Last October, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the 2024 National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Annual Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. It was my second time attending the conference – the last time being the 2022 conference in Phoenix, Arizona. As a recreation professional, I value events that bring the community together, and the NRPA Annual Conference is no exception.
Each day of the conference last year, I got to walk through Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta on my way to the convention center. As a 90s kid, it was impossible to walk through the pristine park, past the Olympic rings and not feel inspired. The buzz from the hustle and bustle of thousands of parks and rec professionals converging on the conference center set the tone each morning.
The sessions that I attended ranged from using AI in your department to inclusive programming and strategic planning. I went to speed sessions, hour-long sessions and panel discussions. One of my favorite sessions that I attended this year was “Alternative Recreation: Engaging the Forgotten Demographic,” which provided ideas for alternative recreation programming, such as video games, anime and live action role playing (LARPing). The session provided great insight on how to bring these activities back to my community and expand the reach of our rec department.
Another key feature of the conference was the exhibit hall, which was like stepping into a hub of enthusiasm and innovation. While the sessions were dedicated to learning, the exhibit hall was for experiencing. There was always something new to see and try out: emerging technology, imaginative playgrounds, learning and playing a new game. The hall was full of recreation professionals who are all dedicated to the well-being of their communities and enhancing the field of parks and recreation. We have a great industry and great people, and the exhibit hall is where it all came to life. I went home with a swag bag full of goodies and endless ideas for the future.
On the last day of the conference, I ran the NRPA 5K hosted by Atlanta’s very own parks and recreation department and the Atlanta Track Club. My favorite way to explore a new place is on a run, so the 5K was the perfect opportunity to sightsee. While waiting for the race to begin, a fellow runner noticed my local road race t-shirt and we sparked up a conversation. It turned out, we live in neighboring towns back in Maine. During the race, the course took us through the picturesque Rodney Cook Sr. Park, then it jumped on the Westside Beltline trail for an out and back loop before heading to the finish line. The beltline trail was nice and flat, with some great views of artwork and parks along the way. The course was easy to navigate and full of volunteers and staff cheering everyone on. While standing on the podium with a few fellow runners from Chicago, we said goodbye by saying, “let’s race again next year.”
Pictured: Zachary and fellow 5K runners at the 2024 NRPA Annual Conference in Atlanta.
Running, like the field of parks and recreation, always seems to bring people together. This is why I love what I do and why the NRPA Annual Conference is such a great opportunity. It’s a must-attend event for anyone working in parks and recreation.
Be sure to register for the 2025 NRPA Annual Conference in Orlando when registration opens in early May. I hope to see you there!
Zachary Lambert (he/him) is the community recreation and events manager for Gorham (Maine) Parks and Recreation.