Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who contributed to the advancement of parks and recreation

Ashburn, Va. (October 25, 2016) — The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), a network of more than 52,000 park and recreation professionals and advocates, inducted Stewart G. Case, a Fort Collins, Colo. native, into the Robert W. Crawford Hall of Fame during the 2016 NRPA Annual Conference in St. Louis.

Established in 1987, the Robert W. Crawford Hall of Fame recognizes individual pioneers and leaders who have made extraordinary and lasting contributions to the advancement of parks and recreation in the U.S., as well as to the mission of NRPA. It is a posthumous honor that may be presented no earlier than five years following the death of inductees, in order to assure their contributions have had a long-term impact. Case joined a list of more than 40 people to have received the honor since 1987.

Case was a member of the American Recreation Society (ARS), one of the five organizations that merged to become NRPA. He was influential in decisions made to form NRPA, serving on the NRPA Board of Trustees and Board of Governors and as the first president of NRPA's American Park and Recreation Society branch.

Influential in passing a Colorado legislative bill to establish recreation districts, Case encouraged state leaders to form a Recreation Advisory Board to discuss ways to preserve and protect natural resources. His efforts were instrumental in culminating the formation of the state’s Division of Parks and Wildlife.  Case was also a founding member of the Colorado Parks and Recreation society (now CPRA), instituting Tourist Hospitality Schools, a precursor to the state tourism bureau.   

Case spent his career as a Recreation and Community Development Specialist through the Colorado State University Extension Service. His primary responsibility was to inspire, support and educate community leaders to understand the value of recreation and parks and to help them find ways to provide recreational opportunities and facilities for their residents. Case served on various national boards, received numerous awards and wrote countless articles and books.

For additional information about the Robert W. Crawford Hall of Fame, visit www.nrpa.org/halloffame/.

To learn more about NRPA, visit www.nrpa.org. 

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About The National Recreation and Park Association

The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people. Through its network of more than 52,000 recreation and park professionals and citizens, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable access to parks and public space. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.