mParks PROfessional · 2021. 1. 22. · 4 mParks PROfessional Quarterly • Volume 12, Issue 4 •...

mParks PROfessional Quarterly • Volume 12, Issue 4 • 2021 1

QUARTERLY

mParks

VOLUME 12, ISSUE 4 • 2021The official publication of mParks - the Michigan Recreation and Park Association

The voice of Michigan's parks and recreation community www.mParks.org

PROfessional

Presented by

ADVOCATE TEACH IN S P IRE U N ITE

2021 mParks Conference

February 2-4, 2021

VALU

E IM

PACT

PUR

POSE

VIPValue, Impact and Purpose

N E X T L E V E L

mParks 2021 Conference & Trade Show

VIRTUAL

VIPValue, Impact and Purpose

N E X T L E V E L

mParks 2021 Conference & Trade Show

FEATURINGConference Registration Info | pg 7

Schedule at a Glance | pg 10

Featured Speakers | pg 14

and more!

ALSO INSIDENew mParks Foundation Grant

Cass County Parks and Recreation

Family Series - Angela and Sierra Dove

http://www.mParks.org

PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT • SPLASH PADS • DOG & SPECIALTY PARKS • STEEL & WOOD SHELTERS FABRIC & SHADE STRUCTURES • SAFETY SURFACING• SITE FURNISHINGS •ATHLETIC EQUIPMENT • NATURAL PLAY

®

Miracle Recreation Equipment Company is a Division of PlayPower, Inc. Copyright ©2020 by PlayPower, Inc. All rights reserved Exclusive provider of Poligon and Raindrop

MiracleMidwest.com | [email protected] | 800-722-8546

NEW CHALLENGE? WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER!


Volume 12, Issue 4 • 2021The official publication of the Michigan Recreation and Park Association

QUARTERLY

2020/2021 mParks Board of Directors

PRESIDENTEmily StevensManager of Leisure Services, Lansing Parks and Recreation Department

PRESIDENT-ELECTJeff MuckDirector, Novi Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services

PAST PRESIDENTJonathan LaFeverDeputy Director, Canton Leisure Services

SECRETARY/TREASUREREric ShefferOwner, Penchura, LLC

DIRECTOR AT LARGEMarcella PostRecreation Manager, Midland Parks & Recreation

DIRECTOR AT LARGELori IrwinAssistant Professor, Central Michigan University

PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENT ENVIRONMENTALSUSTAINABILITYConan SmithPresident & CEO, Michigan Environmental Council

PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENT - HEALTH & WELLNESSLinda ScarpettaDirector, Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Control, MDHHS

mParks Professional Quarterly magazine is a publication of the Michigan Recreation and Park Association (mParks), 1213 Center Street, Suite B, Lansing, MI 48909; phone: 517.485.9888; fax: 517.485.7932; www.mParks.org. mParks is a member-driven organization committed to providing quality professional development, advocacy, parks and recreation programs and services with fiscal integrity and progressive leadership to Michigan’s parks and recreation trade. The views expressed herein are fixed expressions of the contributing writers and not of mParks. All rights reserved.

Editor: Renee Armstrong [email protected]

Design & Layout By: Saint Creative www.saint-creative.com 248.910.4942

©2021 mParks. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of mParks. PUBLISHED JANUARY, 2021.

4 President’s Message

5 Message from the mParks Conference Chair

6 New Members

7 Conference Registration

10 Schedule at a Glance

13 Award Winners

14 Featured Speakers

17 Conference Sponsors

18 mParks Foundation Announces New “Play is Essential For All” Grant

22 Tuesday Educational Sessions

28 Wednesday Educational Sessions

34 Rapid Response for Support

36 Thursday Educational Sessions

42 Keeping Parks and Recreation in the Family Angela and Sierra Dove

46 Premier Agency Spotlight Member Cass County Parks and Recreation


PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT • SPLASH PADS • DOG & SPECIALTY PARKS • STEEL & WOOD SHELTERS FABRIC & SHADE STRUCTURES • SAFETY SURFACING• SITE FURNISHINGS •ATHLETIC EQUIPMENT • NATURAL PLAY

®

Miracle Recreation Equipment Company is a Division of PlayPower, Inc. Copyright ©2020 by PlayPower, Inc. All rights reserved Exclusive provider of Poligon and Raindrop

MiracleMidwest.com | [email protected] | 800-722-8546

NEW CHALLENGE? WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER!



4 mParks PROfessional Quarterly • Volume 12, Issue 4 • 2021

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGEBy Emily Stevens

Welcome to 2021! A year that promises to be one of many changes. I hope some of that change will be back to “normal,” though I feel normal is going to look a bit different. We are in a unique position to choose what some of those differences are. Much of the slate on “how we’ve always done it” has been wiped clean, or at least blurred. Let us take this opportunity to rethink our departments, our greenspaces, and our communities. I know we have spent a lot of 2020 rethinking how we could serve our community, but those were short-term changes to get us through the toughest of times. We now see the light at the end of the tunnel and it is important that we take time to understand what we have learned and use that knowledge to expand and improve.

Does that sound exhausting to do alone? Yes. That is why I for one am excited to attend the mParks Virtual Conference in February. I am looking forward to learning and creating with the brightest minds in this state and beyond. I hope you will join me and actively participate so we can process, brainstorm and develop new and exciting ways to move forward. Together we can move to the Next Level in Value, Impact and Purpose. (See what I did there?) I am excited to virtually see you in the next few months and hope to see you in person before 2021 wraps up!

Message from the Executive DirectorBy Clay Summers

mParks PROfessional Quarterly • Volume 12, Issue 3 • 2020 5mParks PROfessional Quarterly • Volume 12, Issue 3 • 2020 5

President’s Message By Emily Stevens


We recently wrapped up the Board Retreat for the mParks 2020/21 year. I wish I could say we solved all the world’s problems and have all the answers, but unfortunately, that was not the case. I can say we did some great work in self-reflection regarding Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, specifically looking at our Leadership style and how that can affect our interactions with people. We became more aware of micro-aggressions and gaslighting, and I can personally say it helped me identify ways I can improve my communication. In the face of this pandemic and civil unrest, this self-reflection is crucial as we work to move our communities forward.

Parks and Recreation has a unique power to set the stage for equity in communities. We reach across our communities providing access to public spaces. We control where we invest, who has access and how people interact, with each other and with their community.

My hope is that we are able to provide enlightenment to ourselves, our communities and our state. Together we can create conversations that show the healing power that Parks and Recreation has. Both to heal people and communities. We can help create connections that will impact all for years to come. This hard work won’t happen in a year, there will be no box to check that we are done – this is just continuous work and awareness. Learning every day how we can be better. Some successes will not be evident until the next generation is at the wheel.

With these things in mind we focused on creating specific goals for each Committee, Focus Group and Regional Groups that tie into the overall mParks Strategic Plan Pillars: Advocate. Teach. Inspire. Unite. So, as each succeeds, mParks succeeds. This road is a strange one this year, but I am sure as we navigate it together we will create stronger self’s and stronger communities.

Stay Positive and Passionate: 2020

Since my mParks Presidency in 2016/2017, I have ended each one of my letters to the membership in the same way. Today, I am beginning my message with it, STAY POSITIVE AND PASSIONATE, friends.

It could not be more important than right now to find the strength to be a positive influence on your family, your friends and your communities. We are all searching for leaders right now, leaders that do not focus on the negative, but lay a path for the future. Be the agent of change in your community and help create an environment of positivity and passion for our profession every day. It’s hard work, much easier to complain and wish things would just go back to “normal,” but every day we embrace the new norm and attempt to do right by our family, friends and communities is another step closer to our positive impact on those around us.

None of us have experienced anything like the last seven months before. As we have moved along this seemingly never-ending road of the pandemic, it hasn’t been without extraordinary leadership from your mParks Board of Directors and Leadership Team. They have been here this whole journey, phone calls and meetings, sometimes daily, consisted of conversations about guidance the Association can give, what does that EO mean for us and what types of webinars can be put together to help us bounce ideas off one another.

We now bring in a new Board of Directors and Leadership Team within the Association and grab onto that thread of positivity and change moving forward. I couldn’t be more excited to see what the next day, week, month and year have in store for us. Tough decisions lie ahead, uncomfortable conversations will be a part of our future and changes are inevitable, but I have the utmost confidence in our abilities to navigate the unknowns that will face us with a positive attitude, passion for the profession and leadership that you can be proud of.

PARKS AND RECREATION HAS

A UNIQUE POWER TO SET THE STAGE

FOR EQUITY IN COMMUNITIES.

NEXT LEVEL


• February 2-4, 2021 • mParks.org/ConferenceConference

When I was asked to be the 2021 mParks Conference and Trade show chair, I had a mixture of emotions. From feeling excited for being asked to being scared because it was out of my comfort zone to being honored to chair one of the best times of year for us Recreation Professionals. It is something we all look forward to each year. We get to visit with our colleagues we see once a year, rejuvenate for the upcoming busy season, learn new ideas and ways to become better in our profession, and of course all the socials and fun we have with each other.

This year’s conference theme is Next Level VIP: Value, Inspire, Purpose. When I first chose this theme it had a different meaning than it does now. This last year has made us prove our value, prove our purpose and inspire others to be involved in Recreation.

With so much uncertainty this year, we were prepared to plan both an in person and virtual conference based on where we were at in the pandemic. Planning began as if we would be in person and continue on like normal. As the months went on and we still had not returned to our normal work lives and being virtual was the new norm, the board voted to make the conference virtual. Once the board made the final decision, it allowed us as a committee to go all in on being virtual for the first time in mParks history.

Planning has been different, challenging at times, but has set us all up to be able to succeed in the future no matter what life throws at us. It has shown us what we already know, we are able to adapt and change no matter what restrictions are thrown our way. Everyone knows being in recreation means nothing will go as planned, so having a backup plan is what we do!

I invite everyone to participate in this year’s Virtual Conference. Block off your calendars for February 2, 3, & 4, 2021 to be a part of another mParks first. Things will look different and we may not be able to be together in the same room, but attending the conference will guarantee Next Level VIP!

MESSAGE FROM THE mPARKS CONFERENCE CHAIRBy Danielle Richardson

NEXT LEVEL

http://mParks.org/Conference


PREMIER AGENCY MEMBER

Eaton County Parks & RecreationSarah Furgeson

Grosse Pointe Woods Angela BrownLindsey FrattaroliSarah Segar

Livonia Parks & Recreation Maureen CaseyEmily Tchorz-Fielder

Milford, Village of Mike Karll

BASIC AGENCY MEMBER

Clawson Parks & Recreation Gina Boyd

Pentwater, Village of Rande Listerman

Wolverine Lake, Village of Michael Kondek

VENDOR MEMBER

Code Wiz Reading Ravi Meka

Smart Field Forms Ronald BlaisdellLee Forkenbrock

INDIVIDUAL PROFESSIONAL MEMBER

Sheila GarciaTrevor StaplesTroy Westerhof

ASSOCIATE MEMBER

Julie Martz

New Members of mParks

The Michigan Recreation and Park Association welcomes the following new and upgraded members.


New Members of mParks

Registration

The Annual mParks Conference is the premier education and networking event for Michigan’s park and recreation professionals. The event draws a variety of participants, including park and recreation department directors, travel and tourism professionals, athletic and tournament coordinators, park maintenance employees, senior recreation planners, aquatic managers, elected officials, board and commission members, and more.

While the 2021 mParks Conference may look a little different than past years, mParks is still prepared to provide a phenomenal educational and networking experience.

Full registration details available at mParks.org/Conference.

THE 2021 MPARKS VIRTUAL CONFERENCE WILL FEATURE:

• More than 50 educational sessions

• The opportunity to earn up to 1.2 CEUs

• Video & Instant Messaging Networking with fellow delegates and vendors

• Daily Keynote Addresses

• mParks Organizational Award Presentations

• The opportunity to watch session recordings later

3-Day Package

This all-inclusive value will provide access to all sessions and recordings after the event. This is the best value.

$249 mParks Members$179 Student/Retired Member$299 non-member

2-Day Package

Choose two of the three days to attend. You will only be able to access sessions and after-Conference recordings for the days you choose.


1-Day Package

Choose one of the three days to attend. You will only be able to access sessions and after-conference recordings for the day you choose.


