PA Institute for R&P

Quality recreation and park programs, well-maintained parks and trails, safe playgrounds and swimming pools, scenic natural areas, properly constructed soccer fields, well-run community events, therapeutic programs for residents of long-term care facilities and many other functions of recreation and park organizations don’t just happen. They are the direct result of well-run organizations with properly trained staff and sufficient funding. The key organization in Pennsylvania helping recreation ad park organization bring these benefits to you is the Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society (PRPS)!

In recent years, however, Pennsylvania’s recreation and park professionals have faced new challenges that have increased the level of support needed from PRPS. Among these challenges are increased demand for services and facilities, urban sprawl, competing user groups, a more diverse and aging population, litigation, technology, the need to do more with level funding, and new demands resulting from current events.

Our rented offices and staff of eight are not adequate to keep pace with the growing needs of our members. We provide a broad range of services, but our limited resources mean we can only scratch the surface of what is really needed. Without additional PRPS resources, recreation and park organizations across the state will have difficulty finding other ways to help make their playgrounds safe, to get the funding to renovate aging facilities, to trained for personnel who will coach young children, and much more. PRPS needs to expand to meet the needs of our members and, in turn, the residents of the Commonwealth.