ARPA 2023 State Awards Packet (PDF) Submit Awards by January 4th at 5pm to Mandy Johnson: mjohnson@opelika-al.gov • (334) 444-4848 • PO Box 1026, Opelika, AL 36801 The post ARPA 2023 State Awards Packet first appeared on Alabama Recreation & Parks Association ..read more

MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA – Since 1993, the Alabama State Games has offered scholarships to our athletes who attend the State Farm Athlete Leadership Summitt and participate in our Opening Ceremony. In that time, our commitment to academic excellence has translated into $335,610 of academic scholarship money being awarded. As we are days away from the 40th Anniversary Alabama State Games, another $20,000 will be added to that tally as 17 scholarships are scheduled to be awarded on June 9. But wait … there’s more. In appreciation for your past support of the Alabama State Games program, and in celeb ..read more

More than 90 Alabama Recreation & Park Association Agencies Gain Access to RCX Sports’ Experiential Programs   MONTGOMERY, Ala. (April 4, 2023) – RCX Sports announced a new partnership today with the Alabama Recreation & Parks Association (ARPA) as part of an initiative to expand the accessibility of youth sports across Alabama. Alabama is the first state to form a collaboration with RCX Sports, which will bring their signature youth sports programs to ARPA’s agency list comprised of more than 500 individual members of parks and recreation departments, townships, leisure services ..read more

Athletes are the heart and soul of the 40th Alabama State Games MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA – Athletes are the heart and soul of the Alabama State Games and have been since the Games’ inception in 1982 at the request of the United State Olympic Committee. For these – our 40th Games – we are going big and expecting 6,000 athletes of all ages and abilities ready to show up and show out and pack sports venues in Birmingham and throughout Jefferson County. To help us with meeting that goal we’re excited to announce the Early Bird Registration Special, taking 10% off registration fees using the discount ..read more

ARPA Directors Retreat April 25 – 27, 2023 Lake Guntersville State Park Registration Fee $175.00 per person *Room block will open end of March-First week of April Directors and Assistant Directors – Make your plans to join us for the 2nd Annual ARPA Directors Retreat! Learn how to bring the Fish! Culture to your department. The four Fish! Philosophies are – Be There, Play, Make Their Day, and Choose Your Attitude. Fish! will help your team increase creativity, engagement, and build strong relationships. A Fish! Department is a productive and happy department. https://www.arpaonline.org/wp-c ..read more

The state office has been busy planning a fun-filled conference as the ARPA celebrated “80 Years of Making A Difference!” Here is a sneak peek of some of the fun planned as we gather January 29 – 31, 2023 in Orange Beach. Click HERE for the schedule of educational sessions ..read more

ARPA 2022 State Awards Packet (PDF) The deadline for all State Awards is Thursday, January 5th. Please send all submissions to your District Awards chairperson and/or Mandy Johnson ..read more

Introducing the 2022 LEAD Program.  We  are rolling out two new compenents for 2022 – LEAD MENTOR and LEAD ReCONNECT. LEAD Dates: November 2 – 4 @ Camp Skyline in Mentone Alabama LEAD :  2.5 day program consisting of leadership development/enhancement activities, FISH! Philosophy for Leaders and team building exercises. The program will also focus on potential opportunities for involvement by the attendees in ARPA and networking with fellow professionals.  As a part of the program, outdoor adventure programming will be used which will require physical activity and participa ..read more

Hello ARPA Members, We are reaching out today with some exciting news. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama recently announced a state-wide partnership with National Fitness Campaign to launch a new round of $500,000 in grant funding to support the growth of the NFC initiative across Alabama. If you are not yet familiar with the campaign, the program is designed to bring world-class wellness infrastructure to public spaces, along with consulting, funding, and community programming support. Please see the BCBS press release and NFC 3-minute video describing the program below: Press release: ht ..read more

via the Coach Safely Foundation  Stop by the Winfield Community Center on Thursday about 6 p.m., and you may wonder why so many cars have filled the parking lot and so many people have gathered inside. Put it this way: Gina Bryant has organized another important event to benefit local children, and Melinda Wilson is the featured speaker. In Winfield, when those two pillars of the community come together, they are sure to draw a crowd. Bryant is the longtime park director for the Winfield Park & Recreation Department, an Affiliate Member of the Alabama Recreation and Parks Association ..read more