The 2015 NRPA Annual Conference was an excellent venue to formally recognize the outstanding park and recreation professionals whose work elevates our entire field. Here, find a brief recap of the 2015 award recipients.
National Awards
NRPA’s National Awards recognize the people and programs that best highlight the phenomenal work being done in our field.
Robert M. Artz Citizen Advocacy
Dave Anderson, City of Elk River, Minnesota
Robert W. Crawford Young Professional
Atuya O. Cornwell, The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Greenbelt, Maryland
Excellence in Inclusion Award
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
Excellence in Innovative Programming
Frederick County Parks and Recreation, Maryland
Facility or Park Design
City of Tallahassee Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs Department, Florida
Barb King Environmental Stewardship
Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation, Indiana
Kudos Marketing
Milwaukee Recreation and Community Services, Wisconsin
National Distinguished Professional Award
Christopher M. Nunes, Ph.D., CPRE, The Woodlands Township, Texas
National Partnership
City of Atlanta Parks and Recreation, Georgia
Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt Award for Excellence in Recreation and Park Research
Daniel R. Williams, USDA Forest Service, Ft. Collins, Colorado
Park Champions of the Year
The Park Champion of the Year Award is given to the NRPA member who advocated for parks and recreation and organized or facilitated an event showcasing his or her agency to a member of Congress and/or that member’s staff. Following are this year’s recipients:
Adriane Johnson - Buffalo Grove, Illinois
Ryan Risinger - Buffalo Grove, Illinois
Park of the Future
The Illinois State University student group’s winning park design incorporated NRPA’s Three Pillars by addressing universal access, stormwater management and opportunities for health and recreation. Winning team members included Dylan Broombaugh, Haley Bess, Spencer Freed, Alexis Yakich and Dr. Tracy Mainieri.
Robert W. Crawford Hall of Fame
Leaders inducted into the Robert W. Crawford Recreation and Park Hall of Fame have made lasting contributions to the advancement of recreation and parks. Following are the 2015 inductees:
Richard A. Tapply, New Hampshire State Office of Community Recreation Services
Allen V. Sapora, University of Illinois
Gold Medal Awards
Park and recreation agencies recognized as Gold Medal winners have demonstrated their excellence in planning, management, programming and innovation. The 2015 Gold Medal Award Grand Plaque recipients include:
Class I (pop. 400,001 and over): Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Greenbelt, Maryland
Class II (pop. 150,001 – 400,000): Plano Parks and Recreation, Plano, Texas
Class III (pop. 75,001 – 150,000): City of St. George Leisure Services Department, St. George, Utah
Class IV (pop. 30,001 – 75,000): Park District of Oak Park, Oak Park, Illinois
Class V (pop. 30,000 or fewer): Oak Brook Park District, Oak Brook, Illinois
State Parks: Delaware State Parks
Armed Forces Recreation: Marine Corps Community Services, Marine Corps Installations West – Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, California
Pugsley Awards
The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration announced three winners of its Honorable Cornelius Amory Pugsley Medals, which recognize lasting and outstanding contributions to the advancement of public parks in the United States. The 2015 winners include Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), John C. Potts and Dr. M. Kathleen Perales.