TRPA 2026: 15 Educational Sessions Worth Adding to Your Schedule

The 2026 Tennessee Recreation and Parks Association (TRPA) Annual Conference is almost here! From November 2-5 in Franklin, Tennessee, recreation professionals will come together for several days of learning, networking, and sharing ideas to help strengthen the communities they serve. 

With sessions covering everything from accessibility and budgeting to community center operations, employee engagement, and creative problem-solving, there's plenty to explore. To help you plan your time, the nextRec team has rounded up 15 educational sessions worth checking out at TRPA 2026!

And while you're planning your conference schedule, don't forget to stop by Xplor Recreation at Booths #708 and #710 to meet the nextRec team! We'd love to hear what's happening at your department, answer your questions, and share how nextRec can help make everyday recreation management easier. 

Ready to build your TRPA schedule? Take a look at our top picks below!

Read on to discover the 15 sessions worth adding to your list! 

• • 👇 Jump to Monday's Educational Sessions (Monday, November 2)

  • 👇 Jump to Tuesday's Educational Sessions (Tuesday, November 3)

  • 👇 Jump to Wednesday's Educational Sessions (Wednesday, November 4)
    

2026 TRPA Educational Sessions: Monday, November 2

1. Parkland Impact Fes: Investing in Franklin's Future

Time: 1:00 p.m.- 2:00 p.m.

Speakers: Kevin Lindsey, Heather Eusebio

2. From Barriers to Belonging: A Look at ADA Challenges

Time: 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Speaker: Alisha Eley Anderson

3. Show, Don't Tell: Using Story Telling Tools to Get What You Need

Time: 2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.

Speakers: Katherine Harelson, Skye Gerhart

4. Breathe Easy: Climate-Smart Parks for Healthier Communities

Time: 2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.

Speakers: Angela Hill, Ayanna Williams

2026 TRPA Educational Sessions: Tuesday, November 3

5. Fun With Fleet!

Time: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Speaker: Kim Hammon

6. Real Budgeting for Parks & Recreation: Proven Tools for Better Results

Time: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Speaker: Michael Walters-Young

7. Developing an Aquatics Safety Plan

Time: 2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.

Speaker: Dewey Case

8. The Public Servant's Playbook: BEND, Build and Be Kind

Time: 2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.

Speaker: Jessica Davey

9. Bringing Your A-Game: Employee Engagement & Recognition as the Winning Strategy

Time: 2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.

Speaker: Jaime Ewald

10. Prompt & Play: The Interactive AI Studio

Time: 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Speakers: Christi David, Molly Glass

11. Learning from the Inside Out

Time: 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Speaker: Angela Hill

2026 TRPA Educational Sessions: Wednesday, November 4

12. Beyond the Front Desk: The Business of Community Center Operations

Time: 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

Speaker: Thomas Laird

13. Parks and Rec: The Project Manager's Cut

Time: 9:45 a.m. - 10:25 a.m.

Speakers: Jonathan Marston, Shahad Abdulrahman

14. Avoiding Do-Overs, Delays, and Denials: A Grant Survival Guide

Time: 1:30 p.m. - 2:10 p.m.

Speaker: Alisha Eley Anderson

15. Maximizing What's On-Hand: Creative Solutions with Existing Resources

Time: 1:30 p.m. - 2:10 p.m.

Speaker: Kayce Williams

Let's Connect at TRPA 2026!

Whether you're looking for fresh ideas to improve your programs, new approaches to managing your department, or practical strategies to bring back to your team, TRPA 2026 has plenty of opportunities to learn and connect. 

We hope these 15 session recommendations help you build a conference schedule filled with valuable takeaways!

Between sessions, be sure to stop by Xplor Recreation at Booths #708 and #710 and say hello to the nextRec team! We'd love to hear about your department, learn what challenges you're working through, and show you how nextRec can help simplify recreation management. 

When you stop by, you can: 

• Meet the nextRec team and ask quesitons.
• See nextRec in action with a live demo.
• Explore ways to simplify registrations, memberships, facility reservations, payments, and more.
• Discover how nextRec can help your team spend less time on administrative tasks and more time serving your community.

Want to set aside time to connect with us at TRPA? Schedule a demo with our team and see how nextRec can support your department's goals. 

We look forward to seeing you in Franklin! Safe travels, enjoy the conference, and don't forget to visit us at Booths #708 and #710!