Awards Committee

The purpose of the Awards Committee is to recognize individuals, agencies, organizations, or institutions for their excellent, outstanding, or unique accomplishments in recreation, parks, leisure services, conservation of the environment, and the Minnesota Recreation and Park Association.

Awards Committee Co-Chair
Alyssa Fram
Plymouth Parks and Recreation
763.509.5225
afram@plymouthmn.gov

Awards Committee Co-Chair
JJ Williams
Washington County Parks and Recreation
651.430.8245
jj.williams@co.washington.mn.us

Professional Awards

MRPA will celebrate the professional awards recipients for 2020 and their outstanding accomplishments during the professional awards ceremony. The deadline to nominate someone for a MRPA professional award is in November.  The awards committee will follow up with recipients in December.  MRPA is moving this years' awards luncheon to be held in conjunction with the MRPA Annual Conference in October, 2021 in hopes of an in-person gathering. The Annual General Meeting was held virtually on January 8, 2021. 

Click here to learn more about the award categories.

Professional Award Winners 2020

MRPA will honor the following outstanding parks and recreation professionals at the MRPA Professional Awards Ceremony at the Annual Conference:   

CLIFTON E. FRENCH AWARD
Sandy Breuer, Washington County

JACK NILES AWARD
Nate Rosa, St. Louis Park

DOROTHEA NELSON AWARD
Nicole Gorman, Edina

HORIZON AWARD
Chris Fleck, Eagan
JJ Williams, Washington County  

TOMMY JOHNSON AWARD
Saint Paul Parks and Recreation  

LEADERSHIP AWARD
Dale McCamish, Rochester 

Congratulations to the 2020 MRPA Professional Award recipients!

Nomination Procedure:

Nominating an individual for and MRPA Professional Award, Board and Commission and Special Award is an easy process. MRPA professional members who are nominated will receive a professional profile form to complete that will provide more information about their professional experience and MRPA involvement. The MRPA Professional Award recipients are honored during the Annual General Meeting and Awards Luncheon.

Awards of Excellence

Each year MRPA recognizes agencies or organizations in Minnesota for outstanding achievements in the following "Award of Excellence" categories:

• administrative or management strategies
• marketing and communications
• park and facility
• programming and events
• sponsorship and partnerships
• volunteer initiatives

The Awards of Excellence are presented by Minnesota Recreation and Park Association, and proudly sponsored by Hiway Credit Union.

A major goal of the Awards of Excellence program is to increase public awareness and appreciation of the excellent parks, trails, and recreation services available in Minnesota. Public presentations of the awards are made before the agencies’ governing bodies throughout the summer season. These projects will also be highlighted in the fall issue of the MRPA member magazine. The deadline is in February of the following year. The next awards cycle is currently underway for projects completed in 2020. The awards committee will score and select agencies and follow up with recipients in the spring.

Awards of Excellence for Projects Completed in 2019

Administrative or Management Strategies:
• Hutchinson Parks, Recreation and Community Education - Master Plan
• Roseville Parks and Recreation - Cedarholm Programs & Events Transformation
• Saint Paul Parks and Recreation – Equity Matters Program
• Saint Paul Parks and Recreation / Como Park Zoo & Conservatory – ROADMAP Initiative
• Three Rivers Park District – Recreation Pass Plus Program

Marketing & Communications:
• City of Eden Prairie – Print and Digital Marketing Redesign
• City of Elk River Parks and Recreation - Active Elk River Initiative
• Plymouth Parks and Recreation - Park Building & Shelter Virtual Tour
• Washington County - Multi-Lingual Communication in Parks

Park and Facility:
• City of Coon Rapids – Riverwind Park Renovation Project
• City of Elk River Parks and Recreation - Rivers Edge Commons Park Expansion
• City of Little Canada - Spooner Park All-Inclusive Playground
• City of Maple Grove, Parks and Recreation - Fernbrook Fields
• City of Winona Park & Recreation – Winona Ice Park
• Saint Paul Parks and Recreation - Frogtown Community Center

Programming and Events:
• City of Crystal - African Drum & Dance Jamboree
• City of Minnetonka – Recreation Services - Burwell Spooktacular
• City of New Hope - New Year's Eve Movie at the Arena
• Three Rivers Park District - e-cology: The Evolution of Technology

Sponsorships and Partnerships:
• City of Brooklyn Center - Brooklyn Center - Cummins Partnership
• City of Eagan Parks and Recreation - Mobile Lunchbox
• City of Lakeville Parks and Recreation Department - King Park Mini Golf Course
• City of New Hope - Urban Orchard at Little Acre Park
• City of New Brighton - The Beautiful Project - Tree of Life Mural
• Hutchinson Parks, Recreation and Community Education - Elks Inclusive Playground Project
• Saint Paul Parks and Recreation - Sanneh Foundation
• Washington County – Life Jacket Loaner Stations

Volunteer Initiatives:
• Saint Paul Parks and Recreation - Deep Clean Volunteer Events

Awards of Excellence for Projects Completed in 2018 - Read More

Awards of Excellence for Projects Completed in 2017 - Read More

Awards of Excellence for Projects Completed in 2016 - Read More

Awards of Excellence for Projects Completed in 2015 - Read More