The Awards of Excellence are presented by Minnesota Recreation and Park Association. Nominations for new or purposefully updated/changed initiatives completed in 2025 will be open in mid-February.
The 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. The awards committee will score selected agencies and follow up with recipients in late spring.
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.
Below are the MRPA Awards of Excellence for projects completed in 2024 in the following categories:
Administrative or Management Strategies
- City of Richfield - Our Legacy, Our Future: Local Option Sales Tax Referendum for Recreation Facilities
- City of Roseville - Natural Resources Management Plan Update
- Saint Peter Recreation and Leisure Services - Saint Peter's 2024-2038 Parks and Recreation Master Plan
- Washington County Parks - Seasonal Staffing Process Improvements
Marketing & Communications
- City of Mendota Heights - Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Annual Report Video
- City of St. Louis Park - Share Your Story
Park and Facility
- City of Cottage Grove - Glacial Valley Park and Building
- City of New Brighton - Totem Pole Park Reconstruction
- City of Rochester Parks and Forestry - Cascade Lake Regional Park
- Dakota County - CSAH 32 Wildlife Tunnels
- Washington County Parks - Historic Courthouse Reconstruction
Programming and Events
- Bemidji Parks and Recreation Department - Casting with Cops
- City of Cottage Grove - Pickleball in Cottage Grove
- Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board - Backyard Chicken Series - Chicken Incubation and Embryology, Coop Group, Chicken Fiesta
- Three Rivers Park District - The Big Year of Bugs
Sponsorships and Partnerships
- City of Brooklyn Center - Yoga for All
- City of Brooklyn Center - Harvest for All - Local Food Purchase Assistance Produce Distribution
- City of New Brighton - Parks Discovery Day
- City of Newport - Busy Beaver Playground Reconstruction
- Three Rivers Park District and V3 Sports - Family Water Safety Workshops
Volunteer Initiatives
- City of Winona Parks and Recreation Department - Free Holiday Shopping Experience
- Saint Peter Recreation and Leisure Services Department - St. Peter Library's Teen Advisory Board (TAB) and VolunTeen Programs
Congratulations again to all MRPA Awards of Excellence recipients for the 2024 projects!
