MRPA Magazine - Summer 2023

Publisher

Minnesota Recreation and Park Association

200 Charles Street NE, Fridley, MN 55432

www.mnrpa.org

Tel: 763.571.1305

An affiliate of National Recreation and Park Association

Editorial Staff

Michelle J. Snider

Bethani Gerhard

Editorial Board

Scott Berggren, Crystal

Jennifer Fink, New Brighton

Lori Hokenson, New Brighton

Mary Jo Knudson, Owatonna

Cheryl Kormann, New Ulm

Patrick Menton, Winona

Advertising Sales & Design

Todd Pernsteiner

Pernsteiner Creative Group

todd@pernsteiner.com

952.841.1111

MRPA Board of Directors 2023

President: Jerome Krieger, Blaine

President-Elect: Michelle Okada, Woodbury

Past President: Ross Demant, Wright County

Secretary: Annie Olson, Minneapolis

Treasurer: Sonya Rippe, Plymouth

RSC Chair: Scott Heitkamp, Burnsville

East Metro: Andrew Pimental, Eagan

East Metro: Becky Sola, Shoreview

East Metro: Dan Schultz, Rosemount

Northeast Region: Amber Moon Peterson, Nisswa

Northwest Region: Lynn Neumann, Hutchinson

Southern Region: Joey Schugel, St. Peter

West Metro: Mike Ramirez, Brooklyn Park

West Metro: Jenna Smith, Bloomington

West Metro: Jason T. West, St. Louis Park

This magazine is the official quarterly publication of Minnesota Recreation and Park Association and is provided complimentary to members as part of their MRPA membership. The editorial board encourages the submission of articles and photos for publication by agency members. Articles of approximately 500-700 words or less may be submitted, but may be edited for length and clarity. Contact Michelle Snider, MRPA, at 763.571.1305 x100 if interested in submitting an article for a future issue.

Articles and Advertising Deadlines

Fall 2023 issue September 15, 2023

Winter 2024 issue December 14, 2023

Spring 2024 Issue March 24, 2024

Summer 2024 issue May 22, 2024

MRPA reserves the right to approve all submitted advertising in MINNESOTA Recreation and Parks magazine. All requests for advertising should be made to Todd Pernsteiner, Account Manager, at 952.841.1111 or todd@pernsteiner.com.

FROM THE PRESIDENT

By Jerome Krieger, MRPA President

Summertime!

It is finally summertime and the opportunity for all of us to highlight our parks, pools, beaches, golf courses, shelters, community centers, programs, and part-time staff. It is an impressive feeling to see all the challenging work you have accomplished during the past year, come to life. Enjoy this time of the year and make sure that during your busy schedules you get a chance to get out and take advantage of the great weather. Make sure you create time for yourself! Personally, I have tried to set a goal of playing at least nine holes of golf every week and fishing every other week, as well as playing hockey weekly. I have kept up with the hockey and golfing side of my goal, but need to get out in the boat more often.

This publication highlights our annual conference, mentorship program and therapeutic recreation programs. Our

annual conference committee is working continuously to bring you another outstanding conference. Check out the rest of the issue for upcoming events and activities. Let us break last year’s record of attendees and get more of your staff involved this year!

Our mentorship program has been phenomenal and continues to keep

growing. A huge thank you to John Stutzman, Meredith Lawrence, Jenna Smith, Jessica Christensen Buck, and all that have contributed to make this program a tremendous success!

We are highlighting therapeutic recreation this month and I want to acknowledge and praise all the professionals who are working in this field. I recently reached-out to Erin Bonikowske, in Brooklyn Park for information, and she steered me in the right direction for services. For those of us who do not have those professionals on our staff, it is nice to be able to turn to neighboring cities for answers. Thank you, Erin!

Keep up the magnificent work and reachout to me if you need anything!

Thanks, Jerome

ENJOY THIS TIME OF THE YEAR AND MAKE SURE THAT

SCHEDULES YOU GET A CHANCE TO GET OUT AND

GREAT WEATHER.

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Meet Sam Werle, City of Duluth

Sam Werle, recreation specialist with the City of Duluth, says he previously worked in roles involving afterschool programs, day camps, or nature centers. “Parks and recreation wasn’t on my radar as a profession until the position with the City of Duluth became available. My focus in pursuing a career was on youth development and education/ recreation since I hold a degree in outdoor education.”

Werle adds, one of the things that is interesting about the parks and recreation field is the term ‘recreation’ which can mean many different things to different people. “It’s not just athletics, it’s not just hiking or biking or ice skating; it’s all of those things and so much more – music, art, creativity, outdoor skills, physical and mental well-being, and social interaction. Providing a range of experiences to various audiences, and in Duluth, across a large space geographically, is a challenge unique to our field, but it can provide so much fulfillment to engage a community in what very well may be the highlight of their day, week, month, or year.”

According to Werle, the programming side of parks and recreation became limited because of major budget cuts in 2009, but by 2018 there was an initiative to expand the recreation programming offerings and two parks and recreation programming positions were added.

He states, “Upon being hired in early 2019, the newly-expanded team got to work looking broadly at two things: 1) what great activities were already happening in Duluth, either in-house or by other organizations, and how we could support those events, and 2) were there any current gaps in programming we could address by providing new and unique opportunities?

A few of the first projects included starting an archery program for youth and adults, applying for and receiving an MRPF New Initiative Grant to help launch a pop-up program to take equipment to different parks, and new activities like snowshoeing, geocaching, and afterschool programs.”

Werle adds, “Just over a year into revitalizing their programming, the pandemic put a harsh halt on the momentum. Staff had to find new and creative ways to reach and engage the community. We transitioned to virtual events like parks trivia nights and interpretive and educational videos. Our team is now getting back to our original mission of building Duluth’s programming offerings, including events like full-moon

Aquatic Manager Bootcamp Held May 24

Over 35 participants were in attendance at the Aquatic Manager Bootcamp on May 24 in Apple Valley. The goal of this “bootcamp” was to give an opportunity for seasonal pool managers to receive quick educational sessions on aquatics operations. A special thank you to Kevin O’Brien, chair of the MRPA Aquatics Network from the City of Faribault, and speakers Amy Larson from the City of Bloomington, Jeff Kopp from Horizon Pool Supply, and Steve Skinner from the City of Apple Valley.

hikes, adult kickball leagues, pop-up splash pads, beach parties, and family fishing programs.”

He says MRPA has been a great way for him to get to know others in the field across the state. The opportunities helped him see the field on a larger scale and created a network. “My first involvement was serving on the 2022 conference planning committee, with a focus on sponsorships. This was a great opportunity to learn about the many supporters of MRPA and to highlight the partnerships that help make the annual conference a success.”

Werle has also participated in both sessions of the Emerging Recreation Leaders Institute. “It provided an awesome overview of the field in general, along with providing insights into various stages of a parks and recreation career,” he says. “I was also a mentee in the MRPA Mentorship Program and was paired with Andrew Pimental. He shared insight on the field, career path options, and balancing work with family life.”

Most recently, Werle joined the MRPA awards committee. He says, “It is great to celebrate the amazing people and projects across the state. There is a wide range of creativity, collaboration, and commitment made by individuals and organizations to their communities. We want to make sure they are acknowledged and celebrated!”

MRPA “On the Air” Podcast

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. Check out the two new podcasts on the MRPA website. Hosts Bryce and Meredith talk with Nick Jacobs, parks and recreation director with the City of Otsego on the topic of park maintenance. They also talk with Gina Brady, recreation supervisor with the City of Roseville on the subject of seasonal employees. MRPA is grateful to Landscape Structures and Flagship Recreation for their sponsorship of the podcast.

Take Part in the “50 for 50 MRPF Challenge”

By Jennifer Fink, MRPF President

I am excited to share with you the incredible opportunity to celebrate our 50 th anniversary in true parks and recreation style. As we are gathering this fall at our conference, I invite you to honor this milestone with us. I want to take a moment to revel in the best part of our profession: the extraordinary networking opportunities that come with our professional connections.

Picture this: a world where parks and recreation professionals from all corners of Minnesota come together, forming a web of friendship, collaboration, and shared enthusiasm. It’s like the ultimate Pawnee Harvest Festival, but with less waffles (sadly). Through the Minnesota Recreation and Parks Foundation, we’ve built a community that thrives on these invaluable connections. Whether it’s swapping stories at a conference, sharing innovative ideas during workshops, or collaborating on groundbreaking projects, our professional network is the lifeblood of our success.

Survey after survey shows that one of the most important things for professionals in our line of work is the networking that we get from our professional organizations. So, in the true spirit of parks and recreation passion, I challenge you to seize this momentous occasion and embrace the power of networking. Reach out to your fellow professionals, those bright sparks who share our unwavering commitment to making our communities vibrant and joyful.

Challenge them to participate in our “50 for 50 MRPF Challenge,” where we aim to

raise $50 (or more!) in honor of our 50 years of existence. Encourage them to join this celebration of our shared journey and inspire them to rally their own networks. Together, we can create a ripple effect of support, strengthening the ties that bind us in this beautiful profession. This challenge will run through the end of the year.

To embark on this noble mission, simply visit our website to donate. Share your park and rec story online or at a staff meeting, make a department challenge, and unleash your networking prowess. Let’s ignite a wildfire of generosity and camaraderie among our colleagues and friends. Use the hashtags #50for50 and #MRPF50YearsStrong or tag the Foundation Facebook page in your posts to help others know.

Remember, the funds raised through the “50 for 50 MRPF Challenge” will fuel our mission of providing scholarships, research opportunities, and funding for special projects that shape the future of our industry. By harnessing the power of our network, we can propel our shared vision forward.

So, my fellow parks and recreation enthusiasts, let us embrace this moment and channel our inner Leslie Knope. Let’s connect, challenge, and support one another as we celebrate our 50 th anniversary with gusto!

Thank you for your unwavering dedication and passion, which makes our network thrive and our mission soar.

With boundless enthusiasm and a heart full of waffles - Jennifer Fink, CPRP, Minnesota Recreation and Parks Foundation president

50 th Anniversary Logos

Thank you to Nicole Greenwell from Anoka County Parks and Recreation for designing not one, but two 50 th Anniversary Logos! These logos remind us of when the Foundation was created and use the current logo as inspiration. That logo was designed by another member, Andy Soltvedt. These logos are going to be featured on your favorite sweatshirts, vests, and even retro t-shirts, allowing everyone to not only help raise funds for the Foundation but wear their MRPF pride. You can access the merchandise store by visiting www.mnrpf.org or scanning the QR code at right. You can either pay to have items shipped directly to you, picked up in New Brighton, or you can pick them up at this year’s conference in Plymouth!

