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2021 CPRA Awards
2021
CPRA AWARDS
The Colorado Parks & Recreation Association Awards Program is designed to recognize and celebrate the individuals and organizations that contribute to the success and value of parks and recreation in the state of Colorado. Designed to bring attention to its recipients, the awards program highlights the successes of association members and community champions. The sharing of new and creative programs is an additional benefit of involvement in the awards program. Excellence in parks and recreation is visible in many places. We encourage you to take notice of the parks and recreation programs, professionals and community champions that deserve recognition by nominating them for an award! The next award nomination deadline is July 15, 2022. Information can be found on the CPRA website under the Resources tab.
Section Awards
AAPS: Zach Roth City of Commerce City
PARKS:
Kyle Sylvester City of Brighton
AQUATICS:
Phil Henry City of Boulder
CARA: Amanda Aburt City of Brighton
PLAaY:
Julie Adkins (third from left) City of Golden
CARA LEGACY:
Reed Davis City of Aurora
TRSC: Sarah Braun City of Colorado Springs
Zach Venn, City of Commerce City and Beth June, City of Wheat Ridge
Errin Koon Town of Parker CPRA Staff – Rachel Hungerbuhler, Ashley Perillo, and Allison Kincaid, Jillian Strogis (not pictured)
A President’s Award was also given to Ireland Stapleton Pryor & Pascoe, PC (not pictured).
Columbine Awards
Divided into three subcategories, Columbine awards are designed to highlight best practices and creative ideas in: • Design - may include new or renovated park and recreation facility design projects • Innovation - may include marketing ideas, technology advances, communication, ‘green’ practices, partnerships, or operations • Programming - may include any program or initiative that is create, fresh, and new
COLUMBINE AWARD – DESIGN, NEW FACILITY: City of Northglenn Recreation Center, Senior Center, and Theatre
The City of Northglenn identified a need to either renovate or replace our aging recreation center over 20 years ago. Due to financial constraints, as well as other concerns from the community, many years went by. During this time there were several failed ballot initiatives, lots of deferred maintenance, and mandated renovations to address fire and building code violations. As time passed, more young families moved into the community - many of whom were not familiar with the past failed efforts to build a new recreation center. These residents – and our appointed and elected officials – began to ask why they didn’t have the modern recreation facilities that our neighboring communities are able to offer. As the economy continued to New Northglenn Recreation Center, Senior Center, and Theatre
Northglenn staff (l to r): Justin Perdue, Amanda Peterson, and Michael Stricker
improve, local businesses grew and thrived - all contributing to greater financial stability for the city. With this shift, plans for a new recreation center, senior center and theatre became a reality. Bike Park adds another key component to that designation. The city took on a tremendous effort to develop a master plan for the entire civic campus, including the existing recreation center, city hall and the surrounding property. With significant public input, the city took a risk to look at the property in a whole new way. During this process it became clear that there was a desire for a new recreation center, senior center and theatre to be included in the redevelopment of the civic campus. facility features the same colors, but in more subtle hues.
COLUMBINE AWARD – DESIGN, NEW PARK: Thornton Archery Range
In a city of 145,000 residents, during a pandemic shutdown, you would not think four young girls could come up with an idea to build an ADA accessible archery range, navigate through the bureaucracy associated with a city of that size, and then see their idea come to fruition in just six months. You’d be wrong though. Last summer, four young members of Girls Scout Troop #62511, Abigail Boehmler, Eden Lucas-Eraquam, Samantha Gemaehlich, and Aleaha Schauppner decided for their Silver Award Project, they would like to see an archery range built in Thornton that would be free of charge for the public to use and would be accessible to all regardless of their abilities. They first contacted Thornton City Council member Adam Matkowsky with the idea and said they were willing to solicit lumber donations and build twelve target holders and six bow stands for the project. Councilmember Matkowsky asked Parks, Recreation & Community Programs Director, Seve Ghose to look into this to see if it was possible. Mr. Ghose loved the idea and assembled a team of staff from the department and the project was off and running in August 2020.
