Innovation Takes Center Stage: NRPA Conference 2019

Splash pads, swing sets, and slides oh my! The National Recreation and Park Association Conference this year was highlighted by the culmination of new interactive displays, software, services, and yes even robots! Here are some of my favorite happenings from the event.

First Impressions

Upon first entering the conference floor of the Baltimore Convention Center, I was immediately stunned by the sheer size and scope of some of these displays. As I walked the floor and got a general sense of the companies and products that were being displayed this year, there seemed to be a consistent theme. Natural impact. I was able to speak with Andris Zobs COO of ID Sculpture, who mentioned that this year the main focus was pointing towards these play structures seamlessly blending into the natural environment.

One of the displays that really highlighted this concept was the Burke Nucleus Evolution structure. I got a chance to speak with Sarah Lisiecki about their use of biophilia when constructing their structures. She mentioned that they are organically attempting to bring the feeling of nature back into the play environment. However, hands down, the most interactive exhibit award has to go to the team at Landscape Structures. I was able to relive my childhood when climbing up their new structure and zipping to the bottom on the slide! Another great life sized display was over at the Berliner booth, showcasing their new Quadrifol structures, a rope play environment design hailing from their German headquarters.

 

Beyond Playgrounds

Parks aren’t just about playgrounds though. I found numerous products being displayed specifically for the athlete in mind. Like the innovative field marking robots at Turf Tank, and the outdoor active solutions brought to you by GreenFields Outdoor Fitness. I was even able to test out my soccer skills at the Musco Mini Pitch display put on with the US Soccer Foundation. Their LED lighting solutions help significantly reduce the glare athletes might traditionally encounter during nighttime games. While other solutions, like those coming from HyLite, have specific energy and cost saving benefits by giving off more lumens, through less watts.

I had the pleasure of speaking with a few companies that were seasoned veterans when it came to this event. One being the team over at Dog Wash Systems USA, who have been helping dog parks stay revenue neutral with their systems, since 2009! Along with the gentlemen at the ProMinent, who walked me through their UV water pumps that help keep water play environments, contaminant free.

#FinalThoughts

There were also a few Mavericks of Marketing that stood out to me. One group was the team over at Amilia, bringing ease back into membership management with their software solutions. Another being the fun VR demo over at the Cre8Play booth! As well as the PartyMachines guru Greg Gordon, who really showed all the attendees what it meant to make the show a memorable experience.

All in all, after everything that I saw, and all the wonderful people I was able to talk with. I would easily say that parks and recreational environments are not so much more than areas just to play or stay active. They are environments uniquely designed for everyone in mind, through the use of innovative products, and software solutions alike. NRPA Conference 2019 definitely didn’t run with the herd.

 

 

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

whole health index
Whole Health Index
May 22, 2025

Dr. Sam Ambewadikar returns to break down Anthem’s Whole Health Index (WHI)—a powerful tool that distills medical, social, environmental, and behavioral data into a single score (0–100) to identify members most at risk. By surfacing factors like transportation deserts, housing instability, or food insecurity, WHI enables Anthem care managers and advocates to proactively match members…

Read More
pcp
PCP Attribution Analysis
May 22, 2025

Dr. Sam Ambewadikar, RVP and Medical Director at Anthem National Accounts, joins Brent to unpack the power of primary care attribution analysis—a tool he helped pioneer to spotlight the clinical and financial impact of members not having an established PCP. Drawing from his background as a practicing pediatrician and claims analytics leader, Dr. Sam shares…

Read More
sydney health
Sydney Health Demo
May 22, 2025

In this episode, Christina Firouztash, Executive Advisor of Digital Solutions at Anthem, gives a dynamic walkthrough of the Sydney Health app—Anthem’s flagship digital member experience. Christina showcases how Sydney delivers personalized, simple, and equitable navigation across benefits, including virtual care, pharmacy, financial transparency, and social services access. From contextual chatbots and ID card access to…

Read More
pharmacy
Pharmacy Part 1
May 22, 2025

In this episode, Brent chats with Katie Brennan, National Sales Director at CarelonRx, about making pharmacy benefits more accessible, consistent, and member-friendly. Katie spotlights Carelon new advanced home delivery model, which brings the pharmacy counter—and the pharmacist—into the member’s home. With fewer retail pharmacies offering extended hours and many patients lacking reliable transportation, CarelonRx is…

Read More