PRICING


iWhat We Do

Landscape Architecture

Planning

Civil Engineering

Environmental Services

Park & Recreation Plans

Grant Writing

Placemaking

Community Engagement

Redevelopment Ready Communities

Complete Streets

Sustainable Design

GIS

Who We ServeMunicipal

State & Federal

Education

Private & Corporate

Not for Profit

Where We AreAnn Arbor

Traverse City

PetoskeyMaking Great Places for Over 50 Years!

www.bria2.com

The Yalp Sona is an interactive dance and play arch. More specifically; it is an audio-guided playset,

especially designed for permanent outdoor installation. Games are played by tracking users’ motion. The motion

sensors at the top of the arch register the movement happening beneath it. 10 games are pre-installed,

and more are being developed continually.

Design. Build. Play.

www.midstatesrecreation.com • 614-855-3790 • [email protected]

��

Visit the Midstates Recreation booth to see it in action!


Schedule At A Glance

TIME ROOM 1 ROOM 2 ROOM 3 ROOM 4 ROOM 5 ROOM 6

9:00am - 10:30am

10:45am - 11:45am Activities in a Pinch(Roz & Jed Buck)

Bouncing Back: Handling Setbacks Like a Comedian

(Jan McInnis) Journey to the Top:

Lessons Learned From This Year's Award Winners

(Panel)

Maintaining Safe Play Environments(Tim Sheffer)(Eric Sheffer)

Common Mental HealthChallenges in Youth(Jennifer Cronkite)

Planning for Resiliency(Panel)

1:30pm - 2:30pmMake It Stick! Make Your Trainings More Impactful

(Roz & Jed Buck)

PPE:Pandemic Progamming

Experts(Melissa Nawrocki)

General Security Plans(Larry Hess)

What We're Up Against:Mental Health and

COVID19(Jennifer Cronkite)

Sustainable Park Design(Panel)

2:45pm - 3:45pmAcquiring a Camp License

Isn't That Bad(Crystal Smith)

Calling All Programmers!(Melissa Nawrocki)

(Lori Irwin)Pros & Cons of Sub-

Contracting or In-HouseWork

(Joe Ketchum)(Brad Brenske)

Everybody Plays: A BestPractice Guide to

Multigenerational Design(Jill Moore)

(John McConkey)

Recreation Software (Danielle Richardson)

(Ethan Engle) (Hannah Fogarty)

Welcome / Info / AwardsKeynote - Finding the Funny in Change (Jan McInnis)

TUES

DA

Y (

2/2/

21)

Director's Summit(Kendall Klingelsmith)

Presenting Sponsor Click here to print At-A-Glace Schedule

https://www.mparks.org/resource/resmgr/conference/2021/At_A_Glance_Printable.pdf




9:00am - 10:30am

10:45am - 11:45am Activities in a Pinch(Roz & Jed Buck)

Bouncing Back: Handling Setbacks Like a Comedian

(Jan McInnis)Journey to the Top:

Lessons Learned From This Year's Award Winners

(Panel)

Maintaining Safe Play Environments(Tim Sheffer)(Eric Sheffer)

Common Mental Health Challenges in Youth(Jennifer Cronkite)

Planning for Resiliency(Panel)

1:30pm - 2:30pmMake It Stick! Make YourTrainings More Impactful

(Roz & Jed Buck)

PPE:Pandemic Progamming

Experts(Melissa Nawrocki)

General Security Plans(Larry Hess)

What We're Up Against: Mental Health and

COVID19(Jennifer Cronkite)

Sustainable Park Design(Panel)

2:45pm - 3:45pmAcquiring a Camp License

Isn't That Bad(Crystal Smith)

Calling All Programmers!(Melissa Nawrocki)

(Lori Irwin)Pros & Cons of Sub-

Contracting or In-House Work

(Joe Ketchum)(Brad Brenske)

Everybody Plays: A Best Practice Guide to

Multigenerational Design(Jill Moore)

(John McConkey)

Recreation Software (Danielle Richardson)

(Ethan Engle) (Hannah Fogarty)

Welcome / Info / AwardsKeynote - Finding the Funny in Change (Jan McInnis)

TUES

DA

Y (

2/2/

21)

Director's Summit(Kendall Klingelsmith)

Click here to print At-A-Glace Schedule





9:00am - 10:30am

10:45am - 11:45am

Keynote Q&A with Mikah Meyer

(Mikah Meyer)Michigan Natural

Resources Trust Fund Board Round Table

(Dan Lord)

Finding Success with theFive Types of Aquatic

Employees(George Deines)

Double-Goal Coach:Coaching for Winning and

Life Lessons(Positive Coaching

Alliance)

Marketing: From Practical to Practically Insane

(Ryan Hegreness)(Rich Neumann)

The Change Curve(Gabriel Castillo)

1:30pm - 2:30pm Empathy, Racism, and

Bias to Find Your ART in Leadership

(Jessica Vann)

Mediocre Aquatic Operations Start at the

Top(George Deines)

Expense Management:Reducing Cost but Not

Quality(Chris Nunes)

Outrageous Events,Incredible Results(Ryan Hegreness)(Rich Neumann)(Brandy O'Keefe)

Finding the Perfect RecipeFor a High Morale

Workplace(Gabriel Castillo)

2:45pm - 3:45pm The Forgotten Perspective(Lisa Bryant & Panel)

Grow More Leaders(Roz & Jed Buck) Bouncing Back From

COVID: Adapt, Innovateand Overcome(Chris Nunes)

Lemons Into Lemonade: Innovating in Crisis

(Ryan Hegreness)(Rich Neumann)(Jason Genck)

(Kodi Erb)eSports Roundtable

(Panel)

WED

NES

DA

Y (

2/3/

21)

Welcome / Info / AwardsKeynote Presentation

3 Years Nonstop Out in All 400+ National Park Service Sites - Mikah Meyer

DNR Recreation Grants Workshop(DNR Staff)





9:00am - 10:30am

10:45am - 11:45am

Keynote Q&A with MikahMeyer

(Mikah Meyer)Michigan Natural

Resources Trust Fund Board Round Table

(Dan Lord)

Finding Success with the Five Types of Aquatic

Employees(George Deines)

Double-Goal Coach: Coaching for Winning and

Life Lessons(Positive Coaching

Alliance)

Marketing: From Practical to Practically Insane

(Ryan Hegreness)(Rich Neumann)

The Change Curve(Gabriel Castillo)

1:30pm - 2:30pm Empathy, Racism, and

Bias to Find Your ART inLeadership

(Jessica Vann)

Mediocre Aquatic Operations Start at the

Top(George Deines)

Expense Management: Reducing Cost but Not

Quality(Chris Nunes)

Outrageous Events, Incredible Results(Ryan Hegreness)(Rich Neumann)(Brandy O'Keefe)

Finding the Perfect Recipe For a High Morale

Workplace(Gabriel Castillo)

2:45pm - 3:45pm The Forgotten Perspective(Lisa Bryant & Panel)

Grow More Leaders(Roz & Jed Buck) Bouncing Back From

COVID: Adapt, Innovate and Overcome(Chris Nunes)

Lemons Into Lemonade: Innovating in Crisis

(Ryan Hegreness)(Rich Neumann)(Jason Genck)

(Kodi Erb)eSports Roundtable

(Panel)

WED

NES

DA

Y (

2/3/

21)

Welcome / Info / AwardsKeynote Presentation

3 Years Nonstop Out in All 400+ National Park Service Sites - Mikah Meyer

DNR Recreation GrantsWorkshop(DNR Staff)






9:00am - 10:30am

10:45am - 11:45am Community Gardens(Amy DeRosier)

Hitting the Target With Outdoor Archery Ranges

(Panel)

COVID-19 and Summer Camps - Lessons Learned

in 2020(Panel)

My People? Your People? Nope...OUR People!

(Jo Burns)

Larry, Moe & Curly(Jonathan Jarosz)

(Andrea LaFontaine)(Clay Summers)

Reach Youth in YourCommunity - Starting a

Council(Hannah Fogarty)(Kevin Troshak)

1:30pm - 2:30pm60 Aquatics DEI Ideas in

60 Minutes(Kate Connell)

The Psychology of Working With Today’s

Recreation Participants(Dr. Joel Fish)

Leading With Health inMind

(Jo Burns)

Leveraging Resources Through a New Regional

Partnership(Mark Wallace)(Amy McMillan)

2:45pm - 3:45pmEquitable Aquatics: The 3 P’s of Inclusive Aquatics

(Kate Connell)

Do's & Don'ts For Youth Sport Programming

(Dr. Joel Fish)

Mentorship & What It CanDo For You

(Panel)

How to Collaborate forBetter Trails and Stronger

Communities(Panel)

3:45pm - 4:00pm Conference Wrap Up

THU

RSD

AY

(2/

4/21

)

Welcome / Info / AwardsKeynote - Student Showcase

Business Basics for NewProgram Directors

(Sarah Kurtz McKinnon)





9:00am - 10:30am

10:45am - 11:45am Community Gardens(Amy DeRosier)

Hitting the Target With Outdoor Archery Ranges

(Panel)

COVID-19 and Summer Camps - Lessons Learned

in 2020(Panel)

My People? Your People? Nope...OUR People!

(Jo Burns)

Larry, Moe & Curly(Jonathan Jarosz)

(Andrea LaFontaine)(Clay Summers)

Reach Youth in Your Community - Starting a

Council(Hannah Fogarty)(Kevin Troshak)

1:30pm - 2:30pm60 Aquatics DEI Ideas in

60 Minutes(Kate Connell)

The Psychology of Working With Today’s

Recreation Participants(Dr. Joel Fish)

Leading With Health in Mind

(Jo Burns)

Leveraging Resources Through a New Regional

Partnership(Mark Wallace)(Amy McMillan)

2:45pm - 3:45pmEquitable Aquatics: The 3 P’s of Inclusive Aquatics

(Kate Connell)

Do's & Don'ts For Youth Sport Programming

(Dr. Joel Fish)

Mentorship & What It Can Do For You

(Panel)

How to Collaborate for Better Trails and Stronger

Communities(Panel)

3:45pm - 4:00pm Conference Wrap Up

THU

RSD

AY

(2/

4/21

)

Welcome / Info / AwardsKeynote - Student Showcase

Business Basics for New Program Directors

(Sarah Kurtz McKinnon)



March 6–9G R A N D T R A V E R S E R E S O R T & S P A

m P a r k s C O N F E R E N C E& T R A D E S H O W

mParksConference.com

2022

S

A V E t h e D A T E


Award Winners

PARK DESIGN

• Geary Park Skate Park, Ferndale Parks and Recreation

• Grove Park Renovation, Midland Parks and Recreation

• Southfield City Centre Trail, City of Southfield Parks & Recreation

• Plaster Creek Family Park, Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation Department

• Hines Park Bike Park, Wayne County Parks

FACILITY DESIGN

• CommUNITY Skatepark, Ypsilanti Township Recreation

• Marketplace on the Green, Meridian Township Parks and Recreation

• Accessible Multi-Purpose Dock, Ingham County Parks

• Sterling Heights Community Center, Agency City of Sterling Heights Parks and Recreation

INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING

• UNITY Project, Livonia Parks and Recreation

• July 4th Virtual Parade, City of Huntington Woods Parks and Recreation

• Dear Kevin, Huron Clinton Metroparks

• Youth Theatre Performing Arts Festival, City of Farmington Hills

• Quest for Adventure, Oakland County Parks and Recreation

• Visit Every Park, GIVE 365, Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation

• Parking Lot Disco Daddy-Daughter Celebration, Romulus Parks & Recreation

• Virtual Theatre Programming, East Lansing Department of Parks, Recreation & Arts

• Drive-thru Halloween, Lansing Parks and Recreation

COVID-19 ENGAGEMENT

• I Spy program, Oakland County Parks and Recreation

• Virtual Program Series, Howell Area Parks and Recreation Authority

• Virtual & In-Person Programming, Sterling Heights Parks and Recreation

• Together Livonia Cares, Livonia Parks and Recreation

• Learning Lab, Lansing Parks and Recreation

• Programming Response Plan, Orion Township Parks & Recreation

• Programming Response Plan, Huron-Clinton Metroparks

• Return-to-Recreation, City of Novi Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services

COVID-19 LEADERSHIP

• Reactivation Plan, Neighborhood Club

• Response Plan, Michigan DNR

• Summer Camp Action Plan, City of Farmington Hills

MARKETING

Graphic Design Piece Outdoor Discovery Book, Farmington Hills Special Services

Integrated Marketing Campaign Social Distancing Campaign, Huron-Clinton Metroparks

Social Media Campaign Park Madness, Lansing Parks and Recreation

Website Your Local Outdoors Story Map, Michigan DNR

LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIAL

Bob DePalma, Groveland Township Supervisor and George Kullis, Holly Township Supervisor

STATE ELECTED OFFICIAL

Senator Jim Ananich, Michigan’s 27th Senate District


Featured Speakers

ROZ & JED BUCKRoz and Jed Buck have done what many married couples consider to be “the impossible” . . . They have worked together, side by side, for over 15 years. From 2004 – 2016, Roz and Jed owned and directed Meadowbrook Day Camp, a large private day camp in New Jersey, where they significantly grew the business and trained over 400 staff each summer.

