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Unleashing Energy and Inspiration with BarkPass at the 2025 NRPA Conference Orlando
- Brian Hatfield
- Sep 22, 2025
- 2 min read
I’m back from the 2025 NRPA Annual Conference in Orlando, and what a week it was. While this Phoenix desert dweller had a brief battle with Florida’s famous 90% humidity, the inspiration and energy from the conference floor more than made up for it.
The conference kicked off with a truly incredible keynote from the one and only Amy Purdy. Her story is nothing short of amazing. A few highlights of her remarkable life include being a world-class athlete, a Paralympic bronze medalist, founder of Adaptive Action Sports, and a competitor on Dancing with the Stars. She lit up the room and gave me a personal reminder that there's no excuse not to prioritize health and fitness. What a way to start the week.
A huge highlight was connecting with some of our clients. We loved meeting face-to-face with our friends from the City of Waukee, IA and the City of Ankeny, IA. Hearing how happy they are with their BarkPass solution was the best kind of validation. The good news is we won’t have to wait long to see them again. We're looking forward to being in Iowa soon to attend the Iowa Parks and Recreation Association's Fall Workshop / Maintenance Rodeo.
At the conference itself, the reception to our dog park management solution was fantastic. We had so many insightful conversations with communities interested in how BarkPass can help them manage their parks more efficiently. It's clear communities are looking for a modern, mobile-first solution that truly helps their dog parks and communities prosper.
The potential partnerships we explored are highly interesting and we’ll continue to vet our partners to bring you the best resources in the space. We're talking with some innovative companies, including:
A DNA waste management company focused on reducing unscooped pet waste (a problem every dog park manager knows all too well!)
A company with a product that accurately counts visitors in and out of dog parks, providing valuable data for planning and management.
Professional dog washing station providers: a potential valuable amenity to dog parks.
Dog Park equipment companies
These collaborations are key to our vision of creating a comprehensive ecosystem that helps communities thrive.
Outside of the conference, we had the opportunity to visit one of our membership-based dog park clients, Bark Haven. Their operation is a masterclass in hospitality. The seamless service, vibrant atmosphere, and delicious food make it a shining example of how a well-managed dog park can become a true community hub.
Overall, it was a week filled with inspiration, connection, and great conversations. I came back energized, with a renewed sense of purpose and lots of new ideas.
