What challenges are rec professionals still facing today? We asked hundreds at the NRPA Annual Conference.

At this year’s NRPA Annual Conference in Orlando, we asked a simple question to hundreds of parks and recreation professionals while they stopped by the Amilia booth:

👉 What challenges are you still facing today that software should be solving?

To make it fun and interactive, we invited participants to “vote” by dropping ping pong balls into one of five tubes — each representing a common challenge rec professionals struggle with:

• Empty spots in programs
• Hard to pull insights
• Tech that slows down
• Signups not simple for all
• Providers stuck in the past 

The Results Are In

The clear winner? “Signups not simple for all.”

Coming in second was “Hard to pull insights.” And rounding out the top three was “Providers stuck in the past.”

What’s interesting is that nearly all the respondents were already using a recreation management software (CivicRec, ActiveNet, or RecTrac were the most common). Yet the challenges they flagged show that the software they rely on is leaving big gaps.

Let’s take a closer look at the top three pain points. 

1. Signups Still Aren’t Simple for Everyone

The number one frustration we heard was around online registration. Here’s what professionals told us most often:

• Too many steps. Creating an account and registering for a program is clunky, confusing, and time-consuming. Many residents give up, call the rec center, or show up in person just to get registered.
• Not accessible or inclusive. Digital accessibility isn’t a “nice to have.” Yet many systems ignore it. Seniors, less tech-savvy residents, and individuals with disabilities are often excluded from what should be a simple, welcoming digital experience.

In other words, online signups aren’t working for the very people these organizations want to serve. And that’s not just frustrating — it directly impacts participation and engagement. 

2. Pulling Insights Feels Impossible

The second major challenge was around reporting and data.

Recreation professionals told us:

• Reports are hard to access. Even though the data exists, getting to it requires multiple manual steps.
• Automated insights are rare. Building meaningful reports often means exporting spreadsheets and piecing things together manually — costing staff hours or even days.
• Decision-making suffers. Without easy, automated reports and actionable insights, professionals feel “blind” and unable to make confident, data-driven choices.

This lack of visibility not only slows down operations but also makes it harder to demonstrate the impact of recreation programs to stakeholders. 

3. Providers Stuck in the Past

The third most common frustration pointed to the software providers themselves. Many attendees felt their current vendors are not keeping pace with the needs of today’s rec professionals or their residents. Outdated designs, limited automation, and a lack of innovation leave staff struggling with tools that look — and feel — like they haven’t been updated in years. 

Why This Matters

Parks and recreation professionals are on the frontlines of building healthier, more connected communities. They deserve technology that empowers them — not tools that create barriers for staff and residents alike.

At Amilia, we believe signups should be seamless, digital experiences should be inclusive, and insights should be accessible in just a few clicks. The results of this simple NRPA booth activity confirm what we hear every day: rec professionals need modern, innovative solutions that truly work for their communities. 

Ready to See the Difference?

What if signing up for a program was as easy as buying a book? What if pulling actionable insights took minutes instead of days? That’s the kind of simplicity, inclusivity, and innovation we’re building at Amilia.

👉 Request a demo today and experience firsthand how Amilia can help parks and recreation professionals remove barriers, unlock insights, and create digital experiences that truly serve their communities.