to our room at 9:00; the program will start shortly after 9:00. Hear from legislators, our new lobbyists and possibly a special guest.

We will have a short session on what to talk with your legislator about then head to the 2^nd floor for lunch. After lunch there will be time to watch the house and senate debate on the floor then we will meet back in auditorium to debrief.

You will need to contact your legislator before you come on the 27^th to let them know you will be at the capitol on the 27^th and invite them to come grab a lunch. If you need help with this, please contact Erika.

You must RSVP to Erika at erika@krpa.org by February 25^th, 2019.

Agenda:

9:15-11:00 – Speakers

11:00-1:30 – Lunch on the 2^nd Floor North wing, meet with legislators

1:30-2:00 – Free to roam the capitol or watch the senate and/or house debate on the floor

2:15-2:45- Debrief, Visitors Center Auditorium, 4-N

With the new dynamic of divided government for the first time in a decade, strong public support for parks and recreation is needed to make our unified voice heard. If you don’t tell the park and recreation story, who will?