2026 Speaker and Session List
Ariel Mansholt |Lindsay Hill l| Heather Harp |Rico Velazquez | John Terpkosh | Josh Travis | Ryan Brewer | Loran Mayes
Darran Scott | Donna Lindenmeier | Misty Logan | Cadi Hawkins | Chad Dietz | Kathleen Fitzgerald | Brian Hill
Martha Highland | Hugh Gibson | Carrie Coppernoll Jacobs | Jakob Seiler | Nash Tabor
Landscape Structures Inc. (LSI)
Designing with Sensory Needs in Mind
Sensory related disabilities are the fastest growing disability category among children today. In this presentation we will define this spectrum of childhood disabilities that is much broader than autism. Design strategies will be presented on how to create play spaces so that these children and their families can successfully GET there, PLAY there and STAY there and have tons of fun. Concepts will be wrapped together in a real life case study
Ariel Mansholt
Landscape Structures Inc. (LSI)
Development of Play: How the Playground Supports Play Skill Acquisition
Outdoor play spaces can be a very overwhelming place for a lot of kids, leading them to be left out of play and miss opportunities important for development. This session is important to attend as it highlights common pediatric diagnoses and how their play is impacted. We are giving important definitions and design strategies to implement so that those who attend feel confident advocating for an inclusive play space.
Sr. Vice President and Group Manager Specialty Play Group PlayCore
NatureGrounds: Best Practices for Creating Naturalized Playgrounds
In the research PlayCore conducted in partnership with The Natural Learning Initiative, results revealed a strong link among children’s experiences in nature, their psychological wellbeing, and overall development. It is important to encourage outdoor play and find ways to reconnect children with nature. This innovative program discusses research-based benefits of combining the manufactured play environment with the living landscape. It also demonstrates how to implement best practices of design and discusses strategies for overcoming potential barriers, and how to naturalize existing and new playgrounds. Participants will walk away with an array of educational resources, funding sources, and practical ideas on how to get started.
Play and Park Structures- Playcore
Playground Inspection & Maintenance: Improving Safety, Compliance, and Sustainability
Participants will gain insights into understanding key ADA compliance requirements for maintenance staff, and implementing surfacing maintenance best practices. Routine inspections and proactive maintenance help preserve playground investments, support accessibility, and create safer play spaces that promote healthy risk-taking and fun for all children. Learning Objectives: Identify methods for locating and selecting a qualified playground inspector to ensure compliance with safety standards. Apply ADA maintenance requirements, including surfacing compliance, transition areas, and accessibility considerations. Implement a structured, sustainable maintenance program with proper documentation and follow-up procedures. Discuss best practices for maintaining playground surfacing to promote safety, durability, and compliance with recommended guidelines.
Sales Representative - Musco Sports Lighting
Sports Lighting - Projects Made Simple
High-quality LED sports lighting can revolutionize the player and fan experience for venues of all sports and sizes. But not all LED is created equal. Join Musco, the world leader in sports lighting, as they discuss top trends in lighting and advancements in technology.
USTA Missouri Valley
USTA Tennis Court Grants for Resurfacing or Building
Use the USTA's facility grant program (called Tennis Venue Services) to resurface or build new tennis courts in your community. Grants range from $60,000 to $150,000 depending on qualified tennis projects. This session will explain the requirements and grant process.
ACS Playground Adventures
Utilizing Synthetic Turf Surfaces for Leading Edge Design
In this session participants will become knowledgeable about synthetic grass and its innovative uses for their commercial projects. We will discuss the positive role turf plays in today’s world. Learn about the continual attributes of this material; its benefits, maintenance; and required fall height safety calculations.
City of Durant
Welcome to the Dumpster Fire: When you are handed a mess.
Stepping into a new leadership role can be exciting—until you realize you’ve inherited staffing issues, outdated systems, low morale, budget challenges, and a long list of unresolved problems. This session is designed for new directors, supervisors, and managers who find themselves tasked with turning around a struggling department. Learn practical strategies for assessing the situation, building trust, creating quick wins, setting priorities, and leading meaningful change without burning yourself out. Whether you're facing chaos, resistance, or simply years of neglect, this session will help you move from surviving the mess to building lasting success.
Ryan Brewer
City of Durant, ORPS
Directors Summit Panel
Oklahoma Recreation and Parks Society is planning a director’s summit in 2027. We want to hear from the directors what topics we would like to focus on to help guide us to developing a strong and informative directors’ summit and possibly a director’s school in the future.
City of Wilburton
Leadership for the Parks and Recreation Professional
Leadership in parks and recreation requires more than operational skills. This session equips community-centered recreation professionals with practical tools for communication, team culture, resilience, and leadership development helping leaders move from reactive management to confident, connected leadership in parks, aquatics, and recreation spaces.