Roz and Jed sold their camp in 2016, and as serial entrepreneurs, they have successfully launched a new business as Trainers and Consultants. They travel the country sharing what they have learned and experienced first-hand by delivering interactive keynotes, experiential and participant-centered conference sessions, and private training workshops. They successfully provide Two Voices, Customized Content, and Real Experience. Roz and Jed have shared their messages and experiences at a variety of conferences in 20 different states including the NRPA conference as well as many state and regional RPA Conferences.

GABRIEL CASTILLOA talented national speaker who combines education and entertainment to provide a memorable experience. Twenty years of experience coordinating logistics and marketing for recreation programs, special events and sports leagues. Gabriel holds a Master’s Degree in Recreation Administration and is a Certified Park & Recreation Professional (CPRP).

DR. JOEL FISHDr. Joel Fish is a nationally recognized expert in sport psychology who has worked in the field for the past twenty-five years. He is a licensed psychologist who has worked extensively with athletes of all ages and skills levels, from youth sport through the Olympic and professional ranks. Dr. Fish has been a sport psychology consultant for the Philadelphia 76ers, the Philadelphia Flyers, the Philadelphia Phillies Organization, the USA Women’s National Field Hockey Team, and the USA Women’s National Soccer Team. He is one of the only sport psychologists in the country who has worked with 3 professional sports teams in the same city at the same time. Dr. Fish has also served as a sport psychology consultant for Saint Joseph’s University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Temple University. Dr. Fish is a visiting lecturer at the Wingate Institute and Zinman College in Netanya, Israel, where he teaches about applied sport psychology and elite athletes. He has spoken nationwide on sport psychology at over 300 universities and is a popular presenter at a variety of athletic functions.

RYAN HEGRENESSRyan Hegreness has conducted more than 60 education sessions across the country on the topics of marketing, technology and social media. Ryan currently serves as Operations Manager for the Department of Parks, Recreation and Libraries in Westminster, Colorado and


is a Co-Manager of the Brand+Aid Marketing and Social Media Conference. Previously, Ryan was the Marketing and Enterprise Development Manager in Arlington, Texas, an Assistant Director in Essex Junction, Vermont and the founder of a website development company. Ryan has a master’s degree from Clemson University in parks, recreation and tourism management.

SARAH KURTZ MCKINNONSarah Kurtz McKinnon is a writer, facilitator, educator, and entrepreneur. After a serving as the director of a children’s overnight summer camp for the Ann Arbor YMCA for six years, Sarah started her own business, Kurtz McKinnon Creative, which helps organizations and their leaders improve their strategies and tactics in both management and marketing. She also is an internationally-recognized consultant and presenter for youth development professionals. Sarah graduated cum laude from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University with a double-major in journalism and political science. She earned her Master’s in Business Administration at Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, graduating with high honors, where she served a fellow in the +LAB at Center for Positive Organizations.

JAN MCINNISFor the past 25+ years Jan has traveled the country as a keynote speaker and comedian sharing her unique and practical tips on how to use humor in business (yes it’s a business skill!). She’s also an established comedy writer who has written for Jay Leno’s Tonight Show

monologue as well as many other people, places and groups – radio, TV, syndicated cartoon strips, guests on the Jerry Springer show (her parents are proud). In her former life, she was a marketing executive in Washington, D.C. for national non-profits, and she received the Greater Washington Society of Association Executives “Excellence in Education” Award. She’s been featured at thousands of events from the Federal Reserve Banks to the Mayo Clinic. She’s the author of two books: “Finding The Funny Fast,” and “Convention Comedian,” and she’s been heard on hundreds of radio stations. Jan was also featured in the Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and the Huffington Post, and she currently produces a weekly podcast titled “Comedian Stories: Tales From the Road in Under 5 Minutes.”

MIKAH MEYERIn 2005, days after his father’s funeral, 19-year-old Mikah embarked on his first independent road trip. What was initially planned as a post-freshman year getaway quickly became a transformative experience that showed Mikah the healing power of road trips. Since then, he has taken one road trip a year to honor this experience, including his 260 day, 16,400 mile “Dream Road Trip” around 46 North American states/provinces at age 25, and his noted journey to all 400+ NPS sites at age 30.

Mikah’s writings on these travels have been featured by outlets including the National Parks Conservation Association, Outside Magazine, and a piece via Huffington Post and RoadTrippers that garnered over 40,000 shares and inspired the title track for singer/songwriter Shelly Waters’ album DRIVE.

With April 29, 2016, marking the 11th anniversary of his father’s passing from cancer, Mikah honored his dad’s love of driving by making life out of death and launching his journey to experience all 400+ units of the U.S. National Park System from the Washington Monument.




Featured Speakers

The project reached its Finale on April 29, 2019 at the steps of The Lincoln Memorial after traveling nearly 200,000 miles to every U.S. state and territory.

Mikah’s focus continues to be doing travel beyond convention and using his expertise to engender others’ dreams. Future projects include a photo guidebook and ranking of all 419 NPS sites, a memoir, a TV show, and more travel that showcases the imagination of the human spirit.

CHRIS NUNESChris Nunes, CPRE, is the Director of Parks and Recreation for The Woodlands Township, in The Woodlands, Texas. In that position, he oversees the management of 100 full-time and 350 part-time staff divided into eight divisions (Park Operations, Planning, Recreation, Aquatics, Development, Town Center, Environmental Services and Resident Care Center), a $19.5 million operational and a $6 million capital improvement budget. He is accountable for the maintenance of 140 parks, 15 swimming pools and aquatic facilities, 210 miles of pathways, 200 miles of streetscapes, 1400+ cul de sacs and 500 acres of lakes and ponds. Prior to The Woodlands, he was the Director of Community Services for the City of Fort Morgan, Colorado; an Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator for the Recreation Management Program at Ashland University and Director of Parks and Recreation in Fort Kent, Maine. Chris holds a bachelor’s degree in Recreation Management and a Master’s Degree in Sports Management from Springfield College in Massachusetts and a Doctorate in Parks and Recreation Administration from the University of New Mexico.

JESSICA VANNJessica Vann is a performer/actress and is the Creative Director/Founder of Creative Spaces. She is originally from the mitten state of Michigan and holds a B.S. in Theater and Interpretation: Acting from Central Michigan University and a M.A. in Training and Development from Roosevelt University. Jessica is embarking on a journey to live her best life and fully commit to her calling. To fulfill her passion and calling, she has started a business called Creative Spaces. Jessica decided to combine her 10+ years working in the non-for-profit sector; in the education and the after school field, her love for training and development for all sectors, with her theatre background. Creative Spaces is a company that will offer a unique and inspiring approach to Leadership, EDI, Company Culture and Professional Development, so that you are able to bring your true authentic self to the workplace and have a thriving and sustainable company!


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The Michigan Recreation and Parks Association (mParks) Foundation is announcing a new grant opportunity for mParks members beginning February 1, 2021.

The Foundation’s new Play is Essential for All grant will be available in amounts up to $2,500 to support the purchase of adaptive equipment that allows equal access to recreation for all members of the applicant’s community.

The funds may be used to purchase new adaptive equipment or add on to existing equipment. Examples include items such as a wheelchair swing, pool access wheelchair, handicap accessible picnic table or a mat to place in the sand to allow wheelchair accessibility to the water or other recreation area.

For the last few years the Foundation has hosted a virtual 5K with mParks partners, with half of the money raised going to the Foundation and the rest to the partner member. Over the past year, 41 communities have been partners in this event. The Foundation is now using a portion of those funds toward the Play is Essential For All grant.

“We really wanted to give back to our partnering communities,” said Julie Bouma, mParks Foundation Board Member. “There is no financial match required, just a request that the Foundation is recognized. We just wanted to get the money into our member’s communities.”

In the past the Foundation has funded items such as accessible playground components or structures and accessible kayak launches. They also helped fund one of the first wheelchair accessible deer blinds in the state available through the MDNR.

mParks Foundation Announces New “Play is Essential For All” Grant

continued on next page...


mParks Foundation Announces New “Play is Essential For All” Grant

The W.K. Kellogg & mParks Foundation Partnership

In 2006, the W. K. Kellogg Foundation announced an initiative that would join together organizations across four Midwestern states with one common goal: to create greater access and inclusiveness in recreation facilities, programs, and services for people of all ages and abilities. Now known as Access to Recreation (A2R), the $15 million venture has funded programs, facilities, parks, and most importantly, recreation experiences. More than 40 recreation projects in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Ohio have been funded since the program’s beginning. Through the initiative, Michigan has become a national leader, providing recreational activities designed to be used and enjoyed in the same manner by all patrons, regardless of ability. Projects completed at both state and local levels have far exceeded standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act and serve as examples for community planners, recreation practitioners and accessibility advocates.

In addition to partnerships with community foundations, the W. K. Kellogg Foundation reached out to the mParks Foundation to execute the vision of the initiative – since that time, the Foundation has funded local and county projects enhancing accessible recreation opportunities in Michigan, and has raised awareness about the importance of accessible recreation through education and training. The final challenge to the Foundation was to build an endowment that would sustain the access mission long into the future. The mParks Foundation provided 23 matching grants to communities to purchase adaptive equipment and complete modifications within existing park and recreation facilities. The Foundation also awarded eight Accessible by Design grants to fund major projects across the state. In total, $1.4 million was provided for the purchase of adaptive equipment and the construction of accessible recreation projects.

mParks Foundation

The Michigan Recreation and Park Association (mParks) Foundation was established in 2002 and provides financial support to people and programs that work to enrich the health and well-being of all Michigan citizens by investing in universally accessible equipment, programs and services for parks and recreation in Michigan. The Foundation also supports professional development opportunities, recognition of parks and recreation practitioners, and supports students and future professionals through scholarships and annual mParks Conference funding.

VISIT www.mParksFoundation.org to learn how to apply for the

Play is Essential Grant and other opportunities!

http://www.mParksFoundation.org


“The tenet of the mParks Foundation is to help provide accessible recreation opportunities to people in every community,” said Richard Sinclair, mParks Foundation Board Member. “There is an endless list of possibilities, as long as it’s something that will make part of their community more accessible.”

The deadline to apply is May 1, 2021. The maximum amount that can be applied for is $2,500. Applications can be found beginning February 1 at mparksfoundation.org and mparks.org. Contact the mParks office at (517) 485-9888 for more information or with any questions.

Projects We Have Been Working On

• $1.4 million in Access to Recreation grants

• More than 60 scholarships for parks and recreation professionals

• $12,000 to fund “Building the Case for Parks and Recreation” research project

• Purchased a universally accessible hunting and nature viewing blind used at Waterloo Recreation Area

• $5,000 grant for VIP research to illustrate the impact of parks and recreation

• Funding to establish and maintain the mParks Hall of Fame

• Funding for webinars to provide accessibility best practices in natural settings

• Funding to host mParks Day at the Capitol Legislative Luncheon

• Scholarships for professionals to attend training at the National Center on Accessibility

• Inclusion seminars held at the mParks Conference & Trade Show

• National Center on Accessibility regional trainings for mParks professionals

• $6,500 in funding deployed for the mParks website redesign

• Invested $66,000 in universally accessible play equipment in Grand Ledge and Frankenmuth in partnership with MEDC and Patroncity

Stay tuned to future issues of mParks PROfessional Quarterly to learn more about the mParks Foundation

or visit mParksfoundation.org.

http://mparksfoundation.org

http://mparks.org

http://mParksfoundation.org

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Educational Sessions - Tuesday, February 2

Tuesday Education Sessions brought to you by:

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2 | 9:00AM-10:30AM

Opening SessionThe Opening session will feature welcomes and introductions, a keynote address from Jan McInnis and the presentation of some mParks organizational awards.

SPONSORED BY:

Finding the Funny in ChangeChange causes fear, tension and miscommunication. In this popular keynote, Jan will show you how to diffuse tension instantly, kick off tough conversations and facilitate communications through using humor. These practical tips, infused with plenty of Jan’s humor, will have you walking away laughing and learning how to handle, and even embrace, change.