Celebrate with the Foundation

We look forward to celebrating with all of you at this year’s Annual Conference social events. Stay tuned for ways to remember the last 50 years of Foundation history and connect with

MRPF New Initiative Grants

Each session MRPF awards up to $4,000 to members’ organizations that are working to develop new and innovative programs. These grants spur innovation in the park and recreation field at the local, regional, and state level. In upcoming issues, we will highlight past grant recipients. Annual grant deadlines fall at the end of March and early November. For more information contact Lisa Abernathy at 952-9242539 or labernathy@stlouispark.org, or visit https://mnrpf.org/grants.

Chalkfest – City of Prior Lake

Year Started: 2019

Grant Award: $1,540

Chalk Fest is a free event that encourages attendees to participate in or admire the work of amateur and professional artists in an outdoor setting! Chalkfest hosts an amateur chalk art contest, interactive art displays, live music, food trucks and fun!

Chalk Fest has been running since 2019. The start-up of this event received $1,540 from the MRPF New Initiative Grant to fund the construction of the chalk board easels and stanchions.

Since its first year, the event has expanded in terms of entertainment and attendance and amateur artists in our art contest. Organizers now invite the previous year’s amateur art contest winners to be featured artists on the chalk easels. After the event, they display the easels in the city hall lobby the month following the event.

The quality of art in the amateur art contest has improved greatly since the beginning of the event.

NRPA’s July Park and Recreation MonthWhere Community Grows

The NRPA 2023 Park and Recreation Month toolkit is now available. Members may use this resource to help promote Park and Recreation Month in your community this July! Download free toolkit resources at www.nrpa.org/events/july/toolkit/

Possible New National Park in Southeast Minnesota

The Driftless National Park and Preserve Initiative has made a proposal for a new national park in Minnesota, called Driftless National Park. The Driftless Region is a geologic region in southeast Minnesota, northeast Iowa, southwest Wisconsin, and northwest Illinois along the Mississippi River. The area was not covered by ice during the last ice age, which resulted in the absence of the usual glacial deposits known as ‘drift’. For further information on this proposal, visit driftlessnationalpark.org

Flashback: 1983

MRPA Conference

The 1983 MRPA Annual Conference was held at the Kahler Hotel in Rochester. The conference theme was ‘Partners in Progress.’

Rollin’ on the River mississippi crossings now open

By Bethani Gerhard, Minnesota Recreation and Park Association

In the heart of the City of Champlin is a beautiful 16-acre park, Mississippi Crossings. It has a new event center, pavilion and outdoor performance area/amphitheater, playground, small dog-run area and trails right on the Mississippi River. The grand opening and ribbon-cutting took place in October 2022 and the event center has been open for rentals since then.

“The Mississippi Crossings area has been completely revitalized,” states Charlie Lehn, parks and facilities manager for the City of Champlin. “There used to be a few vacant lots, older homes and apartments on this land next to the river. A few years ago, the City entered into a development agreement with Greco to be the developer of Mississippi Crossings. The Bowline apartment building to the north was constructed first, with the

event center area parking lot. In addition to the event center, a riverfront restaurant will be built next to the outdoor performance area/amphitheater in the near future.” The event center sits up high on the banks of the Mississippi River and has amazing views from the banquet room and balcony. “The event center is available to rent by the hour or all day during the week and weekends,”

The event center sits up high on the banks of the Mississippi River and has amazing views from the banquet room and balcony.

states Jake Widmyer, recreation supervisor for the City of Champlin. “The banquet room seats up to 120 people and the conference room holds up to 24 people. There is a preferred catering list of vendors to offer a variety of meal choices. So far we have booked many types of events in the event center banquet room.”

Widmyer adds, “In addition, we have a full line-up of concerts in the park this summer, called the Summer Stage Series. These free concerts at Mississippi Crossings include entertainment for friends and family. There are also food trucks available and the event center ice-cream shop is open during the events.” Lehn explains there are trails connecting throughout Mississippi Crossings area. “The trails connect to the Mill Pond, Three Rivers Park District’s Elm Creek Park Reserve regional trails, and the boat launch area,” he states. “The public docks at Mississippi Crossings are typically open end of May through October. The watercraft rental company, Your Boat Club, offers the ability to rent watercraft at the park’s lower point for park patrons to enjoy time on the river.”

The Mississippi Crossings originally was a landing area for steamboats and home to the Anoka-Champlin ferry service in the mid-1800s. Mississippi Crossings is now a vibrant area for all ages to enjoy the Mississippi River as the area’s great natural resource.

MEET A KEYNOTE SPEAKER

MILTON HUNT: Edu-tainer. Energizer. Motivator.

For more than 30 years, Milton Hunt has lived all that he teaches and speaks in his Employee Training, Motivational Speaking, and Employee Coaching services and programs. Hunt is a Native American, a member of the Lumbee tribe, the ninth largest in the United States. Having embraced his heritage, the principles, methods, and messages he utilizes and shares with clients and audiences are a blend of both professional expertise and personal experience.

Hunt possesses a unique perspective and remarkable ability to recognize vulnerabilities among populations and unify cultural and generational differences among individuals and groups of all ages. Those who engage with Hunt easily identify with him and they sense, “He understands me.” And he does. In combination, these qualities

FUN FACTS

are distinctions that position Hunt at the forefront of industry leaders.

Hunt has trained and coached in the corporate, government and private sectors. He also is a keynote and motivational speaker, an “edutainer,” known for delivering powerful and proven ideas in informative, captivating, and exciting ways. In all endeavors, Hunt performs with high energy and immense dedication.

Milton Hunt’s background:

• Employee Training: Engaging your finest resources, employees, to meet and exceed their potential and accelerate your business success

• Motivational Speaker: Providing solutions-based keynote addresses, workshops, and seminars in a one-ofa-kind “edu-tainer” style

• Employee Coaching: For all types of professionals, providing customized tools that enable you to achieve both personal and professional goals

Hunt’s accomplishments include:

• Appointed by the Secretary for the Department of Transportation to the Maryland Minority Business Enterprise

Advisory Committee for the Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs. This appointment was made by the State of Maryland’s Secretary for the Department of Transportation.

• Greater Baltimore Committee –Graduate, GBC Leadership Class

• Founder/President, Maryland HomeBased Business Association

• President, The Business Resource Guide

• Awards: Minority Business Enterprise Advocate of the Year; Small Business Association; “Top 40 Under 40” –Baltimore Business Journal; “Power Ascending” – Warfield’s Business

• Anchored the television series “Be Your Own Boss” for Essex Community College

• Executive Director, Baltimore American Indian Center

• Adjunct Professor at several educational institutions in the region

• Appointed Red Cross National Diversity Advisory Council

• Many additional community and civic awards

The book that influenced Milton Hunt’s training called “Maximizing Your Potential” is Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. >

< In his leisure time, Milton likes to watch sports and enjoy a delicious bowl of Breyers chocolate ice cream.

The 2023 MRPA Annual Conference will feature powerful keynote speakers. We will highlight them in the spring and summer issues.

< Milton Hunt met his mentor, Preston Bruce, at the age of 18 and for the next 40 years of his life, Preston would guide him on how to develop his potential.

Photo: Smithsonian Institute

Photo: TarcherPerigee

ADAPTING FORALL

A well-planned therapeutic recreation approach is key to helping participants of all abilities make the most of your programs and services.

Photo: City of Brooklyn Park

By Megan Gosch, Pernsteiner Creative Group

“Creating spaces where everyone feels comfortable and can truly take part in the activities that connect them with their community or allow them to connect with nature; that’s why we’re here,” says Erin Bonikowske, adaptive recreation specialist for the City of Brooklyn Park. “But we have to consider, what does it mean to make our work genuinely inclusive for everyone?”

With a Masters of Science degree in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse, an extensive background in therapeutic recreation as well as being a certified therapeutic recreation specialist, Bonikowske fills what is sometimes a rare role in recreation departments. She works with program planners across her organization to ensure each activity is accessible to participants with developmental or cognitive disabilities, inclusion support needs and more. “When it comes to adapting our programs and services for more traditionally visible needs like a physical disability or injury, our field has come a long way, but what about everyone else? How are you making your programs more accessible for those with

a hearing impairment? Or someone with a developmental disability? Or someone prone to sensory overload? If we’re not making space for all kinds of abilities, someone’s getting left out and we’ve missed the mark,” she says.

Recreation programmers may already be wellversed in the accessibility standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or have previous experience modifying programs for a specific age group – the principles of therapeutic recreation (TR) take that adaptive

mindset a step further, going beyond rules and regulations by providing the tools to plan holistically for individual needs.

“Therapeutic recreation is all about breaking down the barriers that can keep someone on the sidelines,” says Bonikowske. “And the impact of adapting for those unique abilities goes far beyond physical health. It’s what keeps someone connected to their community, prevents them from being isolated, helps them find a fulfilling hobby that brings them joy — it’s an approach that has the power to improve quality of life and well-being.”

So, how can your team put therapeutic recreation principles into practice to make an impact?

While your agency may not have budgeted for a full-time adaptive specialist like Bonikowske, some key tips, trends and trainings can get you started. The Great Lakes ADA Center has a toll free number (800-949-4232) you can call for free advice or questions about the ADA. In addition, ADA Foundations has a great course to learn the basic understanding of the ADA.

For parks and recreation professionals, fostering opportunities where the community can fully engage, learn, grow — and most importantly — participate, isn’t just a goal, it’s a core mission.

Photo: City of Brooklyn Park

Putting Therapeutic Recreation Into Practice

Like Bonikowske, Lisa Lamey, the activity center manager at The Rookery Activity Center in Lino Lakes, works hand in hand with her team to build out programming that best fits the needs of the community her facility serves, ensuring accessibility remains top of mind. Both individuals share how their teams are harnessinging therapeutic recreation principles to provide more inclusive community support and evolving to incorporate trends they’ve seen in their communities.

Adapting in Action

Accommodating for All Ages

After an early pandemic closure as a YMCA facility, The Rookery reopened under city leadership just over a year ago and Lamey’s team has been actively growing and testing the center’s programming with community feedback in mind. One step that’s proved to be pivotal? Analyzing and understanding the demographics of the community her team serves.

“When we dug into our member data, we found that nearly half of the community members seeking out our services are seniors,” says Lamey. “They want to stay active, socialize, enjoy new hobbies, and our center’s programs are how they hope to do that. That gave us a clear indicator of how we can better tailor our programs and the use

of our facilities for the resources they need.”