Recreation Center Senior Center Theatre
Specializing in Recreational and Municipal Construction
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Colorado • Wyoming • Arizona • North Dakota
Thornton Archery Range Thornton staff (l to r): Rod Salazar, Mike Coulter, and Becky Post
Thompson River’s TRPR Playbook
The first step was deciding how many lanes to construct and what type of target holders and bow stands would be used. The girl scout troop did research both online and by visiting other ranges and came up with the recommendation to build six lanes with two targets each. Distances would be 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, and 100 meters. One target would be at 70 meters as that is the official Olympic distance for the longbow competition. Parks staff then selected a site at Spratt Lake (100th and McKay) and began grading a large plot. A priority from the start was to make the range welcoming to archers from the disabled community, so staff from the Streets Department brought in roto-millings (recycled, ground-up asphalt) to help make a suitable surface for wheelchairs. The girls secured lumber donations from Alpine Lumber and got to work building the frames that would hold the archery targets and the stands that would hold the bows when archers are retrieving their arrows. They also researched rules for the range and a sign was ordered. Parks and Recreation staff plotted out exactly where the targets and firing line markers would be and secured these into the ground. The targets were ordered and placed in the hangers and the range was ready for business by December. Future plans for the site include a pavilion, trees, split rail fence, and picnic benches. For their efforts, the girl scouts and their parents were selected as the Thornton Parks, Recreation & Community Programs 2020 Volunteer Team of the Year. The city staff from parks, recreation, streets, and the water resources divisions were also honored as the Thornton Parks, Recreation & Community Programs 2020 Team of the Year. The project was a great example of members of the local community working together with staff from multiple divisions within the city to produce a great amenity open for all to use.
COLUMBINE AWARD – INNOVATION: TRPR Playbook, Thompson Rivers Parks and Recreation District
COVID exposed cracks in the way institutional knowledge was shared in our organization. Processes that may be second nature to some team members are out of this world concepts for others. Do you know how to reset a tripped breaker? Probably. Do most 20-year-old facility attendants? Probably not. Situations that could be quickly resolved by popping your head in a teammate’s office became more difficult when many team members were working from home. We realized we needed an efficient way to share all district knowledge, from the trivial to our big picture plans. No one wants to read a boring paper employee handbook. We wanted to create a fun and interactive way for our employees to have all the information about TRPR at their fingertips. We have created “How To” videos on operational procedures throughout our facilities (now even toddlers can reset breakers). Staff can easily access these videos on the TRPR playbook website, or through QR codes we have placed at the appropriate locations. Have a question on vacation time or health insurance, the playbook has you
Thompson Rivers staff: Katie Rummel and Clint Dudley
covered. Want to know who to call when the pool pump goes down or an umpire doesn’t show up? Yep, that’s in there too. All written District policies and operational contacts are in the playbook. How did you inform, engage and communicate with partners, stakeholders staff, or policy makers about this project? Describe any use of non-traditional fiscal or community resources, i.e. grants, sponsorships, foundations, volunteers, etc. In May of 2021 the district held an all-employee shin dig with food and swag. District admin presented the new playbook, walked staff through how to use it and explained it’s significance and roll in the growth of staff as well as the positive effect it will have on our guests. The playbook is set as the homepage on all shared computers and time is set aside at in-services and staff meetings to discuss its use and input on updates. While the playbook was useful from day one its importance and content has grown significantly as staff uses it and provided feedback. Our board of directors provided insight on content and implementation during the development stages and attended the employee training. The boards presence really drove home the importance of the playbook to the staff.