Attendees will learn how to diffuse tension instantly with humor, initiate tough conversations, handle and recover from mishaps and mistakes, and enhance their communications by connecting with staff, co-workers & clients.

Jan McInnis - Keynote Speaker/Clean Comedian, The WorkLady

Participants will be able to:• Have practical, immediately useable skills for

handling change using humor, including how to diffuse tension instantly, kick off tough conversations, and open lines of communications.

• List what they should AVOID doing when faced with change.

• Describe the importance of adapting to change.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2 | 10:45AM-11:45AM

Activities in a PinchIt starts to rain...or a staff member is absent…or an event or activity ends early…what do you do? Come learn some fun, easy, no-prop games that you can share with your out-of-school time staff and pull out of your back pocket to fill time with engaging activities when you are in a pinch.

Jed Buck - Principal, Roz and Jed Training & ConsultingRoz Buck - Principal, Roz and Jed Training & Consulting

Participants will be able to:• List times that they may need to implement a quick

no prop activity.

• Identify the basic ingredients for successfully using no prop activities.

• Describe specific activities that they can train their out-of-school staff to use with participants.

Bouncing Back: Handling Setbacks Like a ComedianBouncing back. That’s the key in life. Whether it’s personally or professionally, we all hit bumps in the road when things go “not as planned.” Comedians know this more than anyone because they have a very high profile job. And when something goes wrong, it needs to be fixed fast and on the spot. In this fun and informative program, Jan offers tips and insights on handling life’s pitfalls so you can move through these challenging situations. Don’t let blunders and mishaps hinder your future success! This keynote is based on Jan’s book, “Convention Comedian: Stories and Wisdom From Two Decades of Chicken Dinners and Comedy Clubs.”

Jan McInnis - CEO, The Work Lady

Participants will be able to:• Identify and understand the major causes of setbacks

and mistakes in their personal and professional life.

• Outline skills they can use to avoid common pitfalls and roadblocks.

• Apply a variety of techniques when things are going awry, and then recall tools to help them move forward.

SPONSORED BY:



Journey to the Top: Lessons Learned From This Year’s Award WinnersThis year’s mParks award winners have accomplished incredible things in a very different kind of year. We will be featuring a panel of award winners who will share the origin of their idea, key points in their journey, difficulties that were overcome and what they would change. Join us for candid conversation about how to climb that mountain and reach the highest of heights!

Linda Walter - Outdoor Adventure Center, Michigan DNRChad Stevens – Director, DeWitt Area Recreation AuthorityStu Alderman - Executive Director, Neighborhood ClubBrian Farmer - Deputy Director of Special Services, Farmington HillsEmanuel Johnson - Program Specialist, Ferndale Parks and RecreationEmily Stevens - Manager of Leisure Services, Lansing Parks and Recreation

Participants will be able to:• Identify different strategies to move a concept to

reality. Participants will be presented with 4 different situations and the successful approaches that the award winners employed.

• Create an outline for the successful project management and/or personal development (depending on the panelist). Key items, organization and timing will be addressed.

• Predict potential road blocks and missteps, as well as a variety of ways to overcome them.

Maintaining Safe Play EnvironmentsNearly 200,000 injuries that require emergency room treatment occur annually on public playgrounds. These injuries can be prevented with proper playground design and standardized inspection and maintenance program. This continuing education session will highlight the primary causes of playground injuries and discuss the responsibilities owners as well as manufacturers have for providing and maintaining safe playgrounds.

Tim Sheffer - Recreation Consultant, Penchura. LLCEric Sheffer - President, Penchura, LLC

Participants will be able to:• There are primary causes of playground injuries that

occur annually on public playgrounds.

• How to spot potential hazards on a playground.

• Setting up a routine audit and inspection program is essential for proper playground maintenance.

Common Mental Health Challenges in YouthHelp us to continue our conversations around mental health and well-being. Many of our youth struggle with mental health challenges, and as concerned parents, teachers, and community members we know that you want to support them. Come learn about the most commonly-diagnosed mental health challenges in young people as well as ways to help them be successful in managing them.

Jennifer Cronkite, MA, LPC - Senior Mental Health Therapist, Prevention Therapist, Community Mental Health Authority of Clinton, Eaton, Ingham Counties

Participants will be able to:• Identify the most common mental health challenges

and symptoms experienced by young people.

• Discuss ways in which to support young people experiencing mental health challenges.

• Identify specific tools to use in community settings regarding mental health and wellness.

Planning for ResiliencyAn essential part of planning for Parks and Recreation is resiliency and sustainability. The ability of parks and recreational spaces to withstand and recover from disruptive events such as storms, high water levels, erosion, fluctuating temperatures, and flooding is vital.

Carrie Klingelsmith, CPRP, CPSI - Project Professional, Beckett & Raeder, Inc.

Participants will be able to:• Identify concepts that support long term resiliency.

• Describe ways to anticipate, plan, and recover from unexpected disruptive occurrences in a park system.

• Identify opportunities to leverage resources to support parks and recreation facilities.

SPONSORED BY:




TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2 | 1:30PM-2:30PM

Make it Stick! Make Your Trainings More ImpactfulDo you find your staff or volunteers are not involved in training sessions? Do you want to engage them in the material? Do you want the material to stick long after the training ends? Experiential learning helps make any training more fun and impactful for both new and veteran employees and volunteers. This session will provide a variety of training activities that can be used as openers, energizers, reinforcers, and powerful learning tools for all types of learners. All of the exercises can be easily replicated in your department/agency to maximize the impact of all of your training sessions.


Participants will be able to:• Describe the advantages of using interactive

exercises to increase training effectiveness.

• Identify where in-training sessions they can insert activities to make training more effective.

• Give examples of a variety of activities to successfully convey their training messages with stronger impact while having fun.

PPE: Pandemic Programming Experts2020 was like no other year for Recreation Programming. We all had to think outside the box to bring programs to the public within the safety restrictions. In this session a panel will discuss ideas and programs that worked within their communities during the pandemic.

Melissa Nawrocki - Recreation Program Supervisor, Oakland County Parks and Recreation

Participants will be able to:• Outline programs that could be implemented during

a pandemic with safety precautions.

• Collaborate with recreation professionals to identify possible future pandemic programming.

• Discuss innovative, safe ideas on introducing alternative or new programming for pandemic restrictions.

General Security PlansIn this session we will discuss and present ideas on how to set up a General Security Plan in relation to CAPRA standards.

Larry Hess - Superintendent, Independence Township Parks, Recreation & Seniors

Participants will be able to:• Have a better understanding of what types of security

risks there may be in their organizations.

• Have an understanding of what the CAPRA standards look like for general security requirements.

• Formulate and adapt their own security needs.

SPONSORED BY:

Directors’ SummitThis session runs from 1:30 pm – 3:30 pmThis year the Director’s Summit will break down into three population categories where attendees will interact with panelists to discuss topics, reflect on 2020 and plan for 2021. Each population category will have the same questions/topics but the conversations may be different as each size have different challenges. Please bring your own questions or discussion topics to the group as this experienced group can learn from each other! The population categories are Populations with 25,000 or less; Populations with 25,00 to 75,000; and Populations with 75,000/metro or more. Each category will have panelists who work within demographics.

Panel

Participants will be able to:• Identify administrative learned best practices from 2020.

• Name resources used by fellow professionals that can be used to benefit their department.

• Define solutions to the biggest challenges faced administratively in 2020.

What We’re Up Against: Mental Health and COVID-19What are we up against? How does COVID-19 impact our mental health? How do we care for ourselves and others? What resources are available and how do we access them? Let’s talk about these and other important questions as we address the intersection of physical health and mental health in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jennifer Cronkite, MA, LPC - Senior Mental Health Therapist, Prevention Therapist, Community Mental Health Authority of Clinton, Eaton, Ingham Counties



Participants will be able to:• Describe the connection between physical health

and mental health.

• Discuss and begin to evaluate the potential impact of COVID19 on mental health, including specific vulnerable groups/populations.

• Discuss ways in which we can make use of our understanding of prevention, specifically as it relates to caring for our mental health in the midst of a pandemic.

SPONSORED BY:

Sustainable Park DesignDeveloping sustainable park designs are critical to plan for future generations. During the COVID pandemic, the use of parks has increased dramatically. Communities need to take action to plan for long term social, environmental, and financial sustainability. Now is the time to restore and enhance parks, trails, and open space.

Carrie Klingelsmith, CPRP, CPSI - Project Professional, Beckett & Raeder, Inc

Participants will be able to:• Define sustainable components of sustainability.

• Describe ways to plan aspects of sustainable planning and design for sustainable new parks and trails.

• Give examples of sustainable retrofits of existing park facilities.

SPONSORED BY:

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2 | 2:45PM-3:45PM

Acquiring a Camp License Isn’t That BadCamp Licensing, a phrase many do not like hearing. During this session, I will take you through the steps I took to acquire a Day Camp license through Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). Submitting your initial applications, creating your camp’s guidelines, on-site LARA visits, and COVID-19 guidelines are some of the topics we will discuss. I will be sharing Eaton County Parks & Recreation’s Summer Adventure Camps entire manual that was approved by LARA for summer of 2020. The document will be shared electronically. My goal is for

you to walk away understanding how to apply for a day camp license through LARA.

Crystal Smith - Recreation & Event Coordinator, Eaton County Parks & Recreation

Participants will be able to:• Write policies and procedures for their department’s

day camp programs along with understanding what is expected of the camp during operating hours.

• Apply for an initial day camp license and day camp site license through examples of documents from LARA’s website along with Eaton County Parks & Recreation’s applications being used on-site for examples.

• Apply for a day camp license through LARA with more understanding of the process from start to completing your first camp program.

Calling All Programmers!Calling all Programmers! If you work in any type of programming, we ask you to join us! This interactive session will explore how to best serve the programming needs of your community through engagement with mParks Focus Areas and Sub-Committees. Connect with other professionals to determine how mParks can best support your involvement and talents, provide meaningful year-round professional development opportunities, and strategize with other programmers to identify agendas, speakers, vendors, administrative resources, etc. that will best serve the needs of your changing communities. Let’s talk athletics, camps, community events, older adults, access/inclusion, health & wellness, and more!

Melissa Nawrocki - Recreation Programmer, mParks Programming Chair & Oakland County Parks & RecreationLori Irwin - mParks Director At Large, Central Michigan University

Participants will be able to:• Identify recreation and leisure programming

priorities in your department and community.

• Collaborate with industry programmers to define a meaningful professional development structure for future programming-driven meetings and workshops.

• Identify mParks resources and engagement strategies to integrate programming best practices into your community services and offerings.

SPONSORED BY:




Pros & Cons of Sub-Contracting or In-House WorkThis session will outline the pro’s and con’s of subcontracting. Where does it make sense to contract out for services versus performing those services in-house? Where can you use the talents of your staff to create and save money? What tasks can you let a private contractor with their expertise and experience benefit your park system? Finding the right balance of In-House and Privatization to optimize efficiencies to get the best bang for your buck.

Joe Ketchum - Parks Superintendent, West Bloomfield Parks & Recreation CommissionJamie Weasel - Park Supervisor, Oakland County Parks

Participants will be able to:• Identify the advantages and disadvantages of sub-

contracting/privatization of services to help them make an informed decision for their organization.

• List the pros and cons between sub-contracting services versus in-house services.

• Implement new procedures to enable them to make decisions on whether to contract out a service or to perform that service in-house.

Directors’ SummitThis session runs from 1:30 pm – 3:30 pmThis year the Director’s Summit will break down into three population categories where attendees will interact with panelists to discuss topics, reflect on 2020 and plan for 2021. Each population category will have the same questions/topics but the conversations may be different as each size have different challenges. Please bring your own questions or discussion topics to the group as this experienced group can learn from each other! The population categories are Populations with 25,000 or less; Populations with 25,00 to 75,000; and Populations with 75,000/metro or more. Each category will have panelists who work within demographics.

Panel

Participants will be able to:• Identify administrative learned best practices from 2020.

• Name resources used by fellow professionals that can be used to benefit their department.

• Define solutions to the biggest challenges faced administratively in 2020.

Everybody Plays: A Best Practice Guide to Multigenerational DesignCommunities are feeling the pressure to ensure spaces are usable for a wide age range of users and our parks are our strategic asset to increase livability, engage and enrich all ages. By 2050, 2 billion people will be over the age of 60. Research indicates that Americans desire resource dedication to park sites that serve both youth and older adults in order to experience vitality, combat ageist beliefs and foster healthy age integration. Through proven best practice design elements, we can strategically use our parks and playgrounds to make our communities more livable and invest in our future selves.

