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

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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Julie Adams
President

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Charlotte Presensky, CPRE
Past President

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Rick Durr, CPRP
President Elect

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Steve Cox, CPRP
Vice President

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Terrell Griffin
Vice President

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Rebecca Schnirman, CPRP
Vice President

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Bobby Sparks, 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

Eleanor 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.

Charla Lucas, CPRP
Chief Operating Officer
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.

blonde haired woman Blaire Bennett
Education and Events Coordinator
As a second-generation Floridian, I was fortunate to grow up experiencing many of the state’s parks and natural beauty, which shaped my connection to the outdoors. My father, an avid outdoorsman, introduced me to camping, hiking, kayaking, and exploring Florida’s incredible landscapes. This early exposure sparked a lifelong passion for the outdoors that continues to drive my love for nature today.
I am so excited to join the Florida Recreation and Parks to further support its mission and its members as Education & Events Coordinator! With over 10 years of experience in the hospitality industry, I have built a strong foundation in event planning and management. While I began on the venue side of events, my focus in recent years has shifted toward education and professional development programming, and I look forward to bringing this experience to FRPA.
Outside of work, I enjoy gardening, cooking, hiking, exploring new places, attending concerts, and connecting with others. I look forward to meeting and working with the FRPA community—please feel free to reach out and say hello!

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