Serendipity at NRPA Taking a chance on the National Recreation and Parks Association Congress for the first time and exhibiting in their home state last October, Environmental Design principals Kathy Merk and Karen Richardson experienced serendipity, reconnecting with a former client and taking home four solid project leads. According to Merk, other exhibiting Landscape Architects said they didn't necessarily expect job leads, but counted on the opportunity for the visibility with park and recreation professionals that the exposition provided. Notwithstanding, the Texas-based MKR Associates' Environmental Design division has since converted one of last year's leads to a project. In fact, the living history site -- a major element in the "Lewis and Clark Historic Trail Interpretive Center" project in the Lewis & Clark National Forest in Great Falls, Montana -- broke ground in mid-August. So, will they be going to Kansas City, MO in October 23-27? Merk says, "It was definitely worthwhile exhibiting" and that they "intend to attend" at the very least and, depending on the expenses of exhibiting out of state, "may exhibit alternate years." In either case, they find the "teamwork opportunities" exciting. Do they have any words to the wise for other Landscape Architects that might be considering the opportunity in this or future years? "Circumstances complicated follow-up, but we could have been better prepared with marketing documentation," admits Merk, who likes to "hit the ground rolling."