Golf Tournament
Monday, September 19 | 12:00 p.m. bus departure from the convention center, 1:30 p.m. tee time
Whirlwind Golf Club at Wild Horse Pass
Join your peers for this friendly tournament. This is a ticketed event. Advanced registration is required. Rental clubs are available onsite for $70 + tax.
NRPA Opening Reception
Sponsored by GameTime
Tuesday, September 20 | 6-9 p.m. MST
The Duce
Join us for the largest (and most fun) park and recreation party of the year! Enjoy live music, games. food and drinks while you celebrate with thousands of your peers at The Duce. This ticketed event is included with full package, young professional and retired registrations.
Sunrise Yoga
Wednesday, September 21 | 6:15-7:30 a.m. MST
The Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix
Start the morning with a relaxing sunrise yoga session in the historical Heritage Square Park. This is a ticketed event.
Best of the Best Ceremony
Sponsored by Play & Park Structures
Wednesday, September 21 | 5-6:30 p.m. MST
Sheraton Phoenix Downtown (HQ Hotel), Phoenix Ballroom
Join us as we recognize and celebrate the most inspirational people and programs by presenting the 2022 Innovation Awards and Spotlight Awards. The newly CAPRA-accredited and re-accredited park and recreation agencies, Young Professional Fellows, and Diversity and Student Scholarship recipients also will be recognized. Featured guest speaker: Dr. Temple Grandin.
Dr. Temple Grandin
World-Renowned Scientist, Inventor and Animal Expert
Dr. Temple Grandin is a Professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University and a renowned designer of livestock handling facilities. She has appeared on television shows such as 20/20, 48 Hours, CNN Larry King Live, PrimeTime Live, 60 Minutes, the Today Show, and many shows in other countries. She has been featured in People Magazine, The New York Times, Forbes, U.S. News and World Report, Time Magazine, The New York Times Book Review, and Discover magazine. In 2010, Time Magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people.
NRPA Annual Conference 5K Fun Run, Walk or Roll
Thursday, September 22 | 7-8 a.m. MST
Heritage Square Park
Welcome to downtown Phoenix — the cultural epicenter of the country’s fifth largest city. We invite you to take a fun run, walk or roll through historic neighborhoods, thrilling landscapes and modern architecture. The excitement kicks off with a morning rally with a DJ and local mascots pumping up the crowd and setting the vibe for an amazing day. This is a ticketed event. Advanced registration is required.
Ethnic Minority Society Luncheon
Thursday, September 22 | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. MST
Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel, Pueblo Ballroom
The Ethnic Minority Society Awards Luncheon is an annual luncheon that recognizes the diversity in the recreation profession, and provides an opportunity to network and learn more about the organization. This is a ticketed event.
NRPA Network Meetings
Join the NRPA Network meetings during conference week! All NRPA members are welcome to join to meet like-minded professionals sharing their ideas, challenges and success stories. This is your opportunity to network with park and recreation professionals from across the country. Learn more about the NRPA Networks. Network meetings do not require a ticket and are free to attend.
| Meeting | Date | Time | Location |
| Young Professionals Network Retreat | Monday, September 19 | 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. MST | Phoenix Convention Center West Building, Room 104 |
| Leadership Development Network Meeting | Tuesday, September 20 | 1:15 - 2:15 p.m. MST | Phoenix Convention Center West Building, Room 213 |
| Aquatics Network Meeting | Tuesday, September 20 | 4:15 - 5:15 p.m. MST | Phoenix Convention Center West Building, Room 103 |
| DEI Network Meeting | Tuesday, September 20 | 4:15 - 5:15 p.m. MST | Phoenix Convention Center West Building, Room 213 |
| Armed Forces Recreation Network Meeting | Wednesday, September 21 | 7:45 - 8:45 a.m. MST | Phoenix Convention Center West Building, Room 208 |
| Young Professionals Network Meeting | Wednesday, September 21 | 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. MST | Phoenix Convention Center West Building, Room 213 |
| Education Network Meeting | Thursday, September 22 | 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. MST | Phoenix Convention Center West Building, Room 123 |
How to Sign Up for Ticketed Events
To sign up for the ticketed events, please make your selection during the conference registration process. If you already have registered for the conference, you can go back and add on the event by logging in to the registration site and modifying your registration.