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Membership Benefits

Individual Memberships

Professional

Individuals working in the field of parks and recreation

Student

Individuals enrolled full time in a University program majoring in a declared major and/or concentration in a recreation/parks field: Health and Human Performance, Recreation, Resource Management, Leisure Studies, Turf Management, Forestry or related majors

Retiree/Citizen

Individuals who have retired from the parks and recreation profession or have an interest in promoting the benefits of parks and recreation (such as citizen board members, mayors, city managers/county mayors)

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Agency Memberships

Agency membership includes citizens and professionals from one organization paid by the agency in one lump sum.  The membership belongs to the agency.

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Commercial Memberships/Annual Sponsorships

Companies that sell to parks and recreation agencies are eligible to become commercial members of TRPA.  They receive discounts on exhibiting at events, advertising and more.  Commercial memberships can include annual sponsorships as well, and each level has different benefits.
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Community

TRPA has a robust community of members willing to help each other.  As a professional member, you can join the TRPA private Facebook page and ask questions and get answers from your peers. All members have access to the online membership directory and can look up other members to connect with them. 

Branches and Sections

TRPA has distinct subgroups within our membership for networking and socializing.  Connect with those who do what you do.

  • Administration: If you primarily lead staff, manage policies/procedures, manage budgets or coordinate large-scale department planning, you may identify with this branch
  • Facilities and Parks: If you primarily maintain a physical property or carry out daily facility operations, you may identify with this branch
  • Programming and Recreation: If you primarily work with the public planning, coordinating and facilitating any type of program, you may identify with this branch 
  • Ethnic Minority:  Members shall have an interest in Ethnic Minorities in the recreation and parks movement in Tennessee including those in municipal, private, voluntary, institutional, religious, educational, commercial, travel, tourism, and industrial organizations        
  • Municipal/County: Municipal or county park directors, community center employees, state and federal planners, athletic directors, and maintenance employees
  • Young Professionals: Members shall be students or young in their parks and recreation career and have an interest in networking or any professional member interested in promoting and assisting the young parks and recreation professional

TRPA is run by members for members with the help of a small staff.  TRPA members make up the Board and committees that make things happen.  When becoming a member, be sure to let us know which of the following committees interest you.

Make decisions as to who should be the recipients of the Association's awards

Information

Information and resources are huge benefits of TRPA.  From attending education programs at discounted rates to the magazine, newsletter, Facebook page and Twitter handle, you can follow what is happening in parks and recreation and the nation of parks and recreation interest through TRPA.

  • Spring District Workshops are included in membership.  These include continuing education credits for those who need them for recertification
  • Other Education programs (subject to annual review) with discounted registration for members
    • Athletics/Maintenance School
    • Aquatics Summit
    • Programmers School
    • Ethnic Minority Interest Section
    • Leadership Forum
    • Young Professional Interest Section
    • Annual Conference and Exhibition in the Fall
  • National Education we host
    • Certified Playground Safety Inspector Course & Exam
    • Aquatic Facility Operators Class & Exam
    • Lifeguard Instructor Training
    • Certified Youth Sports Administrator Training

Advocacy

TRPA represents the parks and recreation profession in Tennessee.  We network with many other organizations including:
  • Tennessee Recreation & Parks Educational Foundation (TRPEF)
  • Tennessee Municipal League (TML)
  • Tennessee Conservation Voters (TCV)
  • Tennessee Afterschool Network (TAN)
  • Tennessee Health Promotion Network
  • Tennessee Healthy Person Healthy Park
  • Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation/Recreation Resources (TDEC)
  • National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA)
  • BuyBoard Cooperative Purchasing
  • American Red Cross
  • National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS)
  • PlayCore National Demonstration Sites Project
  • Braves Country Baseball & Softball
We also follow legislation at the state and national levels alerting you to issues of concern for the profession.  TRPEF membership is included in TRPA Membership.
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