From a senior-focused cardio endurance class that incorporates chairs and tubes for key support, to the hosting of weekly mahjong games, Lamey’s team intentionally builds out programs that are enriching and accessible for older groups.

Photo: City of Brooklyn Park

A Tool Kit of Adaptive Skills

Bonikowske’s team in Brooklyn Park has built out a full range of tools, devices and resources that staff can utilize when helping a participant cope with sensory overload, navigate a transition from one activity to the next, understand activity instructions, and more.

Her departmet’s toolkit includes:

• Waterproof Picture-based schedule to help participants creative cognitive connections to easy activity, increase language skills, and more. Waterproof picture schedules are available for swimming lessons.

• Weighted blankets and vests to help calm and soothe

• Sensory fidget devices to help participants focus and process new information

• Pocket Talker hearing amplifiers for those needing hearing assistance

• Portable accessible pathways that can be moved and incorporated wherever needed

• Sensory bins containing fidgets, noise-cancelling headphones and more, available for all recreation programs and check-out for community events

• Sensory corners that have been constructed as calming spaces where a participant can find a quiet retreat if experiencing a sensory or social overload

“All of these tools are available and on-hand for instructors to pull from whenever needed to ensure our participants feel comfortable engaging or taking space wherever needed,” says Bonikowske.

What’s in a Name?

What exactly is therapeutic recreation?

Therapeutic recreation, also known as, recreational therapy is a systematic process that utilizes recreation and other activity-based interventions to address the assessed needs of individuals with illnesses and/or disabling conditions, as a means to psychological and physical health, recovery and well-being. – As defined by the American Therapeutic Recreation Association

The definition for therapeutic recreation may seem simple enough, but there’s more than meets the eye. The terms “therapeutic recreation” and “recreation therapy” may seem interchangeable, but for professionals working in adaptive spaces, each phrase comes with its own meaning and philosophical approach.

“Usually recreation therapy is considered in the same vein as physical therapy or occupational therapy or speech therapy. It’s approached as a medical specialty and may use words like ‘prescribe’ and ‘to treat,’ says Jim Wise, Ph.D. and therapeutic recreation facilitator at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

“Therapeutic rec is all about improving quality of life and wellbeing,” Wise says,” but the particular modality being used is leisure and recreation.”

While the phrasing may differ, Wise notes that both philosophies share the same goal. “It’s all about recognizing differing abilities to help foster participation, community connection and improved overall wellbeing.”

wsbeng.com

Embracing strong, strategic and intentional engagement to inform design.

Tapping Into TR Trends

Trend: Greater User Awareness

In her Brooklyn Park programs Bonikowske has seen a growing understanding of the inclusion services that are rightfully available to participants and their families.

As participants register online for Brooklyn Park’s programs, they’re prompted to answer questions surrounding allergies, medications, and inclusive services needed. “More and more of our participants are identifying their own needs and feeling comfortable requesting inclusion services,” she says.

“As we get better about reaching into community, there’s a greater awareness of the services that are available and an easing of the stigma that may be associated with having a disability.”

Trend: Word of Mouth Still Holds Weight

While Bonikowske and her team regularly promote the city’s adaptive and inclusion services through core community touchpoints, she’s found word of mouth holds the power to help participants realize the services’ full potential.

After one local family’s underwhelming experience with Brooklyn Park’s ice skating program, Bonikowske worked closely with the participants to ensure they had a positive experience with their inclusion support.

“They ultimately had an extremely successful, positive experiences, and it was one they made sure to share. We went from having no participants for inclusion services in this program to seven with the encouragement this one family, and we’ve seen that time and again.”

Trend: Accessibility in Aquatics

Whether helping those with cognitive abilities gain familiarity and confidence in the water or offering a low-stress, low-impact, musclebuilding pathway for injured participants or aging seniors, aquatics offer the ultimate setting for adaptive programming.

For Lamey’s team at The Rookery, aquatic programming have become a fast fan favorite, with steadily growing participation from the center’s most senior members. The center

already offers a robust aquatic program in its 6-lane lap pool, but the Center’s zero-depth entry splash pool, featuring a waterslide and water feature has become a hit.

“You might traditionally think this feature would be for kids, but the water is a bit warmer and shallower and we’re finding a lot of seniors enjoy water walking or taking space to move there. We added our aquatics program a few months after we opened and it’s already become one of our most popular offerings because it works so well,” Lamey says.

Photo: City of Brooklyn Park

Identifying Collaborative Community Partners

While The Rookery does not have its own inclusion specialists on staff, Lamey and her team partner regularly with fellow community organizations like SwimPossible to lend their facilities to groups seeking adaptive activities.

“We may not have the in-house expertise to be able to lead a physical therapy-focused group or a group with cognitive disabilities through a very carefully curated program, but we can at least provide the space these groups need to execute these programs in a therapeutic environment and collaborate to ensure the experience accomplishes their goals,” Lamey says.

Her team works closely with each group to understand the activities planned, the adaptations needed, coordinate any adaptive equipment that needs to be brought in.

Training an Inclusive Staff

In addition to her coordination with program planners across Brooklyn Park’s recreation department, Bonikowske also curates an inclusive staff training for all instructors and mentors a smaller team of inclusion specialists, who are available to provide more focused, one-on-one support to participants who need more personalized care.

“We work hard to ensure our entire staff has an understanding of inclusion-specific topics alongside some of those more basic safety components like allergy care or EpiPen administration. The goal is to help teach them how to observe and take note of what it might look like for a participant to need additional support in their program,” she says. “We want staff to be able to identify the need and connect families to services.”

Building Your Skills

While professionals trained in therapeutic recreation build their expertise through advanced education and a certification process through the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC), your team can wade and build a baseline understanding of core TR skills and concepts through a variety of local courses.

Minnesota State University, Mankato

Within Mankato’s Department of Recreation, Parks, and Leadership Studies, two key courses can help students grasp the fundamentals of program planning and execution through a therapeutic recreational lens.

Program Planning

Led by assistant professor Michelle Margo, M.A., the program planning course helps students learn how to think through each phase of the program planning process with therapeutic recreation principles in mind — accounting and adapting for all ages, gender identities, races and abilities — from inception of an initial idea up through completion.

“This class is really about embracing those building blocks of building a program or service with an adaptive mindset,” says Margo. “As a planner or coordinator, you have to be able to look at a situation and say ‘How can I modify this for those who are all coming at this with different strengths and different needs? How do I start to build an understanding of those needs so I can adapt for them?’ It’s all about preparing you to see through multiple lenses and being prepared to build around that.”

Margo’s course covers a mix of concept review and experiential learning, including live program immersion to gain practical experience problem-solving in real time.

Above and below: Minnesota State University, Mankato therapeutic recreation classes. Photos: Michelle Margo

TR Techniques

In this hands-on advanced course led by James Wise, Ph.D., students learn how to apply interventions and facilitation techniques to prepare professionals to implement programs for a variety of special needs. Each student gains experience facilitating multiple therapeutic programs for their peers, practices receiving and incorporating feedback, and executing those programs for community members with disabilities.

“We want to prepare students to act as a consultative partner within their local park or rec facility,” says Wise. “When a participant comes in with a particular challenge —whether that’s a cognitive disability or a broken leg or poor eyesight—we’re preparing students to be able to say ‘You sound like a candidate for therapeutic rec. Let’s figure out some alternatives.”

University of Wisconsin – Lacrosse

With a dedicated independent major focused on therapeutic recreation, there are plenty of options to choose from for those interested in exploring TR applications, but associate teaching professor Tara Delong’s Therapeutic Recreation and Mental Health course, focuses on learning to provide therapeutic interventions for those with mental illness, substance abuse disorders or those needing behavior health support.

“The theme of the course is compassion and the goal is centered in understanding what it means to be struggling with a mental health issue and how that understanding can help TR specialists build out solutions that can improve mental wellbeing over time,” Delong says.

Through the course students unpack the differences between mental illness and mental health, how trauma can inform how participants respond to therapies and trauma-informed practices. Experiential learning is a key component of the course as well. Students are led through exercises that help examine the stigmas and biases they face in their own lives, attend recovery meetings, and more to draw connections from as they learn how to craft solutions to improve mental health.

“My philosophy is to give students the opportunity to have ‘aha’ moments of reflection and understand, not just what it means to be impacted by mental illness, but what does it look like to harness that understanding to build services that foster better mental wellbeing?”

Photo: City of Brooklyn Park

Photo: City of Brooklyn Park

Therapeutic Recreation Pro Tips

Pro Tip: Create Avenues for Feedback

It’s one thing to build a program to be inclusive and adaptive. It’s another to incorporate thoughts and comments from participants and community members.

Fostering and keeping open lines of communication can ensure your adaptive efforts are utilized and improved to evolve and best meet the needs of the community.

Lamy recommends building a comprehensive survey or focus group to capture and incorporate user feedback, ensure your adaptive services or programs are hitting the mark and that community members have a way to weigh in as needed. “It’s also an avenue to understand the gaps in your coverage and what your community is looking for from your team. You want to find a way to keep the lines of communication open,” says Lamey.

Pro Tip: Build a Comprehensive Registration Intake Form

When it comes to understanding a participant’s abilities and needs, a detailed, thorough registration form can give your team a leg up in understanding how, when and why your team will need to adapt for each participant.

“That registration is step one in our adaptive process,” says Bonikowske. “Once someone registers for a program, I reach out to the family to develop an individualized accommodation plan for participation. The intake form is where we learn their allergies, what sensitivities a participant might have, their relevant medications, and any kinds of additional support we should plan to provide. It gives us everything we need to hit the ground running and deliver the best service and support that we can.”

MINNESOTA RECREATION & PARKS

Reach key municipal park & recreation buyers!

MINNESOTA magazine is mailed to MRPA members and affiliates quarterly. It features industry-relevant content which is read and kept as a point of reference. It’s a popular resource read by municipal employees throughout the state. The magazine provides an opportunity to market directly to the people who need your products and services.

Advertising Deadlines & Special Sections*

Fall 2023 issue Ad deadline: September 15, 2023

Awards of Excellence; Industry trends; Agency operations; Buyer’s Guide

Winter 2024 issue

Ad deadline: January 5, 2024

Professional Awards; Climate Change / Going Green; Partnerships; Emergency Planning

Spring 2024 issue

Ad deadline: March 24, 2024

Content: TBD

“The intake form is where we learn their allergies, what sensitivities a participant might have, their relevant medications, and any kinds of additional support we should plan to provide. It gives us everything we need to hit the ground running and deliver the best service and support that we can.”