Jill Moore - Inclusive Play Specialist, Landscape StructuresJohn McConkey - Market Insights Manager, Landscape Structures

Participants will be able to:• Identify the necessity of inter-generational spaces

and their importance in all communities as our population ages.

• Identify the benefits of escaping ageist beliefs and promoting an active societal contribution using shared sites.

• Best practice elements to support multi-generational park design.

SPONSORED BY:

Recreation Software RoundtableIs your department looking to change software systems? Need some help from everyday software users? Join our session to hear the good, the bad, the ugly of switching softwares. This session will breakout into 3 software groups: ReCPro, RecTrac and CivicRec. If you have questions, bring them! If you want to see what the systems look like, we will show! You will walk away with tips & tricks on each software and a contact who can help you along the way.

Danielle Richardson-Recreation Services Manager, Battle Creek RecreationEthan Engle- Athletic Coordinator, Livonia Parks and RecreationHannah Fogarty- Recreation Specialist, Farmington Hills Special Services

Participants will be able to:• Identify key differences between the three software

systems.

• Outline pros and cons to fit their department needs.

• Make a case to department heads to choose a software system.

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Wednesday Education Sessions brought to you by:

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3 | 9:00AM-10:30AM

All-Conference SessionThe Wednesday All-Conference Session will feature a keynote address and the presentation of some mParks organizational awards.

SPONSORED BY:

3 Years Nonstop Out in All 400+ National Park Service SitesHave you ever wanted to leave your regular life and just visit national parks? That’s what Mikah Meyer did for 3 years nonstop, from 2016 – 2019, setting a world record as the first person to visit all 419 National Park Service sites in a continuous journey. But the road trip, and how it originated, revealed more than just the splendor of America’s park system. Join this session to be taken on a journey through every national park and learn how they helped change outdoors culture toward becoming as diverse as our nation’s national parks.

Mikah Meyer - Founder, Travel Beyond Convention

Participants will be able to:• Summarize one of the key diversity focuses in

outdoors culture.

• Describe ways organizations can be more welcoming to diverse people.

• Recall a powerful anecdote about the benefits of continuing diverse training for organizations.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3 | 10:45AM -11:45AM

Keynote Q&A with Mikah MeyerFollowing Mikah Meyer’s Keynote earlier in the morning, join him for the opportunity to ask your questions about his presentation. *Will include a mini-presentation about Mikah’s favorite National Park Service site, after he experienced each of the 400+ sites in the park system.

Mikah Meyer - Founder, Travel Beyond Convention

Participants will be able to:• Describe sections from Mikah’s Keynote that

audience members want further explanation of.

• Give examples of ways their specific organization or individuals can implement sections of what Mikah’s keynote addressed.

• Summarize their answered questions in ways they can take back to their community.

SPONSORED BY:

Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Board Round TableTwo members from the governor appointed Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund will offer their perspectives to timely and relevant topics associated with the DNR’s largest grant program. This session will have a loose format and will be generally guided by the questions asked by the audience.

Dan Lord - Grants Management Supervisor, Dept. of Natural Resources

Participants will be able to:• Identify some of the anticipated impacts with

proposal one passing in the 2020 general election.

• Describe types of projects that have been successful through the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant program.

• Outline the basic funding model and structure of the DNR’s largest grant program.

Educational Sessions - Wednesday, February 3



Finding Success with the Five Types of Aquatic EmployeesAquatic facility operators are in a unique position to deal with a variety of team member types from high performers to low performers to everything in between! This session will seek to define the five types of aquatic team members and develop tangible ways to interact with and supervise them in order for you to offer the best aquatic experience for your guests.

George Deines - Studio Director, Counsilman-Hunsaker

Participants will be able to:• Discuss and describe the five types of aquatic

employees.

• Develop principles regarding a supervisor’s interaction and coaching of each employee type.

• Describe the best way to integrate these principles to get the most out of your employees.

SPONSORED BY:

The Change CurveCOVID-19 has forced us to change how we operate. As someone needing to make changes within your organization, the challenge is for you to help and support people through these individual transitions, which can sometimes be intensely traumatic, and involve loss of power and prestige, and even employment. The easier you can make this journey for people, the sooner your organization will benefit and the more likely you are to be successful.

Gabriel Castillo - Founder/CEO, RecStar Consulting

Participants will be able to:• Identify 9 mistakes commonly seen while rolling out

change.

• Outline and define the 4 phases of the change curve

• Define and discuss the biggest barriers to creating lasting change.

Double-Goal Coach: Coaching for Winning and Life LessonsIn this highly interactive workshop – sparked by video-based advice from top pro athletes and coaches on PCA’s National Advisory Board – attendees explore why and how to pursue both winning and the more important goal of teaching life lessons through sports.

Jodie McGarity - National Training Manager, Positive Coaching AllianceCletus Coffey - National Training Manager, Positive Coaching Alliance

Participants will be able to:• Describe and implement tools regarding the three

principles of being a Double-Goal Coach, ELM Tree of Mastery, ROOTS of Honoring the Game and Filling Emotional Tanks.

• Identify coaches who will create a positive team culture within their programs, that will encourage kids to return and participate in the sport again in subsequent years.Recall and have uplifting and “tank-filling” conversations with the athletes that they coach.

Marketing: From Practical to Practically InsaneTake your marketing efforts to new heights with practical marketing advice and practically insane case studies. This updated version of Ryan’s 2019 presentation pairs Ryan’s teaching with the creative genius of Marketing & Cultural Affairs Officer Rich Neumann.

Ryan Hegreness - Innovation & Communication Manager, City of Westminster, CORich Neumann - Marketing & Cultural Affairs Officer, City of Westminster, Colorado

Participants will be able to:• Explain and recall several tactics used to influence

consumer behavior.

• Describe factors that contribute toward content “going viral.”

• Give examples of how to create media that better resonates with customers.




WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3 | 1:30PM-2:30PM

Empathy, Racism, and Bias to Find Your ART in LeadershipEngaging your creative potential to enhance your leadership. This session is designed to combine leadership development concepts with theatre arts frameworks, that enhance your leadership quality in life and the workplace. This session is where you will explore how to be an effective communicator, become an active listener, evoke empathy through a professional lens, understand bias so that leaders are providing equitable and inclusive leadership that is anti-racist. As well as dig deeper into our leadership as educators. We want to implement a more effective and inclusive workplace environment. Let’s lean in to the discomfort that promotes change!

Jessica Vann - Creative Director and Founder, Creative Spaces

Participants will be able to:• Dig deep into and identify the “WHY” behind their

current leadership style - Identify elements of Racism and Bias.

• List areas of growth within themselves and discuss actionable items to take back to their workplace.

• Discuss the kind of leader YOU want to be.

DNR Recreation Grants WorkshopThis session runs from 1:30 pm – 3:45 pmThis workshop is designed to help grant applicants learn everything they need to know about submitting a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, Land and Water Conservation Fund, or Recreation Passport Grant Program application.

Jon Mayes - Recreation Grant Unit Manager, Michigan DNRAndrea Stay - DNR Grant Coordinator, Michigan DNRLindsay Ross - DNR Grant Coordinator, Michigan DNRMerrie Carlock - DNR Grant Coordinator, Michigan DNR

Participants will be able to:• Summarize and discuss the updates and program

changes to the public outdoor recreation grant programs presented at the session.

• Determine which grant program is appropriate for various types of recreation projects.

• Describe the application process and scoring criteria used to evaluate grant applications.

SPONSORED BY:

Mediocre Aquatic Operations Start at the TopEvery aquatic professionals’ operation is susceptible to mediocrity at some point during their time on the job. And, while some professionals think they are completely immune to this, others might not have any idea that their operation doesn’t even sniff mediocrity! This session will detail the telltale signs of a mediocre aquatic operation and set forth a plan to analyze, fix and strengthen it.

George Deines - Studio Director, Counsilman-Hunsaker

Participants will be able to:• Identify the three primary employee groups that can

have tendencies towards mediocrity.

• Analyze various team member behaviors that trend an aquatic operation towards mediocrity.

• Develop a plan to mitigate mediocre behaviors currently exhibited by team members.

SPONSORED BY:

Finding the Perfect Recipe For a High Morale WorkplaceThere are many different factors that can affect team morale. When morale suffers, it’s important that you take steps to rebuild it quickly. But what can you do, as a leader, to rebuild the morale of your team? And what, exactly, is morale?

Gabriel Castillo - Founder/CEO/, RecStar Consulting

Participants will be able to:• Identify the 3 steps to foster positive morale within

your team.

• Recognize and define the signs of low morale and why morale suffers.

• Outline positive outcomes for repairing and increasing morale in your organization.

Expense Management: Reducing Cost But Not QualityExpense management for our programs and facilities is an essential skill for any recreation and sport agency. Participants will gain knowledge in the various methods in which to reduce costs through a variety of tips, tricks and techniques which range from supplies to staff. Specific attention will be paid to programs and facility management and how to ensure that these savings



can be sustained over the long term. Most importantly participants will have the ability to reduce their cost of providing a service which can result in more profit or the ability to continue their vital services.

Chris Nunes – Parks & Recreation Director, The Woodland Township, TX

Participants will be able to:• Identify the major expenditure areas of their agency.

• Outline and create an expense management plan in which to reduce their operational costs.

• Identify a process in which saving money can result in enhanced services to their respective agency.

SPONSORED BY:

Outrageous Events, Incredible ResultsBounce house + food truck + cover band = another boring event. Unlock your inner creativity and boldly launch your own blockbuster...or steal wildly creative and successful ideas and make them your own. Ryan and Rich will share events from Westminster, Colorado, that gained national attention. Brandy will share how Allen, Texas, has put their twist on the same events, achieving outstanding results.

Ryan Hegreness - Innovation & Communication Manager, City of Westminster, CORich Neumann - Marketing & Cultural Affairs Officer, City of Westminster, ColoradoBrandy O’Keefe - Marketing & Content Manager, City of Allen, Texas

Participants will be able to:• Describe techniques to inspire creative

programming.

• Describe unique events that can be successfully implemented in their own organization.

• Outline and plan their own unique programs and events.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3 | 2:45PM-3:45PM

The Forgotten PerspectiveThis session will focus on the perspective of Teens regarding, the pandemic, virtual life, and social unrest.

Lisa Bryant - Deputy Director, Ferndale Parks and Recreation

Participants will be able to:• Better understand the youth perspective.

• Empathize and engage in meaningful dialogue with youth and teen participants.

• Hopefully engage and implement programs for youth and teens that will assist with not only their physical well-being, but their mental health as well.

DNR Recreation Grants WorkshopThis session runs from 1:30 pm – 3:45 pmThis workshop is designed to help grant applicants learn everything they need to know about submitting a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, Land and Water Conservation Fund, or Recreation Passport Grant Program application.

Jon Mayes - Recreation Grant Unit Manager, Michigan DNRAndrea Stay - DNR Grant Coordinator, Michigan DNRLindsay Ross - DNR Grant Coordinator, Michigan DNRMerrie Carlock - DNR Grant Coordinator, Michigan DNR

Participants will be able to:• Summarize and discuss the updates and program

changes to the public outdoor recreation grant programs presented at the session.

• Determine which grant program is appropriate for various types of recreation projects.

• Describe the application process and scoring criteria used to evaluate grant applications.

Grow More LeadersWe all know that no leader can do everything without assistance from a strong team. One of our most important roles as leaders is to shape and empower the next generation of leaders. This interactive session focuses on experiential and participant-centered activities that will give us tools to use in training young, emerging leaders within our organizations as well as strengthening our personal leadership skills.


Participants will be able to:• Describe the role of leaders within successful

organizations.

• Summarize the importance of developing future leaders and acquire tools to help them develop their staff.




• Recall and implement effective leadership development activities and tools to strengthen their personal leadership skills and incorporate into their training as they grow more leaders.

SSPONSORED BY:

Bouncing Back From COVID: Adapt, Innovate and OvercomeCOVID-19 has impacted Parks and Recreation in the way we conduct our programs, services and facilities. Professionals had to re-imagine how to operate in these challenging times. This session will focus on identifying management techniques that had to be used due to COVID, that may benefit the profession (participation, revenue, equity) in the long run.

Chris Nunes – Parks & Recreation Director, The Woodland Township, TX

Participants will be able to:• Identify the impacts of COVID to a parks and

recreation agency and the opportunities that were provided as a result of the pandemic.

