About

What is the Vermont Recreation and Parks Association?

The VRPA is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion, development, and improvement of all recreation and park services within the State of Vermont.

Dating back to our small beginnings in 1948, our history has been that of professionalism and pride in our mission: The Vermont Recreation and Parks Association provides support services and programs for the professionals and volunteers who advocate high quality recreation and park experiences for the people and visitors of Vermont. It does this by providing conferences and workshops, publication of a newsletter called The Advocate, a weekly Recreation Check-In email, advocacy and visibility programs, a voluntary certification program, an awards program, distribution of grant information, technical resource information, consultation, special events, and a variety of other services.

Our members consist mostly of people who work full and part-time in parks and recreation, and citizen volunteers who serve on boards and commissions or as leaders of recreation programs and projects. We also have commercial members, college faculty, and student members.

The VRPA is an affiliate of the National Recreation and Park Association and as such takes an active role in the functioning of NRPA. Many VRPA members are also members of NRPA.

In 1997, VRPA hired its first part-time executive director to better serve its membership. The Executive Director works out of his or her home but is generally available to provide assistance during the day or evening. In 1999, VRPA adopted its first Strategic Plan.

As described in the two documents, Constitution and By-Laws, the association is led by a ten-member Executive Committee consisting of a president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, past-president, four at-large members appointed by the president, and the executive director (ex-officio).