INCLUDES THE 2024 COMMERCIAL BUYER’S GUIDE!

Photo: City of Brooklyn Park

Adaptive Recreation in St. Louis Park

All-Terrain Wheelchair

St. Louis Park’s Westwood Hills Nature Center now has a GRIT Freedom all-terrain wheelchair available for visitors to use on the nature center trails. This manual, all-terrain wheelchair has a chain drive system that allows users to operate it independently or assisted by a caregiver with handlebars.

Visitors can rent the wheelchair for free by visiting the interpretive center front desk or can call the Center for more information.

The purchase of this wheelchair was made possible by a @hennepincounty Active Living Equipment grant, funded through the Hennepin County Active Living Program. The program’s goal is to make it easier to be active. It provides technical assistance and funding for government agencies to plan for healthy communities and make active lifestyles more accessible. The GRIT Freedom all-terrain wheelchair availability at Westwood Hills Nature Center recently received an award of excellence in programming and events from the Minnesota Recreation and Park Association.

Sensory Kits

The City of St. Louis Park now offers sensory kits for the first time this year to help visitors fully enjoy recreation facilities and events. A sensory kit is a portable box filled with sensory tools and toys designed to reduce stress or sensory triggers for individuals while not distracting others around them.

“The idea for the sensory kits came after staff attended a workshop led by the Autism Society of Minnesota and learned how valuable and essential these tools can be for individuals and families with sensory needs,” said Nikki Frederich, St. Louis Park recreation superintendent. “The city started the new initiative with the goal of supporting the city council’s strategic priority of being a leader in racial equity and inclusion by making its facilities, programs and events more accessible and inclusive to all.”

Sensory kits became available starting June 1 at the Aquatic Park, Westwood Hills Nature Center and summer playground sites, as well as at the city’s annual festival Parktacular and the 4th of July fireworks celebration.

Kits are free and can be checked out for up to 30 minutes when used at city facilities. At events, designated areas will be available for those wishing to use the kits; they will not be checked out. Signs at facilities and events will direct visitors to sensory kit locations.

• An adult can request a kit by completing an equipment check out form at one of the facilities if the individual is not enrolled in a program.

• If the individual is enrolled in a program, an adult can ask one of the city staff members/leaders for a kit. Forms are not required at events.

“The city started the new initiative with the goal of supporting the city council’s strategic priority of being a leader in racial equity and inclusion by making its facilities, programs and events more accessible and inclusive to all.”

How guests request a kit:

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Nurturing Our Future Leaders

Internships Help Students Gain Experience

By Cheryl Kormann, Assistant Director, City of New Ulm

Internships are a very effective way for college students to gain work experience before graduation. Internships can even turn into full-time jobs or open doors for other opportunities.

The City of New Ulm has a very large and diverse park and recreation department, likely the largest per capita in spending in Minnesota. We maintain and operate three large facilities: civic center (two indoor ice rinks/dry floor space and more); community center, which houses a senior center, meeting and auditorium spaces for evening and weekend rentals; and a newly renovated and expanded recreation center that houses a new aquatic center with the only Ninja Cross obstacle course in the state, waterslides, climbing wall and Zip’N, along with a fieldhouse that has three indoor multi-use gyms and track, 3,000 square feet of fitness space, group fitness studio, racquetball courts and multipurpose space. We also manage over 40 park units ranging from large nature areas on rivers to small neighborhood parks

to athletic complexes hosting leagues and tournaments to miles of trails for family and fitness to historical sites downtown.

Only 25 miles to the east of the City of New Ulm is Minnesota State University, Mankato (MSU), which offers a recreation, parks and leadership studies (RPLS) major with one or more of the three major tracks. It is the only nationally accredited undergraduate RPLS program in the state.

The City of New Ulm has worked with MSU’s professors in placing interns in areas such as programming, aquatics, facility operations and parks maintenance to gain experience in these areas. Students from MSU can apply for internships with the City of New Ulm and request certain or multiple areas they are hoping to gain experience; programming, aquatics, facility and park operations and maintenance, ice arena management, etc.

Our parks and recreation department is large in terms of what we offer, but relatively small in staff. In fact, our staff members

wear multiple hats, making our department appealing in terms of options. Students often begin their careers working as either a parttime or seasonal employee. From there, they often fall in love with the line of work, which results in their pursuit of a degree in RPLS or teaching.

Our department has a good and close working relationship with the faculty at MSU. Kristi Montandon, Ph.D., assistant professor works with students to gauge interest and match those with parks and recreation agencies. Close proximity of New Ulm to MSU, coupled with our diverse offerings and opportunities, makes our agency a good fit for internship opportunities. Interns are able to easily commute to New Ulm, eliminating the need to find additional housing and MSU faculty are able to make timely site visits and meet with staff. For more information about the internships that the City of New Ulm parks and recreation department offers, contact Cheryl Kormann at cherylK@newulmmn.gov

Interview Tips for Young Professionals

By Carrie Anderson, Roseville Parks and Recreation

Congratulations, you’ve been selected to interview for a position in the parks and recreation field! Your education and experience has paid off; now it’s time to prove why you are the best candidate for the position.

Research the Organization

School is back in session. Take time to learn as much as you can about the organization. Browse activity catalogs, read reviews on Google, skim council or commission agendas, or network with others who may have worked for the organization. If possible, visit the parks and facilities. What intrigues you most about the organization? What assets do you have that can contribute to the organization? This is your time to jot down questions and talking points.

Portfolios, Resumes, and Handouts

Leave the giant college binder of projects and flyers at home. Bring organized, concise,

and prepared handouts, if applicable. If you are going to refer to a handout during your interview, know exactly what the handout says so you don’t miss a beat. Resumes should be one page, professional, and edited by trustworthy colleagues. Bring enough copies for all interviewers.

Dress the Part

Dress to impress but make sure you are comfortable. You may be nervous already, don’t pick an outfit that is going to make you feel worse. If you aren’t used to wearing heels, don’t wear them. Borrow your uncle’s suit, but if it’s four sizes too big and you can’t actually use your hands because the sleeves are too long, you may be focusing on trying to pull the sleeves up to shake hands with the interviewers instead of focusing on the interview. You need to feel and look good. A cell phone is not part of your outfit. Leave it in the car. Seriously, leave it in the car.

The Interview

You have prepared for the questions, you have rehearsed your key assets, and now is the time to let your experience and knowledge fly. Skills and experience will get you an interview, but your character and values can lock down that job offer. The interviewers are looking to fill a position, but they are also looking for the right fit into their organization. Allow them to get to know you during the interview by highlighting your soft skills. Be genuine, friendly, a team player, have a sense of humor and show them that you are a motivated and trainable young professional. At the end of the interview, have meaningful questions prepared.

After the Interview

Send a thank you email to all interviewers. Not all candidates do this; therefore, this is a way to leave one more impression on the interview panel. Good luck young professionals on your interview endeavors and I hope these tips help.

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Mentoring: Invaluable to Success

By John W. Stutzman, CPRP, Golden Valley Parks and Recreation

Most parks and recreation professionals share a passion for the outdoors, athletics, and living an active lifestyle. These interests are likely why many of us pursued our first job in parks and recreation, and why we chose a career which serves others and their desire to experience recreation. Creating opportunities which inspire people and improve their quality of life is why we do what we do! Yet, as rewarding and enjoyable as our profession is, it is not for the faint of heart.

Recent graduates committed to earning their way into the field are fighting to keep their “heads above water” in an overly competitive job market. Talented young professionals dedicated to elevating themselves are

engulfed by oversized applicant pools, consisting of their friends and colleagues, to obtain the field’s coveted management positions.

Those who have achieved success rely on hard work, talent, and determination to showcase themselves while navigating the early parts of their careers. All of these are admirable and desirable traits, but are they enough to provide an edge to obtain that “big break?” When answering this question, it is important to remember the opportunity to inspire and improve lives is not limited to just our constituents and program participants. It applies to us as professionals as well.

I would attest there are other factors which contribute to the success of young professionals. A person who takes an interest in a young professional’s development and inspires and encourages, introduces new opportunities by opening doors, and provides guidance to help them reach their full potential. In other words, a mentor. Mentorship is defined as a learning partnership developed for the purpose of sharing technical information, institutional knowledge and insight with respect to a particular occupation, profession, or organization. A more precise way to describe it, is a relationship in which a professional inspires a mentee to explore new ideas,

take risks, and never stop learning. A mentor invests time and energy to support an individual, encourages professional development, and speaks honestly in critical situations saying what needs to be heard, instead of what the mentee wants to hear.

As we grow and mature in our careers, younger professionals will begin to look to us. Thus creating an opportunity to fill the role as a mentor and to pay-it-forward. An eagerness to aid the growth of other professionals is commendable, but ultimately their development is a personal responsibility. Even with the best intentions, if someone is not interested in your wisdom and guidance, unfortunately the efforts will likely be underutilized. Therefore, it is important to remember the mentor/mentee relationship is a two-way street, built on a foundation of open and honest communication. Younger professionals make the best mentees when they are willing to accept advice, feedback and suggestions, as well as show a desire to be challenged and work outside of their comfort zone.

Once a solid foundation for a mentorship has been established, common mentoring techniques can provide the partnership with a good ice breaker. Sharing institutional knowledge, coaching to effectively utilizing strengths, and inspiring a strong work ethic are examples of potential early strategies. Similar to top-tier athletes, great mentors are able to adapt for each unique relationship, and tailor a mentorship to each individual. Encouraging the pursuit of specific leadership opportunities can provide mentees their chance to build comprehensive resumes, improve decision-making abilities, and provide circumstances to learn what not to do. Sharing career miscues, will highlight your experiences and serve as teachable moments to help them avoid similar situations. When young professionals find themselves at low points and struggling, it is essential to be supportive and provide reassurance. Remember, plans in our profession rarely happen exactly as envisioned. Mistakes are a part of being a professional, the important lesson is how you respond to them. Equally as important as learning from mistakes, be sure to celebrate together as successes are achieved.

As recreation professionals, most of us can surely recognize a superb individual, or several, who took an interest in our development providing guidance, motivation, and support which has influenced our successful careers. These professionals inspired, reassured, and shared their professional networks, helping us to develop not only professionally but personally.

Reflecting on the impact these relationships have, it’s hard to deny that our mentors have become more than teachers, supporters and confidants. They have grown to be role models and friends. I, for one, recognize how fortunate I am to have mentors who cared and nurtured my development as a young professional. As my career evolves, they continue to support and encourage me. Quite simply, their mentorship has been invaluable.