• Give examples of strategies that can be used, as a result of COVID, for agency improvement (operational, financial, service).

• Analyze and define operations to meet the challenges of the COVID Hangover.

Lemons Into Lemonade: Innovating in CrisisIs your organization ready to pivot when challenges arise? Can you find the opportunity amidst the crisis? A cross-departmental panel from the City of Westminster, Colorado, will share tips on creating a culture of innovation, provide examples of innovative responses to COVID-19, and discuss principles to lead amongst the chaos.

Ryan Hegreness - Innovation & Communication Manager, City of Westminster, CORich Neumann - Marketing & Cultural Affairs Officer, City of Westminster, ColoradoJason Genck - Parks, Recreation & Libraries Director, City of Westminster, Colorado Kodi Erb - Council & Community Engagement Officer, City of Westminster, Colorado

Participants will be able to:• Identify opportunities in challenging situations.

• Describe how to create a culture of innovation.

• Explain and recall initiatives taken by one organization to adapt operations and programming during the pandemic.

SPONSORED BY:

eSports Roundtable Join this esports panel to learn more about the up and coming trend of online video gaming. Hear from professionals in the e-gaming community as well as recreation professionals who have created their own esports programs. Participants will learn different opportunities to create an esports programs.

Hannah Fogarty - Recreation Specialist, Farmington Hills Special ServicesKevin Troshak - Youth Services Manager, Howell Area Parks and Recreation AuthorityChase Root - Recreation Programmer, Novi Parks Recreation and Cultural ServicesJustin Lambregtse - Youth Coordinator, Auburn Hills Parks and RecreationNathaniel McClure - Co Founder, High Score Esports Daniel Herz - Chief Revenue Officer, Mission Control

Participants will be able to:• Describe what esports are.

• Outline a plan to create their own esports program.

• List upcoming esports.

Qunicy Park - Holland Charter Township

If you would like to learn more about us, visit www.mcsagroup.com or call us at 616-451-3346.

Canton TownshipKopper Park

City of KentwoodVeterans Park

Canton TownshipHydration Stations

City of East LansingWhite Park Trail

It has been so long since we have seen you. We will miss visiting with our clients at MRPA. In the meantime, we would like to share with you some pictures of what we have been up to. We look forward to reconnecting with you in person soon.

RECENTLY COMPLETED PROJECTS2019-2020

MCSA Group is a woman owned Landscape Architecture and Architecture firm located in East Grand Rapids, Michigan. The firm has over 40 years of experience in Community and Neighborhood Parks;

Sports and Athletic Facilities; Boardwalks, Trails, and Linear Parks; Playgrounds; Splashpads; Campgrounds; Boat Launches; Site Planning;

Community Recreation Plans; and Grant Applications.

City of ZeelandHuizenga Park Pickleball Courts

Pere Marquette TownshipConservation Park Master Plan

Buttersville Campground

Pere Marquette Lake

Docks

Rustic Camping Cabins

Shower/Restroom BuildingTrailer

Parking

S. Lakeshore Dr.


4

Funding & Costs The funding for activity packs was provided by the mParks Rapid Response for Support grant. JUNE COST/UNIT JULY COST/UNIT AUGUST COST/UNIT Water bottles $1.00 Sidewalk

Chalk $1.00 Cucumber

Seeds $0.15

Jump ropes $0.83 4-Pack Crayons

$0.21

Rock Salt $0.16 Gallon Bags $0.09 Sandwich Bags

$0.02

Est. Number Needed

505 2,015 2,135

Total Cost $1,060.50 $2,438.15 $320.25

We also purchased bubbles to give as prizes for participation in activities. They were

$0.27/unit, and we ordered 200 units, for a total of $54.00. We ultimately ended up using the

leftover toys from last summer as prizes and included the bubbles in the August activity

packs. The estimated total cost for all supplies was $$33,,887722..9900.

FOOD GATHERERS USE COVID-19 FUNDING TO ENCOURAGE GETTING ACTIVE AND OUTSIDE

Rapid Response Supportfor

In response to COVID-19, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) provided mParks up to $3,000 per community for communities in Eastern Washtenaw or Western Wayne Counties for activity packs for youth and families for COVID-19 signage. The

packs encouraged participants to be physically active and outdoors on their own and included items such as jump ropes, chalk, water bottles, and compasses. COVID-19 signage could include sanitation, social distancing and other guidelines or protocols.

Food Gatherers is a sponsor of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP),which provides free, nutritious meals to children during the summer when they do not have access to the National School Breakfast or School Lunch Program. In a typical year, sites serve meals in a congregate format, and volunteers are able to lead group nutrition and physical education activities.

During the summer of 2020, in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, SFSP sites served meals in a non-congregate format. This necessitated a change in the delivery of nutrition and physical education activities from on-site sessions to take-home “activity packs.” Some challenges that were unique to this transition included creating activities that would be educational and engaging at home, coordinating volunteers to help assemble 2,000+ activity packs each month, and distributing the activity packs to 24 different sites throughout Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti three times over the summer. Food Gatherers developed and implemented a plan that addressed each of these challenges, using the Rapid Response for Support funding to purchase the materials for the activity packs.

ACTIVITY PACK REPORT 2020

Food Gatherers [email protected] www.foodgatherers.org

(734) 761-2796 1 Carrot Way, Ann Arbor, MI 48105

7

RESPONSES We received responses for two children from the same family. They both completed the jump

rope challenge, rating it 8/10 for enjoyment and 5/5 for how likely to complete it again. Neither

completed the water activity. Both completed the ice cream activity, rating it 10/10 for

enjoyment and 5/5 for how likely to complete it again. They left the following comments:

“I LOVE ICE CREAM!!”

“It was FUN!!”

SUGGESTIONS A Google Form seemed like the most feasible way to gather information, because you can

easily tailor them to your needs, they can be filled out on mobile devices, and people wouldn’t

need to remember to bring back a paper form. Some of the barriers to filling out a Google

Form include having to manually type in the link, the time is takes to answer the questions,

and language. In the future, we may need to make some changes to our evaluation methods

in order to increase participation. If we were to keep the Google Form method, I would

recommend including fewer questions. Even though most of them were optional, this could be

inhibitory to peoples’ willingness to participate. One alternative would be to have kids bring

their completed activity sheet back during the next distribution they attend in order to collect

prizes that we provide to site staff at the beginning of summer, although this may be difficult to

due to the need for storage.

The Google Form Questionnaire and Responses can be found at: https://forms.gle/ewe9HLR3KPygw8ue7


4



Seeds $0.15


$0.21


$0.02

Est. Number Needed

505 2,015 2,135

Total Cost $1,060.50 $2,438.15 $320.25





“ It was challenging fun. Good way for kids to exercise, the fun way!” – Parent testimonial

“We created activity packs containing different games, challenges, and fun items each month,” said LeRonica Roberts, Community Food Programs Coordinator for Food Gatherers. “We had a total of three distributions. For each distribution, over 500 or 2,000 kids, depending on the month, received nutrition education and physical activities to promote healthy eating habits, trying new foods, and getting outside.”

An additional partner that supported their work was the Community Kicks program, which provided a coloring activity lunch sack, mini soccer balls, slap bracelets, hand sanitizer, and Lindsay Tarpley playing cards and rulers.

“Our goals were to encourage children and families to continue participating in the SFSP, and also to promote healthy behaviors through nutrition and physical education activities that the kids could complete at home,” said Roberts. “We distributed activity packs at 43 sites, 24 of which were sponsored by Food Gatherers, and 19 of which were sponsored by Ann Arbor Public Schools (AAPS).”

Since Food Gatherers was not accepting volunteers during the month of June, two interns and a volunteer assembled all of the activity packs for June, and volunteers assembled the activity packs for the months of July and August. They arranged for the pallets of activity packs to be delivered by Food Gatherers drivers to their meal vendors, AAPS and Ypsilanti Community Schools, so that they could be delivered along with that day’s meals to each site.

Their goal was to develop a method for gathering feedback about kids’ participation in and perception of the activities. They also needed a way to know when and where to bring prizes for kids who tried any of the challenges, so they created a Google Form with a few questions for parents or older kids to fill out.

“Although we didn’t receive much written feedback, we witnessed how excited kids were about their soccer balls and bracelets at a mobile site and heard how excited kids were to receive their prizes for the jump rope challenge,” said Roberts. “Although we faced some challenges with this new format, overall, we were able to provide fun and educational activities for kids during an unprecedented time!”

ACTIVITY PACK REPORT 2020

Food Gatherers [email protected] www.foodgatherers.org

(734) 761-2796 1 Carrot Way, Ann Arbor, MI 48105

7

RESPONSES We received responses for two children from the same family. They both completed the jump

rope challenge, rating it 8/10 for enjoyment and 5/5 for how likely to complete it again. Neither

completed the water activity. Both completed the ice cream activity, rating it 10/10 for

enjoyment and 5/5 for how likely to complete it again. They left the following comments:

“I LOVE ICE CREAM!!”

“It was FUN!!”

SUGGESTIONS A Google Form seemed like the most feasible way to gather information, because you can

easily tailor them to your needs, they can be filled out on mobile devices, and people wouldn’t

need to remember to bring back a paper form. Some of the barriers to filling out a Google

Form include having to manually type in the link, the time is takes to answer the questions,

and language. In the future, we may need to make some changes to our evaluation methods

in order to increase participation. If we were to keep the Google Form method, I would

recommend including fewer questions. Even though most of them were optional, this could be

inhibitory to peoples’ willingness to participate. One alternative would be to have kids bring

their completed activity sheet back during the next distribution they attend in order to collect

prizes that we provide to site staff at the beginning of summer, although this may be difficult to

due to the need for storage.

The Google Form Questionnaire and Responses can be found at: https://forms.gle/ewe9HLR3KPygw8ue7

4



Seeds $0.15


$0.21


$0.02

Est. Number Needed

505 2,015 2,135

Total Cost $1,060.50 $2,438.15 $320.25






Thursday Education Sessions brought to you by:

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4 | 9:00 AM -10:30AM

All-Conference SessionThe Thursday All-Conference Session will feature the Future Professional Showcase and the presentation of some mParks organizational awards.

Showcase Presenters:

David Downing, Recreation and Event Management, Outdoor and Environmental Recreation, Central Michigan University

Shelby Henshaw, Recreation and Event Management, Central Michigan University

Sadie Kessler, Recreation and Event Management, Central Michigan University

Michael Lator, Outdoor and Environmental Recreation, Central Michigan University

SPONSORED BY:

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4 | 10:45AM-11:45AM

Community GardensGet together with others who currently manage/coordinate a garden program or if you are thinking about starting one! There are many ways to offer this type of program for your community and in this session, we will share: How gardens can be structured, policies & procedures, forms, fees, social media communication, what works and what doesn’t. Everyone will go away with new ideas and a contact list; share information with others while saving trees!

Amy DeRosier - Recreation Operations Coordinator, West Bloomfield Parks and Recreation

Participants will be able to:• Identify different types and ways to operate a

community garden.

• Have a list of guidelines and procedures for operating a garden that can be used to start a new program or help to improve an existing one.

• Give examples of best practices for: taking registration, garden agreements for participants, and creating an online community.

Hitting the Target With Outdoor Archery RangesLearn how you can implement an exciting archery program with successful economic and educational impacts for all ages and abilities. Hear from recreation professionals, designers and grant representatives on step by step ways to replicate this in your community.

Doug Schultz - Landscape Architect, ROWE Professional Services CompanyBryan Farmer - Deputy Director of Special Services, Farmington HillsMark Gasche - Parks and Recreation Director, Charter Township of NorthvilleEd Shaw - Interpreter, Outdoor Eductaion, Michigan DNRLori Burford - Shooting Range and Facilities, Michigan DNR

Participants will be able to:• Give examples of the popularity and diversity of

appeal, economic benefits/opportunities, associated educational /conservation/stewardship principals and overall benefit of providing an outdoor archery range to a community.

• Define the type of facility, site requirements, funding levels and staffing required to develop and maintain a facility and programming of an outdoor archery range.

• Identify various funding methods and support organizations to assist with the development and programming of an outdoor archery range.

Larry, Moe & CurlyCome and join the Executive Directors of Heart of the Lakes, Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance and mParks as they discuss the importance of building collaborative relationships with like-minded organizations and how they have capitalized on the current momentum of 3 different joint efforts over the past year. Also, each director will discuss the ups and downs of their specific association over the course of 2020 and how they managed through the pandemic.

