Fully 11 members of Baltimore’s Recreation and Parks Department are headed to a conference sponsored by the National Recreation and Parks Association, a group that does not include Baltimore as a member.

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, City Council President Bernard C. “Jack” Young and the rest of the Board of Estimates today approved nearly $17,000 in general funds for air fare, lodging and meals for the week-long (October 3-8) event in St. Louis.

The number of staff requesting city funds to travel to the same conference is the most since the RECon convention attracted elected and economic development officials to Las Vegas in May.

Going in force to the parks conference began three years ago when Ernest W. Burkeen Jr. was appointed director of the department.

A Florida transplant, Burkeen was keen on winning accreditation from the NRPA, which requires rigorous professional training for staff and an annual financial audit of the agency. (The Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks is the only accredited NRPA member in the region.)

Although Burkeen returned to Florida last April, the tradition continues under acting director William Vondrasek.

According to this year’s program, the St. Louis conference will include training and accreditation courses for attendees as well as a golf tournament, 5K fun run/walk, networking events and sunrise yoga.