Wisconsin Park & Recreation Association

Membership Monday! Today we are highlighting our 2025 Silver Star Special Events Award Winner: Verona Area School District for their Verona Area Kids Triathlon! Verona Area Kids Triathlon is a new community event hosted by the Verona Area School District Aquatic Center, designed to introduce youth ages 5–14 to swimming, biking, and running in a safe, supportive, and non-competitive environment. The event promotes confidence, healthy lifestyles, and early exposure to multisport recreation while encouraging families to engage together in a fun, festival-style community experience.
The inaugural event successfully brought together 300 youth participants and engaged families, volunteers, and community partners in a well-supported, inclusive experience that emphasized participation and personal achievement over competition. By combining thoughtful course design, strong volunteer support, and community partnerships, the triathlon created a safe and memorable introduction to endurance sports while building excitement for future participation.
With strong participation, positive feedback, and broad community involvement, the Verona Area Kids Triathlon established itself as a promising new annual tradition that supports youth wellness, strengthens community connections, and highlights Verona’s commitment to active, family-centered recreation.

Join us at 11am on August 19th for another Emerging Professionals Lunch & Learn session! This interactive discussion will focus on municipal budgeting and cover the basics of how local government budgets work. Participants will gain practical tips for advocating for programs, initiatives, and staffing needs while building financial confidence early in their careers.
Registration is FREE! Register online here: https://bit.ly/4fgDxfp
Please note: This session will now begin at 11:00 AM instead of 12:00 PM.

The 2026 NRPA Annual Conference is always packed with great speakers, networking events and an unmatched exhibit hall. Don’t miss your chance to connect with [state] park and recreation peers AND thousands of professionals from across the country. Register to join us: https://conference.nrpa.org/registration/

Membership Monday! Today we are highlighting our 2025 Silver Star Creative Service Delivery/Marketing Award Winner: Clinton Community School District for their Culpepper & Merriweather Circus! Culpepper & Merriweather Circus brought a full-scale, traveling big top experience to Clinton as part of the Clinton Community School District Community Activities Program (CAP), combining high-quality family entertainment with a mission-driven effort to expand access to youth programming through a new scholarship fund. Featuring aerialists, tightrope walkers, big cats, clowns, and midway activities, the event also included pre-show tent raising, community engagement opportunities, and affordable family ticketing designed to keep entertainment local and accessible.
Beyond entertainment, the Circus served as a strategic fundraiser to support CAP scholarships for families in need, ensuring equitable access to future programs. Through strong partnerships with schools, the library, and local businesses, along with creative outreach and community-wide marketing, the event successfully engaged residents of all ages. Drawing over 500 attendees and generating positive community feedback, the Circus strengthened CAP’s visibility, built momentum for inclusive programming, and reinforced its role as a growing hub for family-centered recreation in Clinton.

Behind every great park and program is a team of passionate professionals.

During Park and Recreation Month, WPRA recognizes the individuals who work tirelessly to maintain beautiful parks, plan engaging programs, and create welcoming spaces where everyone can enjoy the outdoors and connect with one another.

Thank you to all of Wisconsin's park and recreation professionals for demonstrating The Power of Parks and Recreation each and every day. Your work strengthens communities and improves lives.

💚 Help us celebrate by giving a shoutout to the park and recreation professionals making a difference in your community!

Register today for the Fall Workshop to save your spot! Join us in New Berlin on September 23-24 for two days of insightful sessions, engaging activities, and excellent networking opportunities. The 2026 Fall Workshop offers a unique blend of education, interaction, and connection that you won't want to miss! View the full schedule and registration information online here: https://bit.ly/4gASs4W

WPRA is currently accepting nominations for the 2026 Association and Section Awards! If you or someone you know is worthy of being recognized for their continuous dedication and service to the Park and Recreation Profession and our State Association, please submit your nomination and supporting materials to [email protected] by October 1, 2026.

Additional information on how to submit for the Professional and Section 2026 WPRA Awards can be found online here: https://bit.ly/458hHni

Save the Date! Mark your calendars for the 2027 WPRA Annual Conference & Trade Show, taking place February 2–5, 2027, at the Kalahari Resort & Conventions in Wisconsin Dells!

Our Conference Committee and Section Boards have been hard at work this summer creating an outstanding conference filled with engaging educational sessions, inspiring speakers, and valuable networking opportunities for parks and recreation professionals from across the state.

Registration opens this fall, so stay tuned for more details. We can't wait to see you in there!

Membership Monday! Today we are highlighting our 2025 Silver Star Adult Programming Award Winner: Dane County Parks for their Women & Gender Minorities Chainsaw Trainings & Workdays! Dane County Parks launched the Women & Gender Minorities Chainsaw Trainings & Workdays to create inclusive, supportive pathways into natural resource careers through hands-on, skills-based training in chainsaw operation, restoration work, and conservation field techniques. Designed to remove barriers in a traditionally male-dominated field, the program provides safe, accessible instruction using appropriately sized equipment and a women/gender minority–led learning environment that builds confidence and workforce readiness. Participants gain practical experience in bucking, limbing, and felling while also continuing their development through ongoing volunteer workdays in the field.
Supported through grant funding and partnerships with community organizations, the program has served over 100 participants and intentionally prioritizes outreach to underrepresented groups in conservation. The initiative has empowered participants to build technical skills, gain confidence in outdoor work, and pursue careers or volunteer opportunities in natural resources, while fostering a strong sense of community, inclusion, and belonging in the conservation field.

July PRMonthly is now available!
PRMonthly is sent directly to your inbox and links to the archived issues can be found on the WPRA website: https://bit.ly/3wGNp8s