West Virginia Recreation and Park Association

02/02/2026

Tomorrow is the last day to register for this epic event!

The Brad and Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative utilizes West Virginia’s outdoor assets to ignite the state’s economy and enhance quality of life for West Virginians through outdoor recreation.

01/20/2026

Don't forget to sign up for WV's First Outdoor Economy Summit!

This February, we’re coming together in Charleston for the first-ever WV Outdoor Economy Summit. A new space to connect, collaborate, and shape what’s next.

This Summit is all about action. It’s for the doers, connectors, and leaders working to grow West Virginia’s outdoor economy—from community developers and entrepreneurs to tourism pros, land managers, and public officials.

We’re proud to co-host this inaugural gathering with West Virginia Nature Conservancy the Charleston WV CVB and we can't wait to see you there.

February 17–19, 2026 | Charleston, WVl
Register now → wvoutdooreconomy.com

Let’s build the future we want — together, right here in West Virginia.

01/20/2026

Congratulations, Becki!

🎉🎓 Congratulations, Becki! 🎓🎉

We are proud to celebrate our Community Development Manager, Becki, on graduating from Event Management School and earning her Certified Festival & Event Associate credential through the International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA) and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA).

This two-year professional development program is designed specifically for event management professionals, recognizing the growing importance of festivals and events as valuable community resources. Becki’s dedication to continuing education and excellence in event planning directly benefits our community, and we are grateful to have her leadership on our team. 👏✨

01/20/2026

It was a good day to be at the Capital on Jan 16.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WOWK) – Parks and Recreation Day was held Friday at the West Virginia State Capitol, bringing leaders from parks and recreation departments across the state to meet with me…

01/12/2026

Reminder:

Day at the Legislation - WV Parks & Recreation Authority, Friends & Vendors
January 16, 2026
Time: 8am set up - until afteroon.
Location: 1900 Kanawha Blvd E, Charleston, WV 25305
Upper House & Senate Rotunda
Please register here ->https://forms.office.com/r/cCHJQR0dvu

Set up a table/booth. Bring with info, give aways, food or what ever you feel would be helpful.
Great opportunity to get to know your legislators.
Fun way to represent your parks and rec agency and support other parks and recs across the state.
Link to register (https://forms.office.com/r/cCHJQR0dvu)

12/09/2025

WVRPA Member Event Updates

Progress for Parks
Dec 11, 2025
Time: 2pm
Location: Microsoft Teams
Speaker: Heidi Prior, Outdoor Business Development Coordinator, Brad & Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative
Topic: West Virginia Outdoor Economic Summit (Home - West Virginia Outdoor Economy Summit)

Day at the Legislation - WV Parks & Recreation Authority, Friends & Vendors
January 16, 2026
Time: TBA - Morning to afternoon
Location: 1900 Kanawha Blvd E, Charleston, WV 25305
Upper House & Senate Rotunda

These are member events. Current Members should be receiving an email soon with links to join and register.

12/03/2025

Congratulations to Raleigh County Parks and Recreation!
The West Virginia Recreation and Park Association (WVRPA) is thrilled to celebrate Raleigh County for receiving a substantial check from the Treasury Department through the Unclaimed Property program. This recovery of funds is a big win for your community and a testament to the importance of staying proactive in managing resources.
These dollars will go right back into creating exceptional parks, programs, and recreational opportunities for residents—making Raleigh County an even better place to live, play, and thrive.
Way to go, Raleigh County! Now go check to see if your agency has unclaimed property!

10/08/2025

Site Visit to the West Run Trail System on day #2 of the WVRPA Annual Conference!

10/04/2025

The countdown is on! 🎉
We’re gearing up for next week’s WVRPA Conference at Lakeview Resort in beautiful Morgantown, WV! 🏞️

We’ve got an outstanding lineup of 💼 sponsors and 🎪 exhibitors ready to showcase the best in parks and recreation innovation.

👥 Over 120 professionals and exhibitors will come together to connect, collaborate, and share ideas on how we can make parks and recreation in the Mountain State even better for everyone! 💚🌳

🌟 Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to learn, network, and celebrate what makes West Virginia’s parks so special!

10/03/2025