Educational Sessions - Thursday, February 4



Jonathan Jarosz - Executive Director, Heart of the LakesAndrea LaFontaine -Executive Director, Michigan Trails and Greenways AllianceClay Summers - Executive Director, mParks

Participants will be able to:• Summarize at least 3 best practices on how to

collaborate with like minded organizations and agencies to better your own.

• Describe how different management styles play a role in successful goals and objectives of an agency even through the toughest of times.

• Describe how they can establish common goals with other municipalities or non-profit organizations to enhance their communities and support their residents.

SPONSORED BY:

Starting A Youth Council - Reaching Youth In Your CommunityIn this session, we will teach participants how to create a Teen Council from the ground up. Participants will also learn more about the positive impact that Teen Councils have on their communities.

Hannah Fogarty - Recreation Specialist, Farmington Hills Special ServicesKevin Troshak - Youth Services Manager, Howell Area Parks and Recreation Authority

Participants will be able to:• Identify ways to create their own teen council.

• Summarize ways that teen councils positively impact local communities.

• Outline a plan to engage teens in their community.

My People? Your People? Nope...OUR People!Every moment a customer walks through our door or into our park we have an opportunity to welcome, connect and customize their experience. They are ALL our people regardless of age, ability, race, gender, sexual orientation, income or home status. Join us for this insightful and thought-provoking session on delivering authentic customer connections by acknowledging our bias, engaging with our people according to their unique needs and working with united staff teams.

Jo Burns - Chief Connection & Collaboration Officer, Jo Burns Connects LLC

Participants will be able to:• Define health and social equity.

• Define bias.

• Identify 2 ways to reframe assumptions, biases and fears related to connections with customers.

SPONSORED BY:

COVID-19 and Summer Camps - Lessons Learned in 2020During the spring of 2020 summer camp administrators were presented with a brand-new set of challenges with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Each program faced its own hurdles and obstacles and nearly half of all programs in Michigan chose not to operate in 2020. During this session you will hear from a couple of summer camp pros who did end up running their programs and what they learned along the way. The good, the bad, the ugly, and a newfound sense of flexibility due to ever-changing rules and guidelines.

Billy Keppen - Program Supervisor, Livonia Parks and Recreation

Participants will be able to:• Identify areas of their summer camp and operations

plans that are considered high-risk and how to adjust them in order to operate safely. Give examples of how they can adapt their own summer camp operations in order to meet the rules and guidelines set forth by the state of Michigan. Outline a plan for communication with the families of their summer camp participants about changes and restrictions at their program.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4 | 1:30PM-2:30PM

60 Aquatics DEI Ideas in 60 MinutesAquatics staff training is beyond a monthly in-service requirement. Learn to take a layered approach to aquatics staff training by breaking up workplace culture expectations and protocol, operational and emergency procedures, and program administration into bite sized education delivered in a variety of formats but a variety of team members. Use your creativity to come up with the ‘what’ instead of the ‘how’ by completing a training needs assessment and building your own customized Hierarchy Of Staff Training. Learn to find ways to replicate yourself in the overall structure of staff training so your



team can learn predominately from passive, group, peer, and environmental ways of coaching and learning. Gone are the days of focusing primarily on energy (and time!) heavy one-on-one trainings or reverting back to monthly lifeguard in-services being the sole source of information delivered to staff.

Kate Connell - Aquatics Supervisor, City of Iowa City

Participants will be able to:• Identify aquatics and workplace specific topics,

content, and formatting to effectively deliver necessary information to staff.

• Recall the 20 ice breakers and 20 training modules to bring into aquatics team trainings and in-services.

• Summarize 20 types of DEI focused programming to adopt into an operational calendar.

Business Basics for New Program DirectorsThis session runs from 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm.Park & Recreation professionals usually come into their roles because they have talent and passion for working people. However, the most successful leaders in our industry combine this passion with keen business sense. But where to even begin? This webinar will provide foundational knowledge so that you can understand how to leverage business tools to impact people’s lives.

Sarah Kurtz McKinnon – Owner, The Summer Camp Society

Participants will be able to:• Describe common business tools and how they can

be utilized to operate and improve a typical parks & rec program.

• Give examples of how to use data to examine their programs performance and make crucial decisions.

• Identify how to continue their own education around business concepts in order to improve their program’s performance, relate to other leaders in their organization, and improve their professional confidence.

Leveraging Resources Through a New Regional PartnershipIndividually the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy and Huron-Clinton Metroparks manage some of the most popular parks and public spaces throughout southeast Michigan. Together, a new partnership will create educational and recreational opportunities for millions, and establish a physical presence for the Metroparks in Detroit at a unique new park along the riverfront. Join Amy McMillan, director

of the Metroparks and Mark Wallace, president and CEO of the Conservancy for a discussion about this partnership. Additionally, Amy and Mark will discuss pivoting outreach efforts during the pandemic; the importance of public spaces and equity in recreation; and, the benefits of public/private partnerships.

Mark Wallace - President & CEO, Detroit Riverfront ConservancyAmy McMillan – Director, Huron-Clinton Metroparks

Participants will be able to:• Identify benefits of public-private partnerships and

the importance of forging new relationships that leverage strengths and resources of both partners.

• Describe the new regional partnership forged in Southeast Michigan along the Detroit Riverfront and discuss the benefits it has for the surrounding communities.

• Give examples of ways organizations can remain flexible during pandemic times to pivot and maximize safety, visitation and experience.

SPONSORED BY:

The Psychology of Working With Today’s Recreation ParticipantsWorking with today’s park and recreation participants (athletes, coaches, colleagues, parents, etc...) is a major source of stress for park and recreation professionals. This session will identify myths and facts in working with today’s park and recreation participants. In addition, this session will help participants identify the psychology of park and recreation participants who are difficult to work with, and offer psychological strategies to work with a variety of personality types.

Dr. Joel Fish – Director, The Center for Sport Psychology, PC

Participants will be able to:• Identify the myths and facts in working with today’s

park and recreation participants, as well as identify their own attitudes about winning,losing, success, failure, and sports and recreation participation.

• Identify the psychology of park and recreation participants who are difficult to work with.

• Discuss strategies to identify and effectively work with a variety of different park and recreation participants personality types.




Leading With Health in MindHow does health manifest itself in your programs, special events and daily interactions with patrons? Does it look different now than before our national health crisis? Our ability to demonstrate Park and Recreation’s influence on health may be the difference between being considered essential or not. Borrowing methodology from Therapeutic Recreation, Public Health and Health Promotion, you can make the healthy choice the easy choice. In this session we’ll talk about ways to intentionally incorporate physical, emotional and social health into your parks and recreation organization. We’ll examine opportunities to partner with public health and other organizations in your community to keep health present with low or no cost methods.

Jo Burns - Chief Connection & Collaboration Officer, Jo Burns Connects LLC

Participants will be able to:• Identify at least 3 health statistics related to and

influenced by parks, recreation and outdoors.

• Define health, wellness and quality of life from a group perspective for the state you’re in.

• Identify at least 2 ways to lead with health in mind in your organization.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4 | 2:45PM-3:45PM

Equitable Aquatics: The 3 P’s of Inclusive AquaticsLGBTQ/non-binary individuals, non-native English speakers, breastfeeding moms, low-income families, and persons who are differently abled: are these people able to have equal experiences at your facilities? Equitable aquatics is about making sure that you are making your pools accessible AND working to get all types of folks to your facilities. Part exercises, part lecture this session is designed for you to “work-in” your aquatics operations area in real time and leave with ideas to unpack later. We’ll explore the implications and implementation of the 3 P’s of Inclusive Aquatics: Personnel, Programming, and Policies and discuss outcomes and examples for each of the areas. We’ll touch on how to grade your policies and rules for inclusivity, the fundamentals of low-income and scholarship-based offerings, and how to focus on outreach to fill your pool, programs, and payroll list with individuals who represent your diverse community.

Kate Connell - Aquatics Supervisor, City of Iowa City, IA

Participants will be able to:• List and create action steps to promote inclusivity in

aquatic facilities.

• Identify blind spots in current operations as related to programming, policies, and personnel and summarize changes to implement as a result of lecture.

• Recognize unique community needs to foster safe and inclusive aquatic experiences.

Business Basics for New Program DirectorsThis session runs from 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm.Park & Recreation professionals usually come into their roles because they have talent and passion for working people. However, the most successful leaders in our industry combine this passion with keen business sense. But where to even begin? This webinar will provide foundational knowledge so that you can understand how to leverage business tools to impact people’s lives.

Sarah Kurtz McKinnon – Owner, The Summer Camp Society

Participants will be able to:• Describe common business tools and how they can

be utilized to operate and improve a typical parks & rec program.

• Give examples of how to use data to examine their programs performance and make crucial decisions.

• Identify how to continue their own education around business concepts in order to improve their program’s performance, relate to other leaders in their organization, and improve their professional confidence.

Mentorship & What It Can Do for YouCome learn about how the mParks Professional Mentorship Program was started, what it is all about, and how you can get involved as a mentor, mentee, or both!

Ethan Engel - Athletic Coordinator, Livonia Parks and RecreationKeith Kooperman - Facility Manager, Saline Parks and RecreationMichele Vannerson - Assistant Director, Chesterfield Township Parks and RecreationSteven Parkinson - Park & Facility Coordinator, Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation

Participants will be able to:• Identify two benefits of joining the mParks

Professional Mentorship Program.



• Outline what a mentor-mentee relationship could look like for their own career.

• Provide examples of what mentorship means to them.

How to Collaborate for Better Trails and Stronger CommunitiesThe Southeast Michigan Trails Action Team is a group of trail professionals and advocates creating a connected, regional trail system with support and guidance from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. Team members will share research of best-in-class trail systems that led to the team’s formation; how four action sub-teams focus on building capacity for communities to build and maintain trails, mapping and planning, branding and marketing, and identifying and aligning funding opportunities to better support all phases of a trail project; and how to replicate this approach in Michigan.

Elizabeth Riggs - Senior Consultant, Energy & Environment, Public Sector ConsultantsJulie Bennett- Chief Executive Officer, Public Sector ConsultantsDan Lord - Grants Management Section Leader, Michigan Department of Natural ResourcesAndrea LaFontaine - Executive Director, Michigan Trails & Greenways AllianceTyler Klifman - Planner, Economic and Community Vitality Southeast Michigan Council of Governments

Participants will be able to:• Outline steps for a collaborative approach that

benefits all partners/participants.

• Identify opportunities for funding collaborative efforts in other parts of Michigan.

• Recall the purposes and accomplishments of the four action teams, and discuss which purposes align with participants’ own needs.

SPONSORED BY:

Do’s & Don’ts For Youth Sport ProgrammingThe good news is that more kids are involved in organized sports than ever before. The bad news is that more kids are dropping out of organized sports between ages 5 and 18 than ever before. This session will offer ways to create a positive athletic environment for youth sport participants of different ages and skill levels. Other effective youth sport programming ideas will be discussed.

Dr. Joel Fish – Director, The Center for Sport Psychology, PC

Participants will be able to:• Identify the myths & facts about today’s youth sport

athletes, coaches, and parents.

• Identify do’s and don’ts in youth sports programming for participants of different ages & skill levels.

• Discuss the psychological developmental issues for boys & girls as well as effective programming ideas.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4 | 3:45PM - 4:00PM

Closing SessionCome together one last time to hear the official closing remarks of this first of its kind Virtual Conference. Join us in thanking our sponsors who made this event possible.

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lifefloor.com

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We all know and love the parks and recreation profession. Every once in a while, that love is shared by members of the same family. In this feature of our family series, we’ll learn about a mother and daughter who both have a special place in their heart for the parks and recreation field.

Angela Dove grew up in Okemos, Michigan, not far from the Haslett Center for Community Education, where she has been the Director of Aquatics, Enrichment and Recreation for the past 20 years. When she was younger, the most affordable way to explore options for after school activities such as sports or dance was Okemos Community Education, so she took all of her dance and art classes through the public schools. Her first job in parks and recreation was when she was 15 years old.

“It was with the Okemos Community Education Kids Club in their after school program,” said Angela. “I would help with programming and getting snack ready and all those things that a high school age helper would do.”

When she started studying occupational therapy at Central Michigan University (CMU), she discovered that she was less interested in the scientific side of occupational therapy and more interested in the people side.

“I then went over to therapeutic recreation and found that was still a fair amount of anatomy and physiology,” said Angela. “I realized community recreation was really what I was after to begin with. Being at CMU made it so easy to make that transition. I could get a little taste of every concentration.”

