Kansas Recreation and Park Association

What Kansas Recreation and Park Association does

Kansas Recreation and Park Association (KRPA) is a 501(c)-style non-profit professional association founded in 1948 that represents over 1,500 parks, recreation, and leisure professionals and agencies across Kansas. Headquartered in Lawrence, Kansas and structured into three regional chapters (Central, East, West) and eight discipline-specific branches (Administration, Aquatics, Park and Natural Resources, Park Law Enforcement, Recreation, Sports, Wellness, Youth Services), KRPA delivers its core value through statewide convening, certification, advocacy, and recognition programs. The association's technology foundation is the Wild Apricot membership management platform, which powers the website, member portal, event registration, and membership directory; the association has also developed proprietary member-facing tools including the Economic Impact Calculator and an Online Education platform delivering certifications such as AFO (Aquatic Facility Operator) and CPSI (Certified Playground Safety Inspector) alongside micro-certifications.

KRPA's revenue model blends recurring membership dues across six categories (professional, commercial, agency, board/commission, student, retiree) with a five-tier corporate partnership program (Cottonwood $650, Wheat $1,000, Sunflower $3,000, Buffalo $5,000, Official $10,000), transactional event fees for the annual conference, golf tournaments, leadership institutes, and workshops, plus merchandise sales, advertising in KRPA Today magazine and digital channels, and scholarship donations. Strategic priorities for 2025-2027 emphasize membership retention, education expansion, partner cultivation, and legislative advocacy, executed through an event-driven go-to-market anchored by the annual conference, regional meetings, certification programs, and a multi-channel marketing mix spanning website, email newsletters, Facebook, YouTube, webinars, and community outreach programs such as Splash Across Kansas and Par Across Kansas.

Name

Kansas Recreation and Park Association

Legal name

Kansas Recreation and Park Association

Website

https://krpa.wildapricot.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

KRPA is a Kansas-based non-profit professional association serving over 1,500 parks and recreation professionals and agencies statewide through membership, certification, advocacy, conferences, and leadership development programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH)

Keywords

• Professional association services
• Parks recreation training
• Continuing education workshops
• Membership certification programs
• Government advocacy services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lawrence

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from professional, commercial, agency, board/commission, student, and retiree members. The association represents over 1,500 members throughout Kansas.
2. Conference and Event Registration: Revenue from annual conferences, trade shows, golf tournaments, leadership institutes, and professional development workshops. Events include the 36th Annual Golf Tournament and Tomorrow's Leaders Institute.
3. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate partnership program with multiple tiers: Official Partnership ($10,000), Buffalo Partnership ($5,000), Sunflower Partnership ($3,000), Wheat Partnership ($1,000), Cottonwood Partnership ($650).
4. Scholarships and Donations: Donations to the KRPA Scholarship Association, NCAA Grid Game fundraiser supporting scholarships, and academic scholarship programs for aspiring parks and recreation professionals.
5. Merchandise Sales: Parks and Recreation professional merchandise including shirts and tank tops sold through the KRPA Store, with proceeds supporting educational opportunities.
6. Advertising: Advertising opportunities on the KRPA website, in KRPA Today magazine, and in newsletters reaching parks and recreation professionals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Kansas Recreation and Park Association (KRPA) is a non-profit professional association that supports the parks, recreation, and leisure services industry in Kansas. Its core offerings include individual and agency memberships, an annual state conference, professional certifications (Aquatic Facility Operator and Certified Playground Safety Inspector), continuing education workshops, regional branch events, leadership institutes, advocacy and lobbying services, specialized aquatic and golf programs, an economic impact calculator, a member magazine, and a career/job board.

