Park and Recreation Maintenance Management School

The Park and Recreation Maintenance Management School (MMS) is a comprehensive two-year professional development program designed to teach park and recreation professionals how to develop and manage a wide variety of maintenance programs. 

Who should attend

Park, recreation, and conservation personnel who manage park and recreation maintenance programs of any kind.

Registration, Fees, and Dates

Save the date!

January 28-February 2, 2024
January 26-January 31, 2025

All dates are subject to change.

Location

Park and Recreation Maintenance Management School is hosted annually at the Oglebay Resort in Wheeling, West Virginia in partnership with the National Training Center at Oglebay.

Partnership

Park and Recreation Maintenance Management School School is a partnership between the National Recreation & Park Association, the National Training Center at Oglebay, and North Carolina State University. 

Key Subjects Covered

Year 1 — Identify and recognize effective professional techniques of maintenance management. The curriculum is directed at improving the attendee’s professional maintenance management practices.

Year 2 — Acquire a broader knowledge of maintenance management and further develop students’ specific skills for effective operations.

Year One Session Topics Year Two Session Topics 
Planning and Organizing the Maintenance ProgramDevelopment of a Maintenance Plan
Financial ManagementPublic Image and Customer Service
Management of ChangeTechnology and Computer Applications
CommunicationContract Management
Employee EvaluationCareer Development
Employee Motivation and EthicsVisitor and Employee Safety and Risk Management
Supervisor as TrainerIntegrated Pest Management
Leadership and SupervisionMaintenance of Trees and Shrubs
Inclusion MattersWildlife Management
Developing a Culture of InnovationManagement of Special Use Facilities
Time ManagementTrails and Greenways
Legal LiabilityDesign of Signs and Sign Maintenance
Turf Care and MaintenancePreventive Maintenance of Vehicles and Equipment
Environmental MaintenanceEmergency Management
Site SecurityCourt and Athletic Field Maintenance
Facility Design and Maintenance
Program and Facility Accessibility

Leadership Development Graduate Program

The Leadership Development Graduate Program is an intensive 4.5-day experience designed for graduates of Park and Recreation Maintenance Management School who are interested in further developing their leadership and relationship skills to be able to meet the challenges that face them today.

The Leadership Development Graduate Program will run in conjunction with the 2022 Park and Recreation Maintenance Management School.

What do graduates say?

The Maintenance Management School brings together parks and recreation leaders from around the country, providing a unique opportunity to diversify your professional knowledge and relationships. I look forward to attending the second year.” — Glen Poole, Colorado

The networking opportunities were awesome. I came in with just my agency way of doing things and left with 65+ other ideas and suggestions. Great school!” — Shaniqua Simmons, Florida

Great to meet other people in the same field with some of the same issues that I see. Awesome to see us put our minds together as one and overcome the challenges that we are facing now and the ones in the future.” — Anthony McLamb, North Carolina