MRPA exists to serve our members. A large part of that mission involves promoting P&R, by highlighting why parks, recreation, natural resources, and leisure services matter in Michigan.

We want to tell the stories of our members on our blog, website, in MRPA’s quarterly magazine, and through social media, to showcase why parks and recreation matters to residents and visitors alike - but to do that, we need your help!

Goal 1: Building an Audience
Are you on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest? Great – so are we!
Over the next year, MRPA will be devoting special attention to building and growing our online audience. We’ll still share information about MRPA programs and services to keep members in the loop, but we’ll also be broadening our message to include more general updates on parks and recreation. We want to be a resource for members, but to broaden our overall appeal to reach the general public and park, recreation, and outdoor advocates too!

How you can help: follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest, and share the content that matters to you with your followers.

Goal 2: Grabbing Attention with Awesome Visuals
MRPA is assembling a library of high quality images from members and member departments. This library will be used in MRPA publications and on our digital outlets to help showcase parks and recreation. Images are particularly helpful in efforts to promote Michigan’s park and recreation providers on Instagram; we’ll eventually be sharing our favorite images in blog posts and other social media as well.

How you can help: send the best of your park and recreation photos to for promotion, along with descriptions of the locations/activities pictured, and desired photo credits. 

Goal 3: Sharing Stories from Michigan Communities
MRPA wants to be a storyteller for Michigan’s P&R providers – harnessing the voices of our members to promote the impact of parks and recreation, posting increasingly visible and sharable content, and telling the stories of how our members impact their communities. 

How you can help: does your department have a story about how a program or place has made a positive contribution to your community? We want to share your story! Shoot us ideas for magazine articles, eBlast features, or blog posts/social media content to .

Goal 4: Many Voices Joining to Promote P&R in Michigan
Michigan’s parks and recreation story is much bigger than MRPA, and parks, recreation, and leisure service providers and patrons have a stronger voice when we work together to tell our story. With that in mind, the Association hopes to jumpstart #MiParksRec – a social media hastag devoted to all things parks and recreation in Michigan. Sharing awesome feedback from a recent program attendee? Uploading a great park sunset shot? Consider adding #MiParksRec, to add P&R inspiration and content, to help our message and audience grow. MRPA will be monitoring #MiParksRec on Twitter and Instagram daily to find the latest and greatest content to like and share – so the hashtag a great way to gain promotion as well!

How you can help: consider using the #MiParksRec hashtag in parks and recreation related Twitter and Instagram posts. A great example of the concept in action is P2ure Michigan, who has used #PureMichigan to drive interest on Twitter and Instagram.