Product overview

The Kansas Recreation and Park Association (KRPA) operates as a membership-based professional organization rather than a software product company. The association offers a comprehensive portfolio of member services including the annual conference and trade show, professional certification programs (AFO, CPSI), leadership development initiatives (Tomorrow's Leaders Institute, Women's Leadership Summit), and specialized workshops. The association also runs promotional programs like Splash Across Kansas and Par Across Kansas that support member agencies through discount coupon programs. Additional services include career center resources, scholarship programs, an Economic Impact Calculator tool, quarterly magazine publication, online discussion forums, and annual events including golf tournaments, photo contests, and esports championships. KRPA organizes its professional development offerings through regional branches covering Administration, Aquatics, Park and Natural Resources, Park Law Enforcement, Recreation, Sports, Wellness, and Youth Services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,500 members representing nearly every Kansas county
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• ATHCOminorGTM or Marketing PartnerATHCO sponsored the 2026 Great Outdoors Month celebration and has partnered with KRPA to help communities create engaging outdoor spaces where families can play, connect, and make memories together.
• MuscominorGTM or Marketing PartnerMusco sponsored the 2026 Tomorrow's Leaders Institute, supporting the immersive leadership experience for emerging parks and recreation professionals.
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of KansascoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBlue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas sponsors the BlueCHIP Award in every Kansas county except Johnson and Wyandotte, demonstrating support for parks and recreation and encouraging healthy lifestyles across Kansas.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas CitycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBlue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City sponsors the BlueCHIP Award for Johnson and Wyandotte counties, partnering with KRPA to recognize healthy community initiatives.
• Landscape Structures Inc.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLandscape Structures sponsored content on playground trends, providing insights on modern playground design, inclusive features, and collaborative approaches to creating community play spaces.
• Mission ControlcoreTechnology or IntegrationKRPA partnered with Mission Control to host the inaugural Kansas Esports State Championship, a state-wide tournament for communities to compete for state championship titles in gaming.
• Safe SitterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKRPA partnered with Safe Sitter to offer life and safety training for young teens, allowing member agencies to become Registered Providers and offer licensed babysitting training courses.
• Landworks StudiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerLandworks Studio sponsored content on recreational trends and contributed articles on park design, private donations for parks, and modern playground development.
• Cities Connecting Children to Nature (CCCN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKRPA promotes CCCN Regional and State Nature Connection cohort opportunities, a partnership of the Children & Nature Network and National League of Cities to build equitable outdoor experiences for children.
• National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKRPA aligns with NRPA for certifications, professional standards, Park and Recreation Month celebrations, and national recruitment initiatives including the PR Marketing Video Campaign.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Wild Apricot: Membership management software platform that powers KRPA's site, member portal, and event registration. A technology/infrastructure provider in KRPA's operating stack.
• American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA): National honorary organization recognizing distinguished park and recreation administrators. KRPA partners with AAPRA for the Legends program, making it a professional and ecosystem peer rather than a competitor.
• Children & Nature Network: National nonprofit promoting equitable access to nature for children. KRPA promotes Cities Connecting Children to Nature cohorts, making it an ecosystem/thematic ally rather than a direct competitor.

Direct peers

• California Park & Recreation Society (CPRS): California state-level association providing professional development, conferences, and advocacy for parks and recreation. Same model and member segments as KRPA, scaled to a larger state.
• Ohio Recreation and Parks Association (ORPA): Ohio's state-level membership association for park and recreation professionals, offering similar conferences, certification, and advocacy services. Comparable in scale and mission.
• Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD): Illinois statewide association representing park districts, with similar education, advocacy, and member-service offerings. Comparable professional association structure.
• Texas Recreation and Park Society (TRAPS): Texas state-level professional association for parks, recreation, and leisure professionals. Operates a similar membership-driven model with certifications, conferences, and advocacy, comparable in structure and revenue mix to KRPA.
• Florida Recreation and Park Association (FRPA): Florida state association for parks and recreation professionals offering conferences, certifications, and networking, structurally analogous to KRPA.

Broad incumbents

• National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA): National umbrella organization for parks and recreation. KRPA is a state-level chapter that aligns with NRPA for certifications, advocacy, and Park and Recreation Month, making it the most direct comparable peer.

Regional players

• National Recreation and Park Association - State Chapters Network: Collectively, the 50+ state chapters affiliated with NRPA constitute KRPA's natural competitive set, each providing overlapping services at the state level.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Kansas-Recreation-and-Park-Association-356010379705
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCW4a4ZXKF6F7mXP0-fDMuYg
• Xx.com/krpa_today

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kansas Recreation and Park Association