Angela’s major was Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services Administration with a Community Recreation concentration. She has an art minor.

ANGELA AND SIERRA DOVE

FFamilyKeeping Parks and Recreation

IN THE


She worked for Okemos Community Education all through high school and then briefly for a tennis club in college. She did her internship at Chelsea Community Education, then got the job at Haslett Community Education, and has been there ever since.

“Even though I’ve been in the same position for 20 years there has been a lot of change and growth in our area and in our field,” said Angela. “It’s been critical to take part in professional development opportunities so I can keep our department as relevant as possible in our community.”

Angela has one daughter, Sierra Dove, who is a Program Coordinator at DeWitt Area Recreation Authority (DARA).

“I was a very young parent,” said Angela. “I was 19 when Sierra was born so a huge part of what made recreation a sustainable career as a single parent of a single child was that I could bring her to everything. At one point I thought I would switch my major to photography but that didn’t sound stable with a toddler.”

It’s not that Sierra would tag along to programs, she would take a very active role at an incredibly young age, including dressing up as various characters for events such as preschool parties.

“The high school does a musical every year and my mom hosted a senior dinner theater during rehearsals,” said Sierra. “That was probably my first memory in parks and recreation. I would dress up in costumes that coordinated with whatever the musical was and help the seniors and do things like make the centerpieces. That was always really fun.”

There were a lot of programs that ran when Sierra was young because she was willing to play the roles of the Easter Bunny or Dora the Explorer.

“SHE CONTINUED TO BE AN ASSET RIGHT

THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL BY HELPING NOT

JUST FOR MY PROGRAMS, BUT FOR STATE

PROGRAMS AS WELL,” SAID ANGELA.

“SHE WOULD HELP WITH THE GRAND

EXPERIENCE AND BACK WHEN WE USED

TO DO HERSHEY TRACK AND FIELD, SHE

HELPED WITH THAT. THAT WAS ONE OF

HER FIRST EXPERIENCES WITH MPARKS.”

From a young age Sierra has had a very natural ability to interact with a variety of populations, and her personality lends itself to commanding the attention of a group.


“She’s not shy, she’s not the least bit reserved,” said Angela. “She did a lot of theater and singing and sports in high school, where what draws me to it is that I love to help people, I love to plan, and I like the process but I have a hard time with actually getting up in front of a crowd. I don’t want the eyes on me part and she‘s never had an issue with it. I could always tell that she would probably be better at it than me just because of her natural abilities.”

Sierra’s childhood experiences were not only influenced by Angela, but by many other park and recreational professionals as well.

“I am the only person who does this job so I rely heavily on our regional group, the Southern Michigan Recreation Parks Association (SMRPA) for networking and staying on trends and getting feedback because I don’t have a big department to bounce things off of,” said Angela. “The other place where SMRPA became an asset was personally. When you start working and networking with these people and they are all nearby, you become a family. So to then have the influence of all these incredible people in our personal life and have that extra family just raising her as a daughter, she was exposed to so much great leadership and friendship that really shaped how she looks at how your personal life and professional life tie together and reflect each other.”

Angela is proud of Sierra’s incredible comfort level in trying and taking on new things.

“She is not fazed by the pressure of leading a group or a program, she never shies away from it and that’s impressive to me,” said Angela. “Also, she looks at things from all viewpoints to make sure things are safe and accessible. This is where COVID comes in and seeing how she has handled that, I am really proud.”

When Sierra took her current position, she was living in Ann Arbor and has since moved and has been living with Angela.

“So it’s not just that she took a job in the field, but she took a job and I’m watching her do it first hand,” said Angela. “I’m seeing her stuff goodie bags in the living room and it’s just impressive.”

“In parks and recreation, family members are kind of built-in volunteers, so if I wasn’t attending an event that my mom was throwing, I was volunteering at it from a really young age,” said Sierra. “That includes Hershey Track and Field. I got to meet so many fun people that had so much energy and were so excited to be there doing what they loved. I looked forward to helping with it every year.”

As Sierra got older she would help with events such as mother-son dances, father-daughter dances and cooking classes.

“We also used to do Safety Town for preschoolers and they would ride bikes and do crafts and ride a school bus. It was very clear that this job is not just sitting in an office eight hours a day,” said Sierra. “It’s active and you can see immediately how what you’re doing is benefiting people and I really liked that.”


Her first job in the field was refereeing soccer when she was in high school, then she worked as a camp counselor at DARA. She then, with a co-worker, took over for a summer as a camp programmer.

“It was nice that I got to see from a counselor perspective how much planning helps the counselors,” said Sierra. “When I was camp programmer I said the first thing I’m going to do is make an arts and crafts binder so that when it’s arts and crafts time, the counselors will know exactly what craft they’re doing. I remember from when I was a counselor trying to figure out what and how I was going to do the craft. Those jobs helped me realized I really like this field, it was fun, and I enjoy planning the daily and weekly activities for the camp.”

Sierra started at Grand Valley State University in the tourism program.

“One day in class they were telling us that you can go through the Disney College Program and earn college credits,” said Sierra. “I had gotten a job to work at the Mackinac Island Butterfly House, so I worked there for a summer, came home for about two days, then moved to Florida for the Disney College Program.”

She was there for 11 months after her freshman year at GVSU and loved every minute of it.

“It was a fabulous experience,” said Sierra. “No matter what your job is, you’re going to work with people, and from a customer service standpoint, that experience was so beneficial. That training is just something you can’t get everywhere. I know it helps me in my job now. I brought everything I learned there back to the community setting.”

She started full time with DARA a year and a half ago.

“I remember in seventh grade on career day I said that I wanted to be a camp director at Mystic Lake camp, which is where I spent all my summers and I felt really strongly about that, but once I thought there was a possibility that I could work at Disney, which I had always loved my whole life, I kind of changed my mind track,” said Sierra. “Then once I came back after Disney I really missed being at summer camp, I really enjoyed that.”

She will be returning to CMU to study Leadership Management. At DARA she shares responsibilities with another program coordinator.

“I work on soccer, preschool classes, special events, spring break camp and summer camp, which is my

favorite. In the months leading up to summer camp I just love the planning,” said Sierra. “Every summer after the kids leave after having them here every day, it’s so quiet. The energy feels different. We miss the kids, we like having them there every day, it’s fun.”

Last year they started a new after-school program.

“We work really closely with our director, we’re all extremely hands-on, which I think benefits everyone. We’re there for each other, it’s a really fun work environment,” said Sierra.

She enjoys and appreciates working in the same industry as her mom.

“Being in the same field as my mom is just kind of fun,” said Sierra. “It’s so beneficial, the constant sounding board I have if I need input or have a question, she’s a phone call away. I’ve kind of grown up in this field so I have experience that people do internships for, and I’ve had it since I was six. It feels very comfortable and feels like second nature to me and it’s all because of her and how good she is at her job.

“I grew up with her coming up in this field,” said Sierra. “I got to see her start working with SMRPA and she is one of the founding members of Women in Recreation, Education and Development (WIRED) so I had a lot of access to networking opportunities growing up, I’ve known a lot of people in this field since I was little.

“I’M PROUD OF EVERYTHING SHE DOES,”

SAID SIERRA. “SHE IS A SINGLE MOM

AND HE HAD ME WHEN SHE WAS 19 AND

CONTINUED TO GO TO CMU AND GET HER

DEGREE WHEN I WAS A BABY. I WAS AT HER

COLLEGE GRADUATION AND SHE REALLY

SHOWED ME WHAT HARD WORK IS AND

HOW IT PAYS OFF AND WHAT IT IS TO BE A

HARD WORKER AND NOT GIVE UP.

“I’m just really grateful that this is where I ended up,” said Sierra. “This whole field feels like family to me, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else and the fact that I get to do it with my mom is just such a gift, not a lot of people have that. To be in the field at the same time is a really unique and fun opportunity that I will cherish.”

Premier Agency Member Spotlight:Cass County Parks and Recreation

Cass County is 500 square miles of some of the most diverse pieces of property in the region. The county’s population is made up of about 52,000 people who value their open space and their extraordinary county parks.

“Within our park system we have something to offer just about any type of recreation enthusiast, from horseback riding to mountain biking and disc golf and just recently, stargazing,” said Scott Wyman, Cass County Parks and Recreation Director. “Our physical beauty is certainly something to behold.”

Dr. T.K. Lawless Park, the county’s largest park, is 860 acres and has an extensive trail system, 18 holes of disc golf, four fishing lakes, intertube sledding, cross country skiing, fat tire mountain biking, ice fishing, bird watching and has recently been sanctioned as an International Dark Sky designated facility.

“Robert Parrish is one of our county’s Parks and Recreation Board members and has championed and marshaled through the process for us,” said Jeff Carmen, Cass County Administrator. “We’re incredibly proud of that designation. It is in its earliest stages but we’ve already had hundreds of people show up, including some international visitors.”

“It was a team effort,” said Parrish. “We had to inventory all of our lighting in the park and show what our plan was to promote and keep dark skies in the future, as well as conduct outreach on light pollution. It is our firm belief that the beauty of nature does not have to end when the sky gets dark, it’s just as beautiful at night.”

While the entire park is considered an International Dark Sky Park, there is a five-acre area designated for stargazing.

“I bring out my telescope and green laser to teach different constellations to people,” said Parrish. “I point out objects of interest and allow visitors to look through the telescope.”

The park is a Michigan Dark Sky Preserve as well, which is unique for a county owned piece of property.

“We always say we’re stewards of the land, now we’re stewards of the sky as well,” said Wyman. “Each of the county’s parks has its own unique personality.”

Located within Michigan State University’s 580-acre Fred Russ research forest, the Fred Russ Forest Park is a 13-acre park known for its equestrian trails, as well as its hiking and fishing.

“The equestrian groups groom the trails there and help us put on events and maintain things,” said Wyman. “The people in the community, the volunteers and our relationships are so important, we depend on those people.”

The 51-acre Arthur Dodd Memorial Park is probably the county’s busiest summer park, because it’s on the beautiful Dowagaic River.

“This is our water enthusiast park,” said Wyman. Within the last three years we completed about a half million dollars worth of improvements there, partnering with the State of Michigan and the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant (MNRTF). We added amenities such as cabins and a new canoe and kayak launch and improved accessibility.”

Just downstream from the park was a dam that has recently been removed, allowing big game fish such as trout and salmon to swim all the way up to Dodd Park and beyond.

“With public access so limited on the Dowagaic River, every day Dodd Park becomes more important to the community and the fisherman,” said Wyman. “Dodd Park constitutes 30-40% of the public land on the Dowagaic River. That park is going to get more and more popular now that the fishing has improved on the river.”

The county hosts several special events, including music at the Dark Sky Park, a Sandhill Crane half

marathon 10K/5K and Fun Walk, and this year they hosted a scaled down version of their Harvest Festival.

“Our goal is to have some type of gathering above and beyond our normal activities every month or two, depending on the situation, but we host a lot of special events and they are

mostly at Dr. Lawless Park,” said Wyman. “We have about 35 Eagle Scout projects. We have a

group camp that was primarily built by scouts, which is one of many groups that has supported us

for the many years that I’ve been with the parks.”

Partnerships are very important to the county park system.

“Our mountain bike association from northern Indiana is a perfect example,” said Wyman. “They probably maintain 80% of the mountain bike trail that a volunteer built 25 years ago. We’re the only mountain bike trail in the State of Michigan that they call their own, it’s a wonderful partnership.”

“There are several partnerships that are important to the Dark Sky Park as well,” said Parrish. “We host nature walks and offer learning experiences about light pollution with the Cass County Conservation District every year. We also partner with the Michiana Astronomical Society to host their annual star party and we partner with the Penn-Harris-Madison School District in Indiana.”

There is an abundance of natural beauty in the county.“The people in this region are certainly blessed, we have a lot of options and a lot of top notch parks departments, we’re so fortunate,” said Wyman. “I want to support our parks and recreation departments throughout our region and our country

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Article written by mParks – Michigan Recreation and Park Association

The voice of Michigan’s parks and recreation community

We advocate. We teach. We inspire.

to provide a service and quality of life. We are just so blessed to have what we have.”

They are looking to the future to continue the momentum of the success of the Dark Sky Park to embark on things like getting camping out to Lawless Park.

“If other parks are interested in pursuing a Dark Sky designation I would be interested to help them along in that process,” said Parrish.

To learn more visit www.casscountymi.org.



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mParks PROfessional · 2021. 1. 22. · 4 mParks PROfessional Quarterly • Volume 12, Issue 4 •...

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