Charla Kathryn Lucas, CPRP

I serve the profession that I love and I am so thankful for it.

Charla Lucas is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Florida Recreation and Park Association, where she’s dedicated to empowering parks and recreation professionals across Florida. Charla has served the association since 2015. Throughout her career, she has had a passion for community-building, having managed special events and programming with the City of Largo for over a decade before serving the City of Tallahassee through the management of Cascades Park. Charla loves working alongside professionals, offering education, advocacy, and support to help them create vibrant, thriving spaces for their communities. An outdoor enthusiast herself, whether she’s hiking a trail or paddleboarding on the water, she’s always inspired by the people who make Florida’s parks, public spaces, and recreation programs so special.