The PA Recreation and Park Society is now accepting nominations for its 2020 Achievement Awards recognizing agencies, boards, commissions and individuals for park and recreation programs and initiatives.  The deadline for nominations is January 17.

The Recognition & Awards Program is open to PRPS member and non-member individuals, agencies, companies, organizations, and universities.

The Awards include--

-- Outstanding Achievement Award in Honor of Fred Coombs: This is the highest award presented by PRPS.  Candidates are current or retired PRPS professional members, with a minimum of 10 years compensated experience, whose efforts have had lasting value and impact as well as served to increase awareness of the importance of the parks and recreation profession. Service in the following areas is considered:  Speeches, Writing, Research, Professional Development; Community Involvement.

Dr. Fred Coombs was a distinguished professor in the Parks and Recreation Department at Penn State University for over 30 years.  He was instrumental in establishing community recreation programs throughout the Commonwealth as well as a founding member of PRPS, serving as the Executive Secretary for the Society until a full-time Executive Director was hired in 1977.

-- PRPS Distinguished Member Award in Honor of Robert D. Griffith: Candidates are current professional members, with a minimum of 10 years compensated experience, who have consistently contributed to the advancement of the Society, affiliated organizations or the profession in a variety of ways.

Robert Griffith was the first full-time Executive Director of PRPS.  He served the Society in that position from 1977 until his retirement in 2011.  During his tenure as Executive Director, Bob saw PRPS grow to become not only a professional organization for those employed in the various fields of parks and recreation, but also a champion for parks, trails, greenways and open space preservation in the Commonwealth.

-- Outstanding New Professional Award: This award is given to outstanding individuals with less than 11 years of full-time, compensated experience in the Parks and Recreation profession.  Candidates must be current professional members who have contributed to the advancement of the Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society (PRPS), affiliated organizations of PRPS, service to the candidate’s employing agency and or community.  Past winners of this award demonstrated strong leadership skills, innovative approaches, good strategic planning ability, and a proven record of building and sustaining partnerships that benefited their community.

-- Agency of the Year Award: The PRPS Agency of the Year Award inspires and recognizes exemplary accomplishments in positioning parks and recreation as an essential public service with meaningful community impact. The winning agency provides a fresh perspective on significant parks and recreation issues, shows innovation and collaboration, and has demonstrated a high level of resourcefulness over the previous five years.  The winning agency is required to have at least one member of PRPS in order to qualify for this award and must have demonstrated the achievements, benefits and outcomes in providing public park and recreation services in the past five years.

-- Community Champion Award: This award is to recognize individuals, groups, or partner organizations who have made an outstanding contribution through their commitment to a parks and recreation related program, event, or initiative, and have stimulated local, regional, state or national interest in parks and recreation goals and objectives.  PRPS membership is not required.

-- Green Parks Award: These awards seek to recognize excellence in both active and passive public parks that demonstrate integration of green and sustainable park practices. Criteria includes location, design, landscaping, maintenance, environmental stewardship, and other contributing factors.  PRPS membership (of sponsoring agency or person from agency submitting for the award) is required.  A specific form is to be used for this nomination.

-- Excellence in Recreation and Parks: Recipients of these awards must demonstrate outstanding quality; innovation; range and value of appeal; community support; efficient use of funding, human and material resources in development, delivery and use of programs, special events, publications and promotions.

Click Here for all the details and past winners.  Questions should be directed to Barry Bessler, CPRP, Recognition and Awards Committee Chairperson, at 215-683-0203 or send email to: barry.bessler@phila.gov.

For more information on programs, initiatives, upcoming events and training opportunities, visit the PA Recreation and Park Society website.  Like them on Facebook,  Follow them on Twitter, visit their YouTube Channel, and find them on Instagram.  Click Here to support their work.

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[Posted: December 4, 2019]

12/9/2019