COLUMBINE AWARD – PROGRAMMING: Pride Night at Cecrest Apex Park and Recreation
Pride Night is exclusive to teens in the LGBTQ+ community. The event provides a space for teens to feel supported and safe while having access to a variety of recreation and social activities. Since the opening of the Secrest Recreation Center, one of the primary purposes of the facility has been to activate the Teen Center and find creative ways to engage this hard-toreach demographic. With this goal in mind, staff created Teen Take Over – a monthly special event that provides recreational opportunities for teens ages 11-17. While the Teen Take Overs had been successful, staff was still receiving feedback from the community that we were not quite engaging teens entirely. Most notably, teens in the LBGTQ+ community still did not feel there was a space for them to feel welcomed and safe. Our Youth/Teen Coordinator was contacted by a former Day Camp parent who shared that her teenager was in the process of transitioning. The parent expressed concerns that there were not many resources in Arvada or neighboring communities for her teen to participate in recreational opportunities; noting that the closest resource was over an hour away. Recognizing that her teen probably wasn’t the only one facing similar barriers, staff connected with One Colorado, the state’s leading advocacy organization for LBGTQ Coloradans and their families to address bullying in Colorado schools based on a student’s actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity as well as several LBGTQ alliances within the Jefferson County School District. After many meetings, roundtables, and trainings, the first Pride Night at the Secrest Recreation Center was launched.
Apex staff (l to r): Hillary Roemersberger, Melinda Roy, Dana Bammerlin, Vee Duran, Julie Hines, Michelle Stout, Jaclynn Alvarez, Laina Doyle, and Tehra Porterfield
Michelle Stout
Professional Service Awards
Professional Service Awards are for CPRA professional members only. The Fellow and Outstanding New Professional awards honor individuals who exemplify leadership, inspiration, and noteworthly constributions to the profession.
OUTSTANDING NEW PROFESSIONAL: Michelle Stout, Apex Park and Recreation District
Michelle first began her career in Parks and Recreation as a Fitness and Active Adult Coordinator for Eaton Park and Recreation Department, and it did not take long for her to make an impact. From formulating procedures for a new recreation center, to implementing new programs, services, and special events, Michelle greeted the position with a positive attitude and great enthusiasm. In 2019 Michelle was offered a position with Apex Park and Recreation District where she immediately made a splash. Under her leadership, fitness programs including personal training and aqua fitness thrived. She also created several new special event opportunities and has helped grow senior fitness programming despite our Community Recreation Center being closed throughout COVID. Michelle is a leader among her colleagues and peers. She has served on various committees within Apex including our Team Culture Committee and serves in various leadership roles within CPRA including Chairing the Fitness Section as well as serving as the Secretary/Treasurer of AAPS. Michelle regularly facilitates team bonding activities with her staff and colleagues and leads her team with passion and enthusiasm. If someone in another division needs support, she’s one of the first to offer assistance and she always takes the time to develop her new staff offering guidance and constant communication and check-ins.
Peggy Boccard
FELLOW: Peggy Boccard, Retired Recreation Manager
Peggy has contributed to various projects, partnerships, and development of professionals in the state. As a Colorado native she has knowledge and appreciation of the benefits and healthy lifestyle parks, and recreation provides. She has assisted with the design, renovation and opening of facilities such as the Ridge Recreation Center, Carmody Playground, Clements Community Center and Glennon Heights Pool just to name a few. She has utilized her strategic and empathic approach to secure partnerships resulting in productive and positive outcomes for both public and private agencies as well as the community and staff. Kate Cooke
Community Champion
The Parks and Recreation Community Champion award recognizes an individual or organization within a community who is a true parks and recreation champion.
Kate has been the Executive Director of Localworks for about two years, but l td really like to recognize the entire organization and their collaborative spirite The organization consists of three employees (and many volunteers): Kate Cooke, Carolyn Doran & Jenny Snell. The City of Wheat Ridge is incredibly lucky to have Localworks in our community, making such a positive impact each and every day, I truly don’t know how they do it all with just three employees, but Kate, Jenny & Carolyn are some of the most amazing, motivated, community-focused women you’ll ever meet! What I’ve mentioned in the application is just a portion of the phenomenal work they do. It is so refreshing to work with a team who is always willing to find a way to say “yes” if it means that the community will be just a little bit better. Localworks is our Community Champion!
