February 2018 - Parks & Recreation - 58

NRPA Update
It's Your Time to Shine
Apply for or nominate someone for an NRPA Award

he NRPA awards program consists of the National Gold Medal Award (presented by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration
in partnership with NRPA) and the NRPA Awards, which include the Innovation Awards, Spotlight Awards, scholarships and fellowships, and the
Robert W. Crawford Hall of Fame. This program highlights the efforts of those who
go above and beyond to make a difference in the community. It honors the most innovative and creative programs and initiatives in parks and recreation and the best and
brightest in our field.

Is your agency innovative in problem-solving and addressing their community's needs? Do you have a program
or project that is a shining example of
NRPA's Three Pillars: Conservation,
Health and Wellness, and Social Equity?
Or do you know someone who excels in
our profession or is an amazing advocate
for what you do? Then you should participate in the NRPA awards program!
New this year are the NRPA Innovation Awards (formally known as the
Agency Awards). They continue to focus
on the innovative programs and projects
our agencies have accomplished, but with
one slight twist. The four awardees from
the four categories: Conservation, Health
and Wellness, Social Equity and Park
Design will be placed into a final round
where the Best in Innovation Award winner will be decided by the membership
and public. The Best in Innovation Award
winner will be announced at the 2018 annual conference.
" We are extremely excited to offer this
new awards program, which recognizes
the most innovative agencies in our field.
If your agency is taking an innovative approach to any of the challenges we face as a
profession, I encourage you to apply, as this
is your time to shine, " says Cindi Wright,
chair of the NRPA Awards Committee.
The NRPA Innovation Awards include:
* Innovation in Health Award, which
recognizes a park and recreation agen56

Parks & Recreation

cy leading an innovative project that
fosters a culture of health in their community.
* Innovation in Conservation Award,
which recognizes a park and recreation agency leading an innovative
project that creates localized solutions
for addressing global or regional environmental challenges.
* Innovation in Social Equity Award,
which recognizes a park and recreation
agency leading an innovative project that
improves access to the benefits of local
parks and recreation for everyone in the
community, no matter the color of their
skin, age, income level or ability.
* Innovation in Park Design Award,
which recognizes a park and recreation agency that manages a unique
park or facility that embraces innovative technology, strategies or programs
to improve their community.
There are the NRPA Spotlight
Awards, which honor an individual's
efforts - both professional and personal
- in the field of parks and recreation.
Award winners include park and recreation professionals, volunteers, engaged
community members and park advocates. There are five individual awards
that are presented annually. Don't miss
a chance to be recognized or to honor
someone who embodies the best in parks
and recreation.
The National Gold Medal Award

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Cindi Wright, chair, NRPA Awards Committee

honors communities nationwide that
demonstrate excellence in long-range
planning, resource management and innovative approaches to delivering superb
park and recreation services with fiscally
sound business practices.
The National Gold Medal Award program includes seven classes: five classes
based on population, one class for armed
forces recreation and one class for state
park systems which is presented in oddnumbered years. At the beginning of
each calendar year, agencies are invited
to submit applications for consideration,
with a deadline of mid-March. Finalists are announced at the end of April,
and the Grand Award recipients are announced at the NRPA Annual Conference in the fall.
To learn more about each award,
scholarship and/or fellowship, visit
www.nrpa.org/awards.
Applications for all the NRPA awards
programs and scholarship and fellowships are open now through March 23.
Visit www.nrpa.org/awards to apply today.

February 2018 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of February 2018 - Parks & Recreation