The National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) recently announced the new chair of the NRPA Business Council, as well as five new companies participating in their Business Council. The president and chairman of USA BMX - The American Bicycle Association, Shane Fernandez, AIA, NCARB, LEED-AP, RID, was named the new chairman of the Business Council and will serve a two-year term.

 

The companies joining the Business Council in 2026 are Dave Bang Associates, Inc., Landscape Structures Inc., Myrtha Pools, PROS Consulting, Inc., and Romtec, Inc. "I'm thrilled to welcome our newest NRPA Business Council members," said Kristine Stratton, NRPA president and CEO. "We're excited to grow council participation to 16 companies - all committed to strengthening the field of parks and recreation and our collective impact. In 2025, 227 million adults visited their local park or recreation facility, and another 50 million youth were served by this essential field, highlighting the vital importance of continued, durable investment in parks and recreation. The business community is a critical voice in the fight to ensure increased access to high-quality parks and green spaces, and all the life-enhancing benefits they bring to physical, mental and social well-being."