Michigan Recreation and Park Association

What Michigan Recreation and Park Association does

Michigan Recreation and Park Association (mParks) is a nonprofit professional association founded in 1935 and headquartered in Okemos, Michigan. It serves as the designated statewide voice and the Michigan state affiliate of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) for parks and recreation agencies, individual professionals, students, and vendor/industry partners across all of Michigan's counties. The organization operates under four pillars — Advocate, Teach, Inspire, and Unite — delivering advocacy with state legislators and the Michigan DNR, year-round professional development, four nationally recognized certifications (CPRP, CPRE, CPSI, AFO), a Career Pathway framework spanning early to established career stages, a Mentorship Program, an awards and Hall of Fame program, and the mParks Foundation for scholarships and access initiatives.

mParks structures its membership and engagement around 7 Leadership Regions covering all Michigan counties and 14 specialized Focus Areas (Active Aging, Adaptive Recreation, Aquatics, Archery, Athletics, Facilities, Marketing, Middle Managers, New Professionals, Park Maintenance, Programming, Students, Trails, and WIRED) plus dedicated Collaboratives for cities, counties, and townships. The technology stack supporting these operations includes the CommUnity digital member engagement platform (powered by Personify Community), an Atlas-based member portal for event registration and directory access, a Career Center job board, and JotForm for forms. The annual Conference & Trade Show (March 3-6, 2026 in Lansing) serves as the anchor event for education, networking, certification delivery, and vendor engagement.

Revenue is generated through annual membership dues (agency, individual professional, and vendor tiers), conference and trade show registration and sponsor fees, professional certification and training fees, and Career Center job postings. The organization is governed by a 7-member Board of Directors and led by Executive Director Nichole Fisher, CMP, and President Chad Stevens, CPRP. Recent strategic activity has focused on a new RCX Sports partnership for youth sports programming (announced January 2026), the 2025-2030 Strategic Plan, advocacy for Recreation Passport modernization, and ongoing digital engagement expansion through the CommUnity platform.

Name

Michigan Recreation and Park Association

Legal name

Michigan Recreation and Park Association

Website

https://mparks.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1935

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services (BPAIACAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH)

Keywords

• Professional membership association
• Parks recreation advocacy
• Recreation certification programs
• Industry conference trade show
• Professional development services

Headquarters

HQ city

Okemos

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues charged to parks and recreation agencies, professionals, and vendors. Members receive reduced registration fees for events, programs, and services as a benefit of membership.
2. Conference & Trade Show Registrations: Registration fees for the annual mParks Conference & Trade Show (March 3-6, 2026 in Lansing), along with vendor/sponsor fees for the trade show component.
3. Professional Certifications & Training: Fees for certification programs including CPRP, CPRE, CPSI, AFO, and related professional development courses and training sessions offered year-round.
4. Career Center: The mParks Career Center serves as a job board for Michigan parks and recreation positions. Agency members receive free basic job postings; other postings are fee-based.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Michigan Recreation and Park Association (mParks) is a nonprofit professional membership association founded in 1935 that serves Michigan's parks and recreation community. It delivers advocacy at the state and legislative level, professional development and certification preparation (CPRP, CPRE, CPSI, AFO), an annual conference and trade show, a job board (Career Center), an online member engagement platform (mParks CommUnity), mentorship, awards programs, and a foundation supporting scholarships and access initiatives.

Product overview

Michigan Recreation and Park Association (mParks) operates as a professional association for parks and recreation professionals, offering a portfolio of membership services including professional development programs, certification preparation (CPRP, CPRE, CPSI, AFO), annual conferences, mentorship opportunities, and awards recognition. The association provides an online member portal (mParks CommUnity), a job board (Career Center), Focus Areas for specialized interests, and strategic partnerships with organizations like RCX Sports for youth sports programming. The product suite centers on workforce development, advocacy, networking, and community engagement rather than a traditional SaaS platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• mParks Foundation: The foundation arm of Michigan Recreation and Park Association focused on access for all, leadership development, scholarships, and recognition.

Products and services

• mParks Conference & Trade Show Annual conference bringing together Michigan parks and recreation professionals for education, networking, and trade show exhibitions, with registration fees for attendees and vendors.
• Certification Programs (CPRP, CPRE, CPSI, AFO) Professional certification preparation and maintenance programs including Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP), Certified Park and Recreation Executive (CPRE), Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI), and Aquatics Facility Operator (AFO).
• mParks Career Center Job board platform for parks and recreation careers in Michigan, providing job postings (free for agency members, paid for non-members and enhanced postings) and access to a resume database for candidates and employers.
• mParks Annual Membership Annual membership with tiers for Agency/Organization, Individual Professional, and Vendor members. Members receive reduced registration rates for events, programs, certifications, access to the member portal (Atlas), the CommUnity platform, the member directory, and the Career Center.

Quantifiable outcome

• The mParks Career Center serves as the premier resource for parks and recreation jobs in Michigan, with postings from top agencies.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and regional.

