FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 18, 2016

Contact:

C.C. Gonzalez-Kurz

Dallas Park and Recreation Department

214-670-8536

c.gonzalezkurz@dallascityhall.com

Frank Librio

Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau

214-571-1075

flibrio@dallascvb.com

2023 NRPA Annual Conference to Generate Millions for Dallas Economy

(DALLAS) November 18, 2016 - The Dallas Park and Recreation Department, in conjunction with the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau (Visit Dallas), is pleased to announce that Dallas is hosting the National Recreation and Park Association’s (NRPA) 2023 Annual Conference.

“This announcement comes at a perfect time, as we build on the momentum of our recent national accreditation from CAPRA,” said Willis Winters, Dallas Park and Recreation Department Director. "We are honored to host our peers from across the country and we can’t wait to show them why Dallas is a nationally recognized leader in parks and recreation."

NRPA’s Annual Conference is the largest gathering of park and recreation professionals and citizen advocates. Every year it attracts more than 7,000 participants.

“This is a wonderful event for Dallas,” said Phillip Jones, Visit Dallas President and CEO. “We estimate that the 2023 NRPA Annual Conference will generate an economic impact of approximately $14.7 million for the City of Dallas.” 

The Dallas Park and Recreation Department and Visit Dallas will work closely with NRPA to welcome the 2023 conference.

“Dallas has a rich tradition of successfully integrating parks, green space and recreation systems within its infrastructure and that is why the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Professionals awarded them with national accreditation,” said Barbara Tulipane, NRPA President and CEO. “By holding the 2023 NRPA Annual Conference in a city that is adopting innovative approaches to their parks and recreation, we are destined to enhance the overall conference experience for all of our attendees.”

NRPA conference attendees represent all regions of the United States and abroad. The annual event features more than 200 education sessions, renowned keynote speakers, a business exposition, courses, workshops, award presentations, and networking events and provides park professionals and citizen advocates an opportunity to meet and confer on the business of parks across the country. 

About Dallas Park and Recreation Department

The nationally accredited, Dallas Park and Recreation Department is among the country’s largest urban park systems. Its mission is to champion lifelong recreation and serve as responsible stewards of the city’s parks, trails, and open spaces. The department maintains 24,000 acres of park land and water, including 379 parks, 100 miles of trails, athletic complexes, and natural areas. It also manages recreation centers, golf courses, community pools, tennis centers and family attractions including: Bahama Beach Waterpark and Fair Park. The Dallas Park and Recreation earned national accreditation in the field of parks and recreation from the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) in October 2016. For more information, visit www.DallasParks.org.
 

About Visit Dallas

Visit Dallas’ goal is to market Dallas as the ideal convention and visitor destination to the regional, national and international marketplace and to favorably impact the Dallas economy through meetings and tourism. The Dallas metro area is the leading business and financial center in the Southwest, offering visitors an unparalleled array of amenities and a central location with two major airports with more domestic nonstop flights than any other U.S. city. As the ninth-largest U.S. city, and part of the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the nation, the Dallas area is the top visitor destination in Texas. In 2015, Dallas partnered with CityPASS, the company that packages discounted, prepaid admission to a city’s top attractions. Now, travelers to Dallas can save 41 percent off admission to the city’s top attractions: the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, Reunion Tower GeO-Deck, a choice between the Dallas Zoo and The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, and a choice between the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum and the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. For more information, visit visitdallas.com.

About National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA)

NRPA is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people. Through its network of more than 52,000 recreation and park professionals and citizens, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable access to parks and public space. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.