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
Elizabeth Owens
Woodbury Parks and Recreation
651.414.3437
elizabeth.owens@woodburymn.gov

Awards Committee Co-Chair
Chelsea Swenhaugen
Inver Grove Heights Parks and Recreation
651.450.2585
cswenhaugen@ighmn.org

Professional Award Recipients 2021

MRPA will honored the following outstanding parks and recreation professionals at the MRPA Professional Awards Ceremony April 1, 2022. 

CLIFTON E. FRENCH AWARD

Tom Schmitz, New Ulm

JACK NILES AWARD

Alex McKinney, Washington County

DOROTHEA NELSON AWARD

Marcia Larson, Bemidji

Becky Sola, Shoreview

HORIZON AWARD

Jenna Smith, Bloomington

BOARD AND COMMISSION AWARD

Thomas P. Anderson, Corcoran

Professional Awards

MRPA celebrated the professional awards recipients for 2021 and their outstanding accomplishments during the professional awards ceremony. The nomination form for the 2022 recipients will be available in October 2022.

Click here to learn more about the award categories.

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.

2020 Professional Award Recipients

Left to right: JJ Williams, Chris Esser, Sandy Breuer, Jason West, Mark Oestreich, Chris Fleck, Nicole Gorman, and Nate Rosa; (Dale McCamish not pictured - unable to attend) 

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
St. Louis Park Parks and Recreation  

LEADERSHIP AWARD
Dale McCamish, Rochester 

Awards of Excellence

Nominations were accepted for the MRPA Awards of Excellence for projects completed in 2021 in February of 2022. The awards committee will score and select agencies and follow up with recipients in late spring. 

MRPA recognizes agencies or organizations in Minnesota for outstanding achievements in the following 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. 

Awards of Excellence for Projects Completed in 2020 - Read More

Awards of Excellence for Projects Completed in 2019 - Read More

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