Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society (PRPS)

06/26/2026

Attention PRPS Members!
Come network, have some fun, and meet new colleagues at a Phillies or Pirates game on Sunday, July 26, for Park & Recreation Month. Discounted tickets for members are available at just $15, and additional tickets can be purchased at cost for friends and family. Ticket availability is limited, so get yours today!

Register:
PIRATES Game Registration: https://prps.org/events/2026/26pirates
PHILLIES Game Registration: https://prps.org/events/2026/26phillies
(Hurry, the ticket deadline for Phillies Games is June 26, don't miss out!)

This event is sponsored by Berliner!

06/25/2026

We are inviting article submissions for the Fall issue of PA Recreation & Parks magazine!

PA Recreation & Parks is the official magazine of the PA Recreation & Park Society and is distributed to over 2,000 recreation professionals and other interested individuals. Many of our readers are decision-makers in purchasing areas ranging from aquatic equipment to full-scale park design and construction, as well as maintenance supplies and services.

PRPS members rely on PA Recreation & Parks to provide up-to-date information on the issues and trends that impact recreation today. The magazine includes articles that provide lasting reference value for park and recreation professionals beyond the publication date. PA Recreation & Parks is a dynamic magazine that effectively targets the growing outdoor leisure recreation market in PA.

Please send your article submissions to [email protected] by August 3.

06/24/2026

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is everywhere, but how can we actually use it in our parks & rec departments? Come join this exciting session with Rec Technologies to learn practical applications of AI for recreation that go beyond ChatGPT or Canva – featuring insights from OpenAI and case studies from innovative parks & rec departments across the US.

Register here: prps.org/events

Speakers: Jessi Pak Barrnett & Chris DesRoches
Jessi has 15+ years of sales leadership experience at high-growth tech companies, most recently as VP of Sales at Great Place to Work. She joined Rec Technologies to lead partnerships, driven by a passion for technology that simplifies operations and connects people to the communities they love.

Chris DesRoches
Seasoned operations and systems leader with deep expertise in parks, recreation, and community technology. Currently leading Partnerships at Rec Technologies, where he helps recreation agencies modernize operations through AI-native tools.

06/23/2026

Limited “nice” weather days and increasingly comfort-focused lifestyles are influencing how often people engage in outdoor recreation. Explore the value of year-round, all-weather programming and encourage parks and recreation professionals to consider how outdoor experiences in every season can support health, learning, and resilience.

Continue reading our next blog by Andy Hood, Program Director, Hiking Hound Adventures, LLC.

https://prps.org/posts/beyond-fair-weather-recreation-embracing-year-round-outdoor-programming

06/23/2026

Please Share Your Feedback by July 15!

PRPS is still gathering feedback from members to help shape future priorities, programs, services, resources, and member benefits. All feedback is anonymous! We want you to help identify opportunities to better support parks and recreation professionals and agencies across Pennsylvania.

There are several ways to provide feedback that only take 5-10 minutes! This is your chance to be heard!

Share your feedback here: https://engageberrydunn.mysocialpinpoint.com/prps-organizational-and-staffing-assessment

06/21/2026

The Summer Solstice has arrived!

06/19/2026

Juneteenth is an annual observance on June 19 to remember when Union soldiers enforced the Emancipation Proclamation and freed all remaining slaves in Texas on June 19, 1865. This day is an opportunity for people to celebrate freedom and equal rights in the United States.

06/18/2026

As part of the 2025 PRPS Leadership Academy, one of the projects was the creation of "Day in the Life of a Park & Rec professional" videos from some of the participants. PRPS Member Brian Warren from Upper Chichester Township Recreation created this video. Click to enjoy!

A day in the life at Upper Chichester Township!

06/17/2026

We are excited to announce that this year we have selected two Good Job! Award winners - Hatfield Township and Jeff Williams. Jeff is the former chair of the Park & Recreation Board at Upper Allen Township Park and Rec Advisory Board.

They've both done outstanding work in their communities every day and are very deserving of this award. We truly had a great mix of nominations once again, and we encourage you to consider submitting next year.

06/16/2026

PRPS Conference & Expo Educational Sessions Open!

PRPS and the Conference Committee are now accepting proposals for educational sessions to be presented at the 2027 Annual Conference & Expo, being held March 16-19 at Kalahari in the Poconos. This year's theme is "Building Connections, Bridging Gaps," and we are recruiting session proposals on industry hot topics and available session time slots.

The event will attract around 400 park and recreation professionals, including directors and staff of local, county, state, federal, and non-profit recreation and park departments and facilities, as well as aquatic facility managers, trail and greenway coordinators, local and state government officials, volunteer board/friends members, and students in recreation and parks or related college programs. The deadline for submissions is August 30, 2026.
Click here to submit a proposal: https://bit.ly/4uCERgw