As we grow and mature in our careers, younger professionals will begin to look to us.

Thus creating an opportunity to fill the role as a mentor and to pay-it-forward.

We create places that help communities thrive

MRPA Mentorship Program 2023

By Bethani Gerhard, Minnesota Recreation and Park Association

The MRPA Mentorship Program was offered again this year from January to May 2023. The final meeting and celebration luncheon was held on May 12, 2023 at Hyland Hills Chalet in Bloomington. Thank you to Minnesota Recreation and Park Foundation for sponsoring the lunch and Three Rivers Park District for hosting this celebration.

The mentorship program committee reviewed applications and were able to produce 26 mentor / mentee pairs this year. There were 24 pairs for the program in 2022, and 20 pairs for the program’s first year in 2021.

The MRPA Mentorship Program was formed to help park and recreation students and professionals grow professionally in the field through meaningful connections. The program enables students and career professionals to be paired with experienced or distinguished professionals for an experience that will last a lifetime.

“I am really glad that MRPA offers the mentorship program for young professionals like myself,” says Sierra Hietala, recreation coordinator for the City of Little Canada. “It’s a great way to get a broader perspective on the field, and talk with someone who has

‘been in my shoes’ before. Because of the mentorship program I have been able to meet some amazing teams, see different facilities and how they function, and reflect on my professional journey and where I hope to see myself in the future.”

“This is my first year in the parks and recreation industry,” says Roee Hecht, recreation coordinator – special events and farmers market, for the City of Maple Grove. “The mentorship program was a great way for me to make connections outside of my city with plenty of opportunities to network. I would highly recommend it to any young professional!”

A Classic Park’s New Chapter

Restoring a place like Lincoln Park takes more than skill. You have to know the land it’s built on. You have to understand how trees and water talk. You have to grasp how memories are made at play, on picnics . Sounds like hard work? At LHB, it’s second nature.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my three years of participating in MRPA’s mentorship program,” states Andrew Pimental, director of Eagan Parks and Recreation. “Each time I learn a lot about someone I haven’t known, learn a few things about myself along the way, and get a consistent reminder of why I chose parks and recreation as my career.” Pimental adds, “For MRPA to have a program that brings professionals of different ‘experience’ together, allowing each to learn from one other while also building a new friendship is awesome, and very much in line with who we are as professionals. And taking the time to grow in a parks and recreation career can be hard work. This is made easier with programs like the mentorship program where resources are shared, relationships are built, and professionals develop.”

This program was generously sponsored by the Minnesota Recreation and Park Foundation. A special thank you to mentorship committee members John W. Stutzman, Meredith Lawrence, Jenna Smith, and Jessica Christensen Buck.

Sierra Hietala Andrew Pimental Roee Hecht

By Terese Welch, Marketing Lead Commercial Recreation Specialists

Commercial Recreation Specialists Welcomes New Project Channel Manager, Ashley Walker, Expanding Solutions Expertise

Verona, Wis. - Commercial Recreation Specialists (CRS), a leading provider of municipalgrade recreation solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ashley Walker as their new Recreation Specialist and Project Channel Manager. With her background in Mass Communications and Marketing, specializing in sports broadcasting, along with valuable experience in hospitality and insurance, Ashley brings a unique skill set to effectively serve CRS’s clientele.

Based in northern Minnesota, Ashley will represent CRS in delivering comprehensive aquatic and land-based recreation solutions to a diverse range of clients, including municipalities, parks districts, school districts, and private markets seeking recreation solutions.

Ashley’s education and career experience uniquely qualify her to cater to the needs of both public and private sector clients, particularly in projects concerning Splashpads, playgrounds, shade structures, shelters, and lightning detection. With exceptional communication skills, she is wellpositioned to establish mutually beneficial strategic relationships and drive growth in the region.

Ryan Hartberg, CRS Vice President of Business Development, expressed his excitement, stating,

For over 25 years, CRS has been serving customers throughout the United States and the Caribbean, with offices in Verona, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska. In addition to supplying highquality municipal-grade recreation equipment, CRS offers comprehensive services, including design, planning, installation, and operations. By tailoring recreation solutions to each client’s unique business goals, CRS has built a strong reputation among municipalities, schools, YMCAs, athletic facilities, sports venues, amusement parks, family entertainment centers, campgrounds, resorts, summer camps, zoos, and other recreation venues.

With the addition of Ashley Walker to their team, CRS is further positioned to meet the evolving needs of their clients and provide exceptional industry knowledge and expertise. The company looks forward to expanding its reach and continuing to deliver top-quality recreation solutions to a wide range of customers.

To learn more about CRS and their wide range of services, please contact their corporate office at (608) 848-8781 or visit their website at www. crs4rec.com.

“We’re thrilled to have Ashley on our team! Her passion for fun, inclusion, and community, along with her expertise, will guide customers and expand our reach.”

MRPA ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2023

SEPTEMBER 26-29

PLYMOUTH COMMUNITY CENTER 14800 34TH AVENUE NORTH PLYMOUTH, MN 55447

WELCOME!

TRAILBLAZING: BEYOND THE BEATEN PATH

MRPA Annual Conference & Exhibit Hall

“Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change.”

– Jim Rohn

As parks and recreation professionals we live our lives pivoting, and there is no better illustration of that than to look at the innovative practices from each subdivision in our parks and recreation departments. Pivoting is not only reactionary, but also a result of growth and innovation: from evaluating climate change and planting new “native” species of tree in our parks, to figuring out how to create events that provide engaging experiences for our fantastically diverse populations, and even trying to determine what the next pickleball will be. Trailblazers define not only who we are and what we do, but challenges us to think outside of our normal boundaries to evaluate what we can be. We must get off

the paved trail to appreciate and preserve the natural world around us and evaluate ways to make our parks and programs places people seek for health, refuge, and play. One of the main initiatives of this annual conference committee was to create opportunities for more interactive experiences: sailing, forest bathing, certification/ recertification classes, and networking events that encourage comradery and most importantly, play. Play is the foundation of our “work” and we must remember to practice what we preach and that we love what we do.

Another main focal point was increasing our opportunities for our parks and forestry members to feel a better sense of inclusion and to break ground on a new event, the Maintenance Rodeo. When programmers were yet again

pivoting to provide educational and interactive options for continued recreation during the pandemic, our parks and forestry cohorts were as busy as ever as our communities sought every opportunity to get outside! This group of professionals is the glue that holds us together! They are the parks to our recreation. This new event lets us collectively celebrate them and their skills, and showcases the art of their craft. We hope you learn something new, experience something great, and find a renewed sense of purpose to keep blazing forward. “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sonya Rippe and Katie Yandell, Plymouth Parks and Recreation, Annual Conference Co-Chairs

2023 CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

The Annual Conference would not be possible without the dedication and commitment of these individuals:

Conference

Co-Chairs

Sonya Rippe

Katie Yandell

Programming

Dakota Krings

JJ Williams

Mandy Whiteside

Megan Mulligan

Susan Johnson

Logistics

Paul Pearson

Mitchell Czech

Alyssa Fram

Aaron Thelen

Marketing

Kelly Distad

Ali Mayer

Sponsorships

Amanda Clarke

Nicole Gorman

Networking

Hannah Hawkins

Jess Koch

Sierra Hietala

Nicole Schultz

Volunteers

Stephanie Schutta

Jenna Smith

Jessica Christensen Buck

Matt Colwell

Sam Gray

Park Maintenance & Rodeo

Ross Demant

David Dowden

W: mnrpa.org

Maria Larson

Carson Law

Exhibit Hall

Chris Fleck

Kari Hemp

Adam Farrell

Brian Swartzer

2023 SPONSORS*

THANK YOU CONFERENCE SPONSORS FOR MAKING THIS EVENT POSSIBLE.

OVERALL EDUCATION PARTNER:

SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE

IN-KIND SPONSOR:

*SPONSORS AS OF PRESS TIME.

Download the Conference App

The Whova app is back for the 2023 Conference. This app allows you to schedule your day, converse with our speakers, and connect with fellow colleagues.

FOLLOW THE CONFERENCE FACEBOOK EVENT.

WHAT’S NEW AT THE 2023 CONFERENCE?

The 2023 MRPA Annual Conference will feature a maintenance educational track and maintenance rodeo.

MAINTENANCE TRACK

In an effort to grow and develop our team members who are integral to cultivating parks loved by residents and help our community events really reach the masses, the 2023 MRPA Annual Conference highlights a new maintenance focused track. This track will include educational sessions, off-site institutes, and experiential learning opportunities.

Wednesday will include a variety of educational sessions: splash pad maintenance, irrigation troubleshooting, court design, construction, maintenance, playground inspections, and synthetic turf maintenance guidelines.

Thursday will include the new maintenance rodeo and exhibit hall. Both days offer opportunities for off-site learning, including a Landscape Structures tour and Three Rivers Park District / Crow-Hassan prairie tour.

MT < Look for the orange MT icon throughout the brochure for Maintenance Track sessions.

PRE-CONFERENCE GOLF

MAINTENANCE RODEO

Thursday, September 28 8:00 – 10:45 a.m.

Registration includes: rodeo competition, keynote presentation, lunch, and exhibit hall

Registration Check-In: 7:30 a.m.

Competitions: 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.

Plymouth Creek Playfield

2023

MAINTENANCE MRPACONFERENCE

Maintenance Network Meeting: 10:00 – 10:45 a.m.

3625 Fernbrook Lane North Plymouth, MN 55446

Contestants compete based on time for each event. Contestants may register for one or more events and compete against others across the state to win prizes. Rodeo events include: zero turn mower course, backpack blower skills course, plant identification, and skid steer agility course.

The MRPA Maintenance Rodeo has a strict adherence to safety. Rodeo rules may be downloaded at mnrpa.org. Organizers will also communicate with all registrants prior to the rodeo with any additional guidelines and information.

Pre-Conference Golf at Baker National Golf Course

Tuesday, September 26

9:00 a.m. Shotgun Start

Catch up with your colleagues before the conference officially begins over a round of golf! Registration includes 18 holes of golf on a nationally recognized Championship Course, golf cart rental and lunch for $65.

PRE-CONFERENCE INSTITUTE & ACTIVITIES

Tuesday, September 26

8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Plymouth Community Center

CERTIFIED POOL OPERATOR (CPO) RECERTIFICATION COURSE

This one-day course is ideal for those who are currently certified and confident with the course material. It serves as a comprehensive review, although we strongly recommend enrolling in the two-day course if you have any concerns about the content or passing the exam. If you do not pass the test, you will be required to register for a two-day course. Course is from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. with testing afterwards.

