About Us

The Mission of the Florida Recreation and Park Association is to establish parks and recreation as a cornerstone of health, economic development, environmental sustainability, and community throughout the State of Florida.

Our Why
To inspire the heart of the professional so that we empower leaders to reach higher and achieve more for our communities. 

Our Vision is an
empowered, engaged, and diverse network of members, advocates, and partners equipped to advance parks and recreation.

Our Values include
Equity                  Competence                   Leadership
Innovation            Performance Excellence            Stewardship


The Florida Recreation and Park Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion, preservation, and advocacy of the Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Services profession. Originally organized in 1942 and incorporated in 1983, the Association is directed by a volunteer
Board of Directors, and an Executive in Tallahassee. A complete history of the Association demonstrates the long term progression and sustainability of the Association.

Members are professionals working for federal, state and local parks, recreation and leisure service agencies; local recreation and park advisory board members serving in local communities; faculty and students at colleges and universities; therapeutic recreation specialists and activity coordinators working in recreation settings; and suppliers of recreation and park products and services.

By providing education, professional certification, networking, legislative representation, and leadership opportunities to Parks and Recreation professionals, FRPA has become a leading association recognized by Florida Trend Magazine as a Top-Ranked Association.

The Executive Office is located in Tallahassee, Florida
2528 Barrington Circle, Suite #1
Tallahassee, FL 32308

Office Hours 8:15 am - 5:15 pm, Monday - Friday
Phone: 850-878-3221
Fax: 850-942-0712

 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Charlotte Presensky, CPRE
President

Becky Gunter, CPRP 
Past President

Julie Adams
President Elect


​​

Rick Durr, CPRE
Vice President


Terrell Griffin, CPRP
Vice President 

Krista Pincince, CPRP
Vice President

 


Rebecca Schnirman, CPRP
Vice President 



 ARTICLES AND BYLAWS


The Association is governed by Articles of Incorporation and ByLaws which are filed and maintained with the appropriate state and federal agencies.

 990 TAX FILINGS

The Association annually files 990 tax forms as required.

 EXECUTIVE OFFICE STAFF


 

Warmack_web.jpgEleanor Warmack, CPRP, CAE
Chief Executive Officer

Eleanor has served as FRPA Executive Director since 1990. During her term of service, she has seen tremendous growth in membership, a greater commitment to certification, the creation and implementation of the first ever marketing plan for the association, a reorganization of the Association's Board and infrastructure, successfully pursued aggressive legislation, and has been recognized among her association executive peers as a leader in her field. She is the 1999 recipient of the Executive of the Year Award, presented to her in October, 1999 by the Tallahassee Society of Association Executives. She was awarded the Association Executive of the Year in 2010 by the Florida Society of Association Executives.  She also chaired the Board of Regents for the US Chamber of Commerce's Institutes for Organization Management in 2000-2001. She was named to the Tallahassee Community College's Alumni Hall of Fame. She served as Chair of the National Recreation and Park Association's National Certification Board. She also served as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Florida Society of Association Executives. 



Bulloch_web.jpgCharla Lucas, CPRP
Chief Operating Officer
Charla previously worked with the City of Tallahassee Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs and the City of Largo Recreation, Parks and Arts Departments. She is responsible for directing the Association's marketing programs, and strategic plan and visioning implementation.  Charla directs FRPA efforts to brand the parks and recreation industry and messaging of the value of parks and recreation. She also oversees the Association's communications including FRPA Eclips, Elerts, and Covering the Bases Newsletter. Charla joined the FRPA Executive Staff in November 2015.

Kathy Wortham, CPRP, CTRS
Member Services and Administrative Coordinator
Kathy currently serves as the Membership Services and Administrative Coordinator for FRPA. She Graduated from The University of Georgia with a BSED in Education with an emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation. Kathy began her career in 1988 and served twenty three years at the Valdosta/Lowndes Parks and Recreation department in Valdosta, Georgia, she retired and moved to Florida where she returned to her profession at Gulf Breeze Parks and Recreation in the capacity of Assistant Director from 2015 to 2022. Kathy has over thirty-five years of service in Recreation beginning as a Lifeguard and Camp Counselor during high school and college, and continued into a very rewarding and progressive career in the field from Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, Recreation Manager to Assistant Director. She is a past 25 year member of GRPA and served on the board for two years. She has served as Special Olympics Local and Area Coordinator in Lowndes County from 1989 - 1996 and served on the Gulf Breeze Miracle League Board from 2016 - 2018. In 2018, Kathy was recognized with the Highest Achievement Award by her classmates for her ten week Dale Carnegie Leadership Program. 

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