During the 2016 NRPA Annual Conference, the following park and recreation professionals and agencies were formally recognized with awards for their outstanding work, which elevates our entire field:
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
David Nigel, City of San Bruno Parks and Recreation
Robert W. Crawford Young Professional
Tiffany M. Johnson, Seattle Parks and Recreation
Excellence in Inclusion Award
Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation, Carmel, Indiana
Excellence in Innovative Programming
City of Tampa Parks and Recreation Department, Florida
Facility or Park Design
Bend Park and Recreation District, Oregon
Barb King Environmental Stewardship
Fairfax County Park Authority, Virginia
RWJF-NRPA Award for Health Equity
Steven Elliott Marcus
Kudos Marketing
County of San Diego, California
National Distinguished Professional Award
Carolyn F. McKnight, East Baton Rouge Recreation and Park Administration, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
National Partnership
CityArchRiver Alliance, St. Louis, Missouri
Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt Award for Excellence in Recreation and Park Research
Kristi M. Fondren Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia
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:
Deb Smith, Executive Director
Maine Recreation and Park Association
Tracy Willette, Director
Bangor Parks and Recreation
Journal of Leisure Research Best Paper Award
The 2015 Journal of Leisure Research Best Paper award goes to Jinhee Jun, Hallym University, South Korea, and Gerard Kyle, Texas A&M, for “An Alternate Conceptualization of the Leisure Constraints Measurement Model: Formative Structure?” This paper was selected by a sub-group of associate editors and the editor for its combined theoretical and methodological strength.
Robert W. Crawford Hall of Fame
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 United States, as well as to the mission of NRPA. Following is the 2016 inductee:
Stewart G. Case
Colorado State University Extension Service
Gold Medal Awards
Recipients of the 2016 Gold Medal Award Grand Plaque have demonstrated excellence in parks and recreation through long-range planning, resource management, volunteerism, environmental stewardship, programming and professional development, and innovation. The agencies receiving this honor include:
Class I (pop. 400,001 and over):
Cleveland Metroparks, Cleveland, Ohio
Class II (pop. 150,001 – 400,000):
Town of Cary Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources, North Carolina
Class III (pop. 75,001 – 150,000):
City of Allen Parks and Recreation Department, Texas
Class IV (pop. 30,001 – 75,000):
Willamalane Park and Recreation District, Oregon
Class V (pop. 30,000 or fewer):
Frankfort Square Park District, Illinois
Armed Forces Recreation:
U.S. Coast Guard Base Kodiak Morale, Well-Being and Recreation Division, Alaska
Pugsley Awards
The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration announced two winners of its Honorable Cornelius Amory Pugsley Medals, which recognize lasting and outstanding contributions to the advancement of public parks, recreation and conservation in the United States. The 2016 winners are Richard L. Ash, Jr., and John Sutter.