Additional fee is due upon registration: $350 (minimum 10 participants enrolled by Sept. 1 to run the course)

9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Williston Fitness Center, Minnetonka

LGI/LGIT Review

Conduct your review skills with your peers and do it for FREE! This course is designed to meet the testing needs to recertify your LGI/ LGIT requirements. If you need to recertify your lifeguard certification the cost is $42.00 to cover the cost of the certification. This is a great way to polish your skills your peers and be optimally prepared to train your staff!

12:45 – 1:45 p.m.

Plymouth Community Center

FOREST BATHING SAMPLER

Discover an ancient wellness practice being rediscovered anew in the 21st century. Join us on an immersive, meditative, and aweinspiring Japanese forest bathing experience (Shinrin-Yoku). Experience first-hand how nature’s fractals, sounds, and sensations reduce your stress and anxiety, and enhance your focus. (maximum 20 participants)

Pre-Conference Institute

Plymouth Community Center

2:00 – 3:00 p.m.

BUILT TO LAST: DESIGNING PARKS TO WITHSTAND AND MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE

Lydia Major, Landscape Architecture and Planning Studio Leader, LHB and Steve Benoit, Parks and Recreation Director, City of Shoreview

From absorbing stormwater and protecting pollinators to sequestering carbon and educating users about their impact on the planet, parks play an important role to play in helping our world weather the effects of climate change. This session will focus on future-forward designs that center on resiliency.

3:15 – 4:15 p.m.

PARK RX: CONNECTING HEALTH CARE TO THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Erin McHenry Wolf, Program Coordinator, MN Dept of Health and Sara Holger, Lead Interpretive Naturalist, MN DNR-Whitewater State Park

Join MDH and the DNR to learn about ways to engage local clinics to increase referrals and promotion of local parks. This will include a case study featuring Whitewater State Park and ideas for public health programming that can encourage activity outdoors.

2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

DESIGNING FOR OUTDOOR PLAY AND FITNESS TO PROMOTE HEALTH EQUITY

Suzanne Quinn, Manager, KOMPAN Play Institute, KOMPAN Playgrounds and Fitness

Play and fitness are essential for people of all ages & abilities. Learn how to design outdoor spaces to improve health for all ages, based on proven strategies. Discover ways to create well-designed outdoor spaces that can strengthen communities and promote health equity.

Institute sponsored by:

OFF SITE TOURS

Landscape Structures Tour

Wednesday, September 27

10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Join us for lunch and a tour of our state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities at Landscape Structures headquarters. Throughout the tour you’ll witness our cutting-edge production methods, where our fusion of lean manufacturing practices, kaizen techniques, and an empowered workforce drives remarkable operational advancements. Most importantly, you’ll see how our employee’s ingenuity, teamwork and pursuit of excellence produces playground products with the highest quality, best design and most play value.

(maximum 50 participants)

Wayzata Sailing

Wednesday, September 27

11:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Wayzata Sailing is a 501(c)3 and US Sailing accredited community sailing center – invites you to join us on Lake Minnetonka for an introductory sailing session! There’s no better way to enjoy the fall colors and fabulous Minnesota weather. You’ll stay pretty dry aboard our J22 sailboats, but dress for the weather. No swimming (we promise). Personal Floatation Devices (PFDs) are both provided and required. You’ll take turns trimming sails, learning the ropes, and driving a sailboat with onboard instructor support. Over 1,200 students a year from 61 Minnesota cities visit our site and you can too! Session will be broken up into two groups, taking turns at sailing and enjoying lunch ashore on our fabulous lakefront in Wayzata.

Three Rivers Park District Nursery/ Crow-Hassan Prairie Tour

Thursday, September 28

8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Get a behind-the-scenes look at the personal nursery of the Three Rivers Park District. Additionally, experience the restored prairie, a year-round attraction at Crow-Hassan Park Reserve.

WEDNESDAY

Wednesday, September 27 9:00 a.m. WELCOME

9:15 – 10:30 a.m.

OPENING KEYNOTE: Creating Momentum in Your Life: Practical Strategies to Thrive Professionally and Personally

Hoan Do

Encountering obstacles in work and in life is inevitable. The key to overcoming them comes down to our ability to change our perspective and take action. In this engaging keynote, you will discover a technique on how to change their attitude in the midst of adversity, learn a simple habit you can do daily to prevent burnout and understand the key to creating meaningful connections.

Hoan Do is an award-winning inspirational speaker, author of Succeeding in the Real World, and city finalist in NBC’s hit show, American Ninja Warrior.

From an early age, Hoan understood the sacrifices his parents had made in their escape to the United States during the Vietnam War. Feeling indebted to his parents for their courageous pursuit of a better life, Hoan vowed to ensure that one day, he would be able to take care of his parents. Hoan’s hard work took him to Malibu, California, where he attended Pepperdine University.

With the tremendous pressure Hoan placed on himself, in addition to the stresses of demanding classes and important life decisions, Hoan found himself overwhelmed. His self-esteem reached an all-time low. He even contemplated suicide. Refusing to give up on life, Hoan used this experience as a turning point to learn the practical skills that were necessary to succeed in school and in life.

Overcoming adversities in life has allowed Hoan to connect with others in a powerful way. Hoan travels the world sharing messages of hope and inspiration. Hoan’s practical strategies have impacted over a quarter of a million people.

SHOP THE MRPA STORE!

Sponsored by:

10:45 – 11:45 a.m.

EDUCATION SESSION BLOCK 1

THE ART OF CONNECTING: HOW TO MOTIVATE, INFLUENCE, AND RELATE TO ANYBODY

Hoan Do

Success is not about what you know, it’s not even about who you know. It is about your ability to make genuine connections with others. In this program, attendees will discover the #1 reason that causes a disconnect between people, techniques on how to relate to anybody regardless of their age, skin color, or background, and how to appreciate another person’s differences. In this interactive session you will learn: The number one reason that causes a disconnect between people, why one method of motivation works for one person but not another, and how to communicate in a way that will connect and get through to anybody

BEYOND PERFORMATIVE INCLUSIVITY

Brooke Burk, Professor, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Participants will engage in learning opportunities aimed at providing strategies to address racial inequities in their organizations. We propose a participatory action research professional development framework (Bam, MacDougall, Smith, 2006) and approach can create cultural change and move institutions from performative to action.

EMERALD ASH BORER

Jonathan Osthus, Pest Detection and Export Certification Unit for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Overview of the status of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in Minnesota. What key management tactics and priorities are impacting affected communities? Resources that are currently available to aid management efforts such as biological control, early detection training, grant funding and forestry internships will also be shared.

3,2,1 NETWORK!

Buy your MRPA apparel and swag in advance and pick-up at the conference! The new online store information will be included in upcoming MRPA emails and on the MRPA website.

Welcome to speed networking – a whirlwind session offering students and new professionals the opportunity to connect with recreation professionals from a variety of backgrounds. Be prepared to discuss your career interests quickly and efficiently, show-off portfolios, get feedback on your resume/cover letter, and ask questions.

WEDNESDAY

Wednesday, September 27

10:45 – 11:45 a.m.

IRRIGATION TROUBLESHOOTING

General information on identifying issues, repair, and maintenance of irrigation systems.

CREATIVE SUSTAINABLE PARTNERSHIPS

Marcia Larson, Director and Jamie Anderson, Recreation Coordinator, Bemidji Parks and Recreation

Partnerships are essential for most departments. Bemidji has created a dynamic partnership with several agencies, including Visit Bemidji – not only to market the community, but to operate the Bemidji Tourist Center. Learn the dynamics of partnerships, creating memorandum of understandings and the resulting creative programming opportunities and revenue generation.

12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

LUNCH

1:15 – 2:15 p.m.

EDUCATION SESSION BLOCK 2

FROM PARK MAINTENANCE TO PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR

Ross Demant, Director, Wright County Parks and Recreation, Nick Jacobs, Director, City of Otsego, Bryce Shearen, Director, City of Little Canada

Can you go from parks maintenance professional to parks and recreation director? Professional development isn’t always a focus in maintenance. Professionals at all levels will learn from three directors, the paths they took to develop professionally and how to reach the next level.

CHANGING THE TRAIL EXPERIENCE THROUGH AUGMENTED REALITY

Nicole Greenwell, Communications Supervisor and Andy Soltvedt, Assistant Director, Anoka County Parks

This immersive session will explore how Augmented Reality (AR) technology can revolutionize the way visitors experience parks and trails. Discover the potential of AR to enhance engagement, education, and equitable use for park-goers of all ages and gain insight into implementing AR in your own park trail.

ADAPTIVE

AQUATICS: MAKE A SPLASH, MAKE AN IMPACT!

Cassidy Wester, Aquatics & Fitness Specialist and Erin Bonikowske, Adaptive Recreation Specialist, City of Brooklyn Park Recreation and Parks

Create adaptive and inclusive aquatics programming for the disabled in communities. Dive into the background, needs, development, implementation, and evaluation of Brooklyn Park’s adaptive aquatics and inclusion services. Learn about registration, assessments, staff training, and overall integration of inclusive practices in Brooklyn Park aquatics.

MAINTENANCE GUIDELINES FOR SYNTHETIC TURF

Cody Gustafson, Field Service Specialist, Field Turf

This session will focus on the use of various equipment and the necessary tools for maintaining and repairing synthetic turf. Learn how to effectively look at minor repairs and how to solve them.

BOOSTING ATHLETIC PARTICIPATION

Courtney John, Community Recreation Director, City of Saint Paul

Trends are changing in both youth and adult athletics. How are we adapting? Saint Paul Parks and Recreation has developed new initiatives in structure, format and pricing and will share what they’ve learned along the way.

FROM VISION TO REALITY: THE FINANCING BEHIND THE COMPLETION OF THE PLYMOUTH COMMUNITY CENTER

Dave Callister, City Manager, City of Plymouth

In July 2022, the Plymouth Community Center opened to the public after a multi-year, $52 million renovation and expansion project. Learn how the financing of this community asset was envisioned and realized despite starting construction at the height of the pandemic.

Volunteers, we need you! YES YOU! Take advantage of this awesome opportunity by scanning the QR code above or at mnrpa.org to register as a conference volunteer. The BEST part - volunteers receive discounted fees!

2:30 – 3:30 p.m.

