Sep 12, 2007

Media Release

For Immediate Release   Contact: Eleanor Warmack
September 6, 2007     (850) 878-3221    eleanor@frpa.org

The Florida Recreation and Park Association annually awards its Agency Excellence Awards to public parks and recreation agencies who excel in all of the following areas:  parks – development and acquisition; recreation programming including inclusion efforts; aquatic, athletic, leisure and cultural arts; fitness and wellness programming; administration and management; cultural diversity; environmental education; programming which benefits the community; long and short range planning, staff training and development; and involvement of citizens through advisory boards and volunteer programs.  In order to qualify the Agency must comprehensively demonstrate its ability to excel in all of the above areas.

The demonstration must include a narrative explanation of the agency's philosophy on each element; a description of each element; community input opportunities on each element; community partnerships; a measure of the effectiveness of the element in promoting the benefits of parks and recreation; and the actual evaluation of the element.  Letters of support must be included for elected officials, users, and community partners.

Awards Chair Terri Owen stated, "This year's submissions not only impressed us, they captured our attention as the judging panel reviewed the materials.  There were like a good book on a rainy day – we just could not put them down."

Award winner received two plaques – one for their agency and another to hang in their city or county administrative offices, so that their entire community can join in celebrating their excellence.

This year, 8 agencies applied for the award in four categories. The 2007 Agency Excellence Award Winners were presented as follows:

Category V – serving populations at or below 34,999
 Naples Community Services – accepting was Mike Leslie, Assistant Director
 of Community Services.

Category IV – serving populations between 35,000 and 74,999
 Village of Wellington – accepting were Jim Barnes, Leisure Services Director;
 Ivy Rosenberg, Assistant Leisure Services Director; and Dwayne
 Hetherington, Community Programs Coordinator.

Category III – serving populations between 75,000 and 149,999
 Boca Raton Parks and Recreation – accepting was Mickey Gomez, Director.

Category I – serving populations over 200,000
 Lee County Parks and Recreation – accepting was Deputy Director, Barbara
 Manzo.

Congratulations to these agencies who demonstrate daily the value brought to a community through its parks and recreation programming.

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