Minnesota Recreation and Park Association’s

By Bethani Gerhard, Minnesota Recreation and Park Association

THIS YEAR’S PROFESSIONAL AWARDS CEREMONY WAS HELD ON JANUARY 13, 2023 AT TOREY’S RESTAURANT AND EVENT CENTER IN OWATONNA, MN. MRPA RECOGNIZES MEMBERS AND AGENCIES THAT HAVE MADE OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO PARKS AND RECREATION. MRPA EXTENDS A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO LANDSCAPE STRUCTURES, INC. AND FLAGSHIP RECREATION FOR THEIR GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE AWARDS PROGRAM.

The Clifton E. French Distinguished Service Award is MRPA’s award of highest distinction. The 2022 recipient for this award was Paul Peanasky, parks and recreation director for Faribault.

The Jack Niles Award is presented to a professional member with 10-plus years of outstanding service to the parks and recreation profession and to MRPA. The 2022 recipient was Reed Smidt with Woodbury Parks and Recreation.

The Dorothea Nelson Award is presented to a professional member with 10-plus years of outstanding service to the parks and recreation profession and to MRPA. The recipient was Annie Olson with Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.

Meredith Lawrence with Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation received the Horizon

Award. This award is given to a professional member of MRPA with eight years or less of professional experience. In order to receive this award, the MRPA member must be an “up and coming” professional and an active contributor to MRPA with great leadership skills.

The Gerald B. Fitzgerald Leadership Award is presented to an outstanding leader who possesses the skill, creativity, and ability to motivate and create notable accomplishments or advancements in the parks and recreation profession and someone who is an active contributor to MRPA. Sonya Rippe with Plymouth Parks and Recreation was the 2022 recipient of this award.

The Tommy Johnson Award was presented to the City of Plymouth. The MRPA

Awards Committee selected one “Award of Excellence” project to receive this award for best exemplifying the values that Tommy Johnson was known for; innovation, futuristic, revolutionary and/or creative with ideas and initiatives that helped establish future trends, philosophical change, sharing of new resources and new exciting concepts.

The Board and Commission Award is given to a member of a citizen’s advisory or policy-making board in the parks and recreation profession. The recipient was Lynn Haney, with Crystal Parks and Recreation.

Congratulations to all MRPA professional award recipients. We look forward to the 2023 Annual General Meeting and Awards Luncheon in January of 2024.