EDUCATION SESSION BLOCK 3

REAL RESIDENT FEEDBACK

Jennifer Fink, Director, New Brighton Parks and Recreation and Candace Amberg, Sr. Landscape Architect, WSB

Real life examples (or are they?) of feedback received during community engagement. You will laugh, or maybe cry at the comical feedback that can be encountered. Learn about tools to address reasonable concerns and identify the critical feedback that can contribute to successful outcome being provided.

COURT MAINTENANCE

Stewart Crosby, SRF Consulting Group

Learn how construction, design and maintenance of outdoor courts impact longevity and some tips and resources on how to choose sites and maintain courts for optimal use.

STRATEGIES FOR EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATING WITH STUDENTS AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

Jonathan Hicks, Associate Professor, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Communicating across generations has always been an art form. This interactive session will explore current trends and potential onboarding strategies for parks and recreation professionals looking to get the most out of their recent and future hires.

WEDNESDAY NETWORKING EVENT

Wednesday, September 27 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Northwest Greenway, 5250 Peony Lane, Plymouth Yard games, food, and music await you for Wednesday’s conference networking event. Explore the area with pedal power as a fleet of bikes will be available, and commemorate your conference experience with a photo op on the boardwalk.

The Northwest Greenway is four miles from the Community Center – travel west on Highway 55, then turn north on Peony Lane.

IS YOUR WORKPLACE AN LGBTQ+ SAFE ZONE?

Zoe Kesselring, Recreation Supervisor, New Brighton Parks and Recreation

The Safe Zone Project is a free online resource for creating powerful, effective LGBTQ+ awareness and ally training workshops. Learn how to implement this dynamic training with your co-workers and staff to make your facilities and programs a welcoming place of the LGBTQ+.

SPLASH PAD PANEL

Join us with a panel of splash pad experts for tips, tricks and troubleshooting as it relates to splash pads of all shapes and sizes.

FROM HIRE TO RETIRE

Linda Johnston, Outreach & Education Specialist, Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA)

From Hire to Retire is designed for new PERA members, those who are close to retirement and everyone in-between. The PERA pensions will be discussed in detail, including PERA’s pension benefit options, life changes that affect the pension, decisions members must make, and self-service tools are highlighted.

4:00 – 6:00 p.m.

NETWORKING EVENT

Details below.

Sponsored by:

THURSDAY

Thursday, September 28

MT

8:00 – 10:00 a.m.

MAINTENANCE RODEO

Separate registration required. See details on page 4.

8:30 – 9:30 a.m.

NETWORK MEETINGS

• Aquatics • Athletic Management

• Facilities • Leadership Development

• Programming

• Young Professional and Student Network (YPSN)

9:45 – 10:45 a.m.

EDUCATION SESSION BLOCK 1

MAXIMIZING YOUR POTENTIAL

Milton Hunt

People who achieve success tend to live by a common set of guiding principles, practices and rules. All of which can be learned. This training teaches the seven keys that anyone can use to maximize their potential and accomplish their dreams and goals. This includes Purpose, Relationships, Self-Image, Fortitude, Self-Discipline, Life Plan and Attitude.

NAVIGATING THE COMMUNICATION FRONTIER

Jean Davidson, Founder/Owner, Davidson

Consulting and Coaching

Research shows 75-86% of work breakdowns are due to lack of communication and collaboration skills. Connection impacts all aspects of the employee lifecycle. This session will help understand both your own and others’ communication preferences as well as what motivates and stands in the way of our connections.

CO-MANAGEMENT OF WAKAN TIPI BETWEEN WAKAN TIPI AWANYANKAPI AND CITY OF SAINT PAUL

Gabriele Menomin, Co-Management of Wakan Tipi (Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary)

Saint Paul Parks and Recreation is developing a formal partnership and co-management agreement with Wakan Tipi (Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary) to appropriately address and establish a formal level of stewardship for this sacred site. Determining how to respectfully conduct land management will also be discussed.

NEURODIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVE PROGRAMMING

Elizabeth Duffy, President of MN Neat and Licensed Occupational Therapist, Minnesota Neurodivergent Education Advocacy and Therapy Services

This discussion will engage participants to learn more about neurodiversity. Participants will identify potential barriers to meaningful inclusion of neurodivergent people in recreational programs and explore potential accommodations and modifications to enhance engagement for all neurotypes.

WORKSHOP 1: PROMOTING THE PROFESSION

Brooke Burk, Professor and Jonathan Hicks, Assoc. Professor, Minnesota State University, Mankato

The disconnect between education and the profession needs to be addressed. Professionals will develop a marketing plan to connect part-time and seasonal staff to higher education in parks and recreation. Participants will identify and develop resources for connecting staff to a higher education degree in parks and recreation.

9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

DIRECTORS FORUM

Gather with fellow directors of parks and recreation agencies from across the state to discuss topics impacting your work as agency leaders. Directors will come together to network, share ideas, and discuss the latest trends.

Sponsored by:

10:00 – 10:45 a.m.

MAINTENANCE NETWORK MEETING

Celebrate Minnesota Recreation and Park Foundation’s 50th anniversary during the conference! Enter MRPF’s Wine & Craft Beer Pull / Heads & Tails Raffle in the exhibit hall.

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

KEYNOTE: Power of Innovation

Greg Janey

For The Toro Company, innovation isn’t just about big ideas; it’s about creating useful solutions that deliver real value. Toro is committed to making our customers’ lives better and their jobs easier by helping them increase productivity and efficiency. Toro is continually evolving with and for our customers. From sharing their challenges and unmet needs to testing prototypes in the field, our customers are true partners in the process. Driven to achieve unmatched innovative excellence, we seek to enhance the products our customers depend on now and create the solutions they need for the future. With a strategic focus on three key areasalternative power, autonomous solutions and smartconnected products – The Toro Company is ready to power the next generation of enhanced productivity including products and solutions for the parks and recreation industry.

Greg Janey was appointed group vice president, landscapes and contractor at Toro in November 2022 with added responsibility for the Exmark, BOSS Snowplow and Intimidator Group. Janey has served as vice president, residential and landscape contractor since December 2019 and expanded his leadership role in November 2020 to include The Toro Company’s Center for Technology, Research and Innovation (CTRI) and lead the Technology Strategy Council.

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

EDUCATION SESSION BLOCK 2

WORKSHOP 2: PROMOTING THE PROFESSION

Brooke Burk, Professor and Jonathan Hicks, Assoc. Professor, Minnesota State University, Mankato

USING SOURCEWELL PROCUREMENT FOR CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

Jennifer Fink, Director, New Brighton Parks and Recreation; Dustin Phillips, Kraus Anderson, Eric Arenz, Gordian, and Candace Amberg, WSB

The City of New Brighton, Kraus Anderson, WSB and Sourcewell, will share how they have successfully used the streamlined Sourcewell procurement model to redevelop two different parks totaling over $4 million in construction work. Learn how and when to best use this time saving model in your agency!

RED CROSS UPDATES AND INSIGHTS

Cindy Dassow, Strategic Account Executive Public Safety & Aquatics, American Red Cross

Information regarding updates and insights for Aquatic professionals from the American Red Cross.

12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

LUNCH

12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

PLAYGROUND SAFETY INSPECTION COURSE

Paul Edwardson, Playground Safety Instructor

This session will outline playground safety information on both public park playgrounds and indoor community center playgrounds. The discussion will focus on outdoor features while providing information on the differences between outdoor and indoor playgrounds.

1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

EXHIBIT HALL

There’s something for everyone waiting for you in the exhibit hall! This is a great opportunity to connect with suppliers who support our profession and make this event possible.

• Visit with nearly 70 exhibitors

• Gain new ideas related to the newest technology , products, services, equipment, and programs

• New this Year! Compete for prizes and MRPA bragging rights in games such as prize crane, big buck hunter, whac-a-mole and more!

• Hors d’oeuvres, refreshments, and prizes

• Please take time to visit the exhibit hall partners as their contributions are integral to the conference’s success.

Sponsored by:

THURSDAY NETWORKING EVENT

Thursday, September 28

4:00 – 6:00 p.m., Plymouth Community Center

Let the camaraderie and conversations continue!

Wednesday’s networking event will following the exhibit hall. Enjoy connecting with colleagues, competing at games, appetizers, and a cash bar.

Sponsored by:

FRIDAY

Friday, September 29

8:30 – 9:30 a.m.

EDUCATION SESSION BLOCK 1

SAME SKILL, NEW DRILL: STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES TO ELEVATE YOUR AQUATICS IN-SERVICES

Bridget Russell, Instructor/Examiner

The first half of the session will review different approaches to create comprehensive in-services plans. Once implemented, participants will then be able to review and utilize new drills for lifeguard skills to make in-service activities engaging and fun.

DIVERSITY MARKETING

Juan Acevedo, Wheeling Park District and University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Park administrators across the country are facing different challenges in providing and marketing programs and recreational activities to diverse groups. This session shares different marketing strategies a park district or agency can implement to reach a diverse constituency.

INSPIRATION MEETS INNOVATION

Jessica Christensen Buck, Recreation Supervisor, MRPF Board Member

Get inspired by the innovative ideas that have been implemented in other agencies. Learn about previous grant recipients’ and their programs and learn how you can implement new programs in your community.

INFRARED ASPHALT REPAIR ON BIKING AND WALKING PATHS

Chris DesRoches, Park Project and Systems Manager, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board shares the details of their innovative infrared asphalt repair program for trails and paths. They will review the progression of the program from its beginning as a pilot plan to completing over 18,000 sq. feet of repairs last year.

TRANSFORMING SCRAP TIRES INTO PERMEABLE ECO-EFFICIENT PATHS AND TRAILS

Matt Lamb, VP Sales and Marketing, Porous Pave Inc.

Several states in the US are eliminating tires from landfills and transforming them into permeable paths and trails that are eco-efficient and ADA compliant. Learn how other states are using new car sales to create grant money for the effective utilization of scrap tires.

LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PLYMOUTH COMMUNITY CENTER EXPANSION AND RENOVATIONS

Jessica Riley, Community Center Manager, Plymouth Community Center and Amy Hanson, Fleet and Facilities Manager, City of Plymouth

The newly expanded and renovated Plymouth Community Center opened in 2021. Many lessons were learned during the planning, design, and construction process. Plymouth staff will share their lessons learned and the importance of having key stakeholders involved in the design and construction process.

9:45 – 10:45 a.m.

EDUCATION SESSION BLOCK 2

GEN Z: READY, SET CHANGE

Speaker: Kristen Twitchell, Aquatics Operations Supervisor, Cascade Bay Water Park – City of Eagan

Most new employees are part of Gen Z (born 19972012). Gen Z research shows this group can be fantastic employees IF employers are willing to understand and embrace them. Learn more about Gen Z workplace values, expectations, and gain some simple tools that can help with recruitment, training and retention.