Kimley-Horn Consultants
Improving Quality of Life through Neighborhood and Community Parks Improvements - MAPS 4 Parks Master Planning Project
This presentation highlights how resident input shaped the MAPS 4 Community and Neighborhood Parks Master Plan, from identifying needs and priorities to informing park-specific improvements. It also outlines City Council adoption of the plan and the project’s progression into final design and construction.
Oklahoma State University
Winter Games and Crafts
Fun for all ages using commonly available supplies - This active participation / make-&-take session will include easy to follow games and exciting creative activities ready to for your next program. The focus will be on winter activities for the upcoming months.
City of Dallas
From Ideas to Income: Teaching Kids Entrepreneurship Through Recreation
Learn how to build a youth entrepreneurship program using a three-level model for parks and recreation settings. Level 1 introduces basics through Lemonade Day-style activities, like money skills and customer interaction. Level 2 moves youth into kids markets focused on branding, pricing, and product creation. Level 3 engages teens in advanced maker entrepreneurship using Cricut and design tools to create custom products, build brands, and explore real-world business skills.
Rec Technologies
More Than ChatGPT: How Can AI Help Rec Departments Deliver Exceptional Experiences?
Discover how AI can transform your parks and recreation department beyond ChatGPT and Canva. Featuring insights from OpenAI and real case studies, this session explores practical AI tools, agents, and policies that help teams save time, improve operations, and deliver more personalized, inclusive recreation experiences.
Parkhill
Maximizing Field Play in Today’s Competitive Market
Getting the most play out of your fields involves evaluating the cost of play by the hour, balancing installation costs vs. maintenance expenses, and developing strategies for cost recovery. By understanding these factors, organizations can make informed decisions that extend field usage, improve operational efficiency, and ensure long-term financial sustainability.
Oklahoma Senior Games
Sneak Peek into the National Senior Games featuring 14,000 Senior Athletes in Tulsa,
June 30-July11, 2027
The program will feature the annual Oklahoma Senior Games enhanced by events in the 2027 National Senior Games produced by Humana. The presenter will focus on the 16 OPEN events which anyone can play against national competition without leaving Oklahoma.
Kathleen Fitzgerald
Oklahoma Senior Games
The Way Strength and Balance in Senior Athletes Was Increased 20% in 20 Coached Practice Sessions
The statistics in this presentation are from the 3-year $500,000 TSET grant OSG received 2022 – 2025 for coaching seniors ages 50+ in lifetime sports. The results show great gains in strength and balance and details social interaction changes. The implications from this data could drastically change programming for seniors in city recreation departments.
Waters Edge Aquatic Design
Myths, Tall Tales, and Truths of the Aquatics World
A discussion of many commonly held thoughts and ideas that are either incorrect, not quite right, or completely wrong.
Tulsa County Parks and Recreation
Stress Management and Effective Communication
This presentation focuses on recognizing common stress triggers and understanding how stress affects our thoughts, emotions, and behavior. It will explore the fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses and how our bodies naturally react when we feel threatened or overwhelmed. Participants will learn practical strategies for managing stress, staying calm during challenging situations, and using effective communication to express their needs, handle conflict, and build healthier relationships in the workplace and in life.
Missouri State University
Decoding the Participant Mind: The Power of Theory to Upgrade Recreation Programming
This interactive session translates human behavior theories into practical tools for municipal park directors, sport coordinators, and recreation programmers. Attendees will examine how participants weigh costs against perceived benefits, how skill-challenge balance drives long-term engagement, how foundational safety and social needs dictate program success, and how daily work-life dynamics influence recreation choices. Participants will leave with an actionable framework and program to immediately elevate their agency's recreation offerings.
Oklahoma City Parks and Recreation
Your Close-Up: Media Interactions and Public Representation
You never know when you'll be put on the spot by a media request, whether it's your hometown paper or the national news. Learn how to give interviews with confidence and accuracy regardless of the topic!
Carrie Coppernoll Jacobs
Oklahoma City Parks & Recreation
Social Media Made Easy
You don’t need fancy equipment or advanced editing skills to post about what’s going on at your agency. Learn simple tricks to stay relevant on social media without losing your entire workday.
Yukon Parks and Recreation
The Eye for Graphic Design - Parks and Recreation
This program will explore the importance of marketing Parks and Recreation events through the lens of graphic design. Participants will learn how to create effective promotional materials including videos, social media content, flyers, banners, and more to increase awareness, engagement, and attendance.
OKC Parks and Rec
Welcome to ORPS
New to ORPS? Come and find out what ORPS offers, how to get involved and where we as an organization are going!