• RCX SportscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 January 2026mParks announced a partnership with RCX Sports, the official youth sports operator for the NFL, NBA, WNBA, NHL, MLS, MLB, and USTA. The partnership connects Michigan's local parks and recreation agencies with RCX's professional league-affiliated programming, providing new pathways for young athletes to participate in structured, high-quality sports experiences. Through training, operational support, and educational resources, RCX works with mParks to help organizations deliver programs prioritizing safety, inclusion, and positive youth development.
• National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNRPA is the national association of which mParks is the Michigan state affiliate. mParks supports NRPA's national initiatives, offers NRPA certification programs (CPRP, CPRE, AFO, CPSI) and leverages NRPA resources, research, and advocacy platforms for the benefit of Michigan's parks and recreation community.
• Michigan Department of Natural Resources (Michigan DNR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Michigan DNR is a key strategic partner in advancing parks, recreation, and natural resource management across Michigan. mParks works with the DNR on advocacy, funding initiatives (including the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund), and programs that benefit state and local parks and recreation systems.
• mParks FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe mParks Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Michigan Recreation and Park Association, focused on fundraising, scholarships, leadership development, and access initiatives. It supports programs including Access for All, leadership scholarships, and recognition awards.
• Heart of the LakesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeart of the Lakes is a coalition of Michigan's land conservancies and parks organizations. mParks collaborates with Heart of the Lakes on outdoor recreation advocacy, policy initiatives, and data sharing, including joint releases of outdoor participation trends reports.
• Michigan Trails & Greenways Alliance (MTGA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMichigan Trails & Greenways Alliance advocates for trails and greenways across Michigan. mParks partners with MTGA on trail development, outdoor recreation policy, and joint messaging on the importance of trails for community health and connectivity.
• MACPRO (Michigan Association of County Park & Recreation Officials)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMACPRO is a collaborative of Michigan county parks and recreation officials that works within the mParks framework to provide specialized representation, networking, and advocacy for county-level parks and recreation professionals.
• West Michigan Recreation & Park Association (WMRPA)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerWMRPA is a regional professional organization serving parks and recreation professionals in West Michigan. Listed as a strategic partner of mParks.
• Northeast Recreation & Park Association (NERPA)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerNERPA is a regional professional organization serving parks and recreation professionals in Northeast Michigan. Listed as a strategic partner of mParks.
• Northwest Park & Recreation Association (NWPRA)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerNWPRA is a regional professional organization serving parks and recreation professionals in Northwest Michigan. Listed as a strategic partner of mParks.
• Southern Michigan Recreation & Park Association (SMRPA)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMRPA is a regional professional organization serving parks and recreation professionals in Southern Michigan. Listed as a strategic partner of mParks.
• Wayne & Monroe (WAM)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerWAM is a regional professional organization serving parks and recreation professionals in Wayne and Monroe counties. Listed as a strategic partner of mParks.
• Knuckles KnorthregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerKnuckles Knorth is a regional professional organization serving parks and recreation professionals in a designated Michigan region. Listed as a strategic partner of mParks.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Florida Recreation and Park Association: Florida's statewide parks and recreation professional association with parallel membership dues, certification, conference, awards, and advocacy programming—closely analogous in mission and structure to mParks.
• Ohio Parks and Recreation Association: Ohio's statewide parks and recreation association offering comparable membership, advocacy, certification, and conference services to municipal and county agencies—structurally analogous to mParks.
• Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society: Pennsylvania's statewide parks and recreation association delivering the same membership, professional development, certification, conference, and advocacy services as mParks in a different state.
• New York State Recreation and Park Society: New York's statewide professional association for parks and recreation, offering parallel member services, certifications, annual conference, and advocacy—directly comparable in scope and model.
• Texas Recreation and Park Society: Texas's state affiliate of NRPA offering comparable member services including certifications, annual conference, advocacy, and career resources for parks and recreation professionals.
• California Association of Recreation and Park Districts: California's statewide association serving recreation and park districts with parallel advocacy, professional development, awards, and conference offerings—same nonprofit membership association model as mParks.
• Georgia Recreation and Park Association: Georgia's state-level parks and recreation association delivering parallel membership, certification, conference, and advocacy services to municipal and county agencies across the state.
• Illinois Association of Park Districts: A state-level professional association serving Illinois park districts and recreation agencies. Directly comparable in structure, mission, and revenue model (membership dues, conference, certifications) to mParks.

Others

• American Society of Association Executives: The leading national association for the association-management profession. Not a direct competitor, but ASAE provides operational best practices, benchmarking, and continuing education for organizations like mParks.

Broad incumbents

• National Recreation and Park Association: The national umbrella association of which mParks is the Michigan state affiliate. NRPA offers the same CPRP, CPRE, CPSI, AFO certifications and parallel advocacy, professional development, and conference programming at a national scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MiParksRec
• Facebookfacebook.com/mParksRec
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mparks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Michigan Recreation and Park Association