YOUTH ON TRAILS: ADDRESSING BARRIERS TO YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN MOUNTAIN BIKING

Alicia Watts, Assistant Manager & Sam Werle, Recreation Specialist, City of Duluth Parks and Recreation

The Duluth Traverse (DT) is a 100+ mile trail system that links neighborhoods across the entire city. Due to structural and social barriers, local youth often miss out on mountain biking the DT. Funding, planning, and how to remove barriers and increasing access to mountain biking will also be discussed.

DESIGN THINKING AND PARK ASSET MANAGEMENT

Chris DesRoches, Park Project and Systems Manager, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board

This session explores the use of design thinking in developing and executing park asset management programs. The presentation uses both theory and practical case studies to explore how iterative design thinking methods can be used to discover, develop and execute asset lifecycle.

LARGE IMPACT WITH A SMALL FOOTPRINT

Ashleigh Grizzell, Architect, HGA Architects and Engineers, Eden Rogers, Engineer, Washington County

Washington County imagined a new park facility that would host year-round opportunities for hiking, fishing, crosscountry skiing, and picnicking. Learn about the process to design and program a 6,000 square-foot facility in the Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park.

ENHANCING EFFICIENCY: AUTOMATING RECREATIONAL TASKS WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)

Yvette Griffea-Gray, Recreation Supervisor and Thomas Nemann, Recreation Supervisor, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board

Discover how to automate various recreational tasks with ChatGPT, an advanced language model based on AI and natural language processing. Learn how to save time and resources and improve efficiency using ChatGPT and explore practical examples of how this technology is implemented in the recreation industry.

DEVELOPING DE-ESCALATION SKILLS WITH THE CRISIS ACTORS OF MINNESOTA

Kayla Dvorak Feld and Amie Durenberger, Operations & Communications Director, Crisis Actors of Minnesota

What is de-escalation and does it apply to your job? If you work with the public, the answer is yes! Join the Crisis Actors of Minnesota for an informative discussion on de-escalation training and how it can help prepare you and your team for any conflict or crisis.

HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS

Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West 3131 Campus Drive, Plymouth, MN 55441

Room Rate: $130 plus tax

11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

CLOSING KEYNOTE: Setting the Stage: The Importance of Leadership in Trailblazing

Milton Hunt

In this captivating keynote address, we will explore the vital role of trailblazing leadership in pushing beyond the beaten path. Join us as we delve into the significance of trailblazers who dare to challenge the status quo, foster innovation, and inspire others to follow new frontiers. Through thought-provoking insights and inspiring examples, we will emphasize the importance of embracing our roles as trailblazers in our respective fields, empowering us to shape a brighter future for recreation and parks. Get ready to be motivated, encouraged, and equipped with the tools to unleash your leadership potential and leave a lasting legacy.

For more than 20 years, Milton Hunt has lived all that he teaches and speaks in his Employee Training, Motivational Speaking, and Employee Coaching services and programs. Hunt is a Native American, a member of the Lumbee tribe, the ninth largest in the United States. Having embraced his heritage, the principles, methods, and messages he utilizes and shares with clients and audiences are a blend of both professional expertise and personal experience. Hunt possesses a unique perspective and remarkable ability to recognize vulnerabilities among populations and unify cultural and generational differences among individuals and groups of all ages. Those who engage with Hunt easily identify with him and they sense, “He understands me.” And he does. In combination, these qualities are distinctions that position Hunt at the forefront of industry leaders.

Sponsored by:

For hotel reservations, MRPA has a room block reserved at the Crowne Plaza. Call 855-914-1303 or the hotel directly at 763-559-6600 to make your hotel reservation – ask for the Minnesota Recreation and Park Association group rate. Deadline to receive the MRPA group rate is Sept. 4, 2023.

Home2 Suites by Hilton 2990 Harbor Lane North, Plymouth, MN 55447

Room rate: $148 plus tax

For hotel reservations, MRPA also has a room block reserved at the Home2 Suite by Hilton. Call 763-235-5150 to make your hotel reservation –ask for the Minnesota Recreation and Park Association group rate. Deadline to receive the MRPA group rate is Aug. 26, 2023.

MRPA ANNUAL CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FORM

EARLY BIRD DEADLINE: AUGUST 18, 2023 • REGISTER ONLINE: MNRPA.ORG/MRPA-ANNUAL-CONFERENCE

This is my first MRPA Conference

Please pay by check when possible. MRPA pays a minimum of $23 in credit card transaction fees for full package registration. Thank you.

Tuesday, September 26 Off-Site Institute – Landscapes Structures Tour, Wednesday, September 27 Off-Site Institute – Wayzata Sailing, Wednesday, September 27 Off-Site Institute – Three Rivers Nursery/Crow-Hassan Tour, Thursday, September 28 TOTAL ENCLOSED $

CONFERENCE FOOD AND BEVERAGE

Please note any food allergies above. We have tried to incorporate healthy eating throughout the menu selections. Meals included for each day: Meals included for each day:

• Wednesday: morning coffee, lunch

• Thursday: morning coffee, lunch, exhibit hall hors d’oeuvres

• Friday: morning coffee

CANCELLATION POLICY

Cancellations accepted through August 31, minus a $50 handling fee. No refunds will be given after this date. Alternate attendees are permitted. Registration fees are used toward educational sessions and meals.

PLEASE

PARK MAINTENANCE REGISTRATION FORM

REGISTER ONLINE: MNRPA.ORG/MRPA-ANNUAL-CONFERENCE

SESSIONS/ACTIVITIES

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

Off-Site Institute – Landscapes Structures Tour, Wednesday, September 27

Off-Site Institute – Three Rivers Nursery/Crow-Hassan Tour, Thursday, September 28

TOTAL ENCLOSED $

Maintenance Rodeo Activities: Check all you would like to participate in

Backpack Blower Skills Course (Open to all)

Plant Identification (Open to all)

Skid Steer Agility Course (Park maintenance only)

Zero Turn Mower Course (Park maintenance only)

Maintenance Networking Meeting

Thursday, September 28

Registration Check-In: 7:30 a.m.

Competitions: 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.

Thursday, September 28 10:00 – 10:45 a.m.

Plymouth Creek Playfield, 3625 Fernbrook Lane North, Plymouth Registration includes: rodeo competition, networking meeting, keynote presentation, lunch, and exhibit hall

MRPA MAINTENANCE RODEO

TERMS AND CONDITIONS INDEMNIFICATION POLICY

Minnesota Recreation and Park Association Annual Conference Maintenance Rodeo participants agree to hereby indemnify and hold harmless Minnesota Recreation and Park Association, its members, employees, agents, and/or sponsors against all liability for personal injury and property damages or less arising from the use of maintenance rodeo space, equipment, or any activities in connection with the Annual Conference Maintenance Rodeo. The Annual Conference Maintenance Rodeo management reserves the right to restrict participation because of safety, or for any other reason becomes objectionable to the overall conduct, success and high standards established by Minnesota Recreation and Park Association.

CONFERENCE FOOD AND BEVERAGE

Please note any food allergies above. We have tried to incorporate healthy eating throughout the menu selections. Meals included for each day:

Meals included for each day:

• Wednesday: morning coffee, lunch

• Thursday: morning coffee, lunch, exhibit hall hors d’oeuvres

• Friday: morning coffee

PLEASE SUBMIT PAYMENT TO:

Minnesota Recreation & Park Association 200 Charles Street NE Fridley, MN 55432

MRPA Corporate Members

Anderson Race Management

www.andersonraces.com

B32 Engineering Group

www.b32eng.com

Bituminous Roadways Inc.

www.bitroads.com

Bolton & Menk, Inc.

www.bolton-menk.com

Colorado State UniversityHuman Dimensions of Natural Resources

www.warnercnr.colostate.edu/hdnr/ communications-for-conservation

Commercial Recreation Specialists, Inc.

www.crs4rec.com

Creative Resources Agency

www.acreativeresource.com

Custom Bridges and Boardwalks

www.custombridgesandboardwalks.com

Custom Builders Inc.

www.custombuildersmn.com

Damon Farber Landscape Architects

www.damonfarber.com

FinnlySport

www.finnlysport.com

Fireflies Play Environment Inc.Nature Play

www.firefliesplay.com

Flagship Recreation

www.flagshipplay.com

H+U Construction

www.hu-construction.com

HGA Architects and Engineers

www.hga.com

Hiway Credit Union

www.hiway.org

HKGi

www.hkgi.com

Horizon Commercial Pool Supply

www.horizonpoolsupply.com

ISG

www.ISGinc.com

Johnson Fitness

www.johnsonfitness.com/commercial

Kompan www.kompan.us

Kraus-Anderson www.krausanderson.com

Landscape Structures

www.playlsi.com

LHB, Inc. www.lhbcorp.com

Midwest Playscapes, Inc.

www.midwestplayscapes.com

MINNCOR Industries

www.minncor.com

Minnesota Wisconsin Playground Inc. www.mnwiplay.com

Musco Sports Lighting www.musco.com

MyRec.com

www.myrec.com

Northland Recreation, LLC www.northlandrec.com

Nystrom Publishing Company www.nystrompublishing.com

Oertel Architects, LTD www.oertelarchitects.com

Plaisted Companies www.plaistedcompanies.com

Premier Polysteel

www.premierpolysteel.com

RJ Thomas Manufacturing / Pilot Rock

www.pilotrock.com

RJM Construction

www.rjmconstruction.com

Romtec www.romtec.com

Safety First Playground

Surfacing LLC

www.safetyfirstplayground.com

Sport Court North www.sportcourtnorth.com

Sports Lighting Authority www.sportslightingauthority.com

SRF Consulting Group Inc. www.srfconsulting.com

St. Croix Recreation www.funplaygrounds.com

Stantec www.stantec.com

Synthetic Turf Solutions

www.syntheticturfmn.com

Think Digital Signs

www.thinkdigitalsigns.com

TKDA www.tkda.com

USTA Northern www.northern.usta.com

Webber Recreational Design www.webberrec.com

WSB & Associates, Inc. www.wsbeng.com

MINNESOTA RECREATION AND PARK ASSOCIATION

Forma brings a contemporary vibe to any play environment With its architectural influences and endless color possibilities, create the perfect complement to your play setting, whether you’re looking for a nature-inspired style or something more modern. Kids will love the dynamic, challenging, and inclusive play opportunities provided by Forma’s clean, angular design and sensory-rich mix of materials. To learn more visit us at playlsi.com/forma

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