The 2016 NRPA Exhibit Hall is a must-see for all attendees. Make time to experience the awesome displays, products and technology available from more than 400 exhibitors, plus lots of fun stuff, too! Attendees will have two days to network with potential service providers and fellow attendees, participate in education sessions, visit the Technology Solutions Center, take a chance to win gift cards, pick up cool tchotchkes, participate in our popular EXPOdition exhibit hall scavenger hunt sponsored by Burke Playgrounds and experience our popular evening Exhibitor-Hosted Happy Hour with a chance to win $1,000 in a cash giveaway sponsored by Toro.
On Thursday, October 6, following the NRPA General Session, the exhibit hall will open at 10:30 a.m. and will remain open until 6:15 p.m., with our Exhibitor-Hosted Happy Hour scheduled from 5 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. On Friday, the exhibit hall will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The first 1,500 people to arrive each day will be entered in a prize drawing — Thursday’s prize is sponsored by Background Investigation Bureau and Friday’s is sponsored by Burke Playgrounds.
Networking Fun
During the Exhibitor-Hosted Happy Hour, we invite you to network with exhibitors and attendees and enjoy fun activities, food and drink. To get your free drink ticket for the Happy Hour and receive a limited-edition cinch-bag, make sure you visit the Jacobsen booth during exhibit hall hours on Thursday. Two lucky attendees will walk away with $500 cash in our drawing sponsored by Toro.
Every attendee has the opportunity to participate in the EXPOdition exhibit hall scavenger hunt. Prizes include two free registrations for the 2017 NRPA Annual Conference in New Orleans, two iPads, four FitBits, T-shirts and gift cards, but they’ll only be available to a select few who get all their squares stamped and turn in their scavenger hunt card by 2:30 p.m. Friday. Drawings for $100-$200 American Express gift cards will take place every hour while you check out an inflatable golf driving range by SNAG Golf, the EXTREME bike and skate park sponsored by American Ramp Company and those adorable, must have, one-of-a-kind, limited edition (and quantity) “I’m a Park and Rec Kid” Build-a-Bears. Visit the NRPA Mem-Bear-Ship Experience area for details.
Engaging, Hands-on Activities
From front-to-back and side-to-side, the exhibit hall has just about everything a park professional could ever want. Back by popular demand, The Learning Playground will host our most popular interactive education sessions that are guaranteed to get the party started — make sure to try “Fifty Fast and Furious Games in Fifty-five ‘Fun’utes” on Thursday from 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. and “Stack the Deck in Your Team’s Favor” on Friday from 12:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. New for 2016, the Technology Solutions Center will offer 20-minute sessions presented by exhibitors showcasing how technology can help park and recreation professionals work smarter, not harder! Our Learning Lab will feature NRPA Commit to Health initiatives on Thursday and conservation initiatives on Friday. Don’t forget the Glass Room Sessions for great urban park topics and discussions.
Meet the NRPA Team
You will learn everything you ever wanted to know about NRPA and your member benefits in the Mem-Bear-Ship Experience area. Talk to our dedicated staff about NRPA’s programs and initiatives and how to maximize your member benefits. You will find areas dedicated to Membership, Research, Career Center, Parks & Recreation magazine, Parks Build Community and Partnerships. You can network, engage and relax in the lounge, learn about our research tools from experts, check out career opportunities or discuss interesting topics and stories with our editorial staff.
We can’t wait to see you in St. Louis in October!
Ted Mattingly is NRPA’s Director of Facilities and Administrative Services.