Awards

2024 TRPA Award Recipients!

TRPA Individual Awards

Fellow, Michael Robertson, Tennessee State Parks

Distinguished Young Professional, Trevor Cole, Hendersonville Parks & Recreation

Lifetime Member, Mark Tummons, Past President

Lifetime Member, Robin DiMona, Kingsport Parks & Recreation

TRPA Four Star Awards

Lynnbrook Park, located at 1602 Lynnbrook Ave, Chattanooga, TN, represents a transformative project that revitalized a 1.4-acre former empty lot in the heart of the Oak Grove neighborhood. This project, spearheaded by Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors, turned an underutilized area into a vibrant community space, offering a blend of environmental restoration, recreational amenities, and communal gathering areas. Click on the photo above to read the narrative.

Thompson Alley Neighborhood Park is a 4,238 square foot property acquired by the City of Franklin from FEMA after flooding in 2010. Amenities include an ADA-accessible picnic area and chess table, barbecue grills, concrete cornhole boards, and a ping pong table. The construction project was completed in spring 2024. Click on the photo above to read the narrative.

Over the course of the past year in our city we have been and specifically in our Parks we have been hit by major weather events – a major tornado in December of 2023 and a major flood in May of 2024. During the course of this time our soccer complex at Drakes Creek Park saw significant erosion and damages. Click on the photo above to read the narrative.

The Murfree Springs Boardwalk was recently renovated after decades of use and then reopened allowing the community to go back to one of their favorite city spots. The mile-long boardwalk rests above protected wetlands and offers serene views and sightings of wildlife every day. Click on the photo above to read the narrative.

The "Where's Valerie?" campaign was a social media trivia game by the City of Gallatin Parks and Recreation Department, designed to increase community engagement and awareness. Highlighting various parks and facilities, it encouraged residents to explore local amenities and Gallatin’s recreational resources along with promoting health, community, and environmental benefits. Click on the photo above to read the narrative.

Hendersonville Rising was a one of a kind concert event, where our entire community came together to raise funds for tornado relief for our local businesses and Parks that were impact by a tornado. Over 20 musical artists, sound and production crew, venue owner, caterers and more volunteered their time to come together for one night that will go down as one of the greatest nights of community blessing in our city’s history. Click on the photo above to read the narrative.

The “Warriors at Ease program” is an international yoga and meditation program specifically designed for military veterans that is trauma informed. Click on the photo above to read the narrative.

TRPA Branch & Section Awards

Jeff Darmon, Tullahoma Parks & Recreation, Denise Rainier Award

Pamela Beacher, Memphis Parks, Longfellow Award

Aaron Browning, Knoxville Parks & Recreation, Marketing Award

Mallory England, Tennessee State Parks, Programming & Events Award

Keith Schnadelback, Memphis Parks, Resource Management Award of Excellence

Lucille McWherter Senior Center, Memphis Parks, Donald H. Stanton Award

Michael McCafferty, Murfreesboro Parks & Recreation, Maynard Glenn Award

Arrean Gregory, Metro Nashville Parks, Robert Horsley Award

Garrett Johnson, Elizabethton Parks and Recreation, Wayne Hansard Award

Awards Information & Application Links

Award Application Instructions

Below are links to the instructions for each award application. Please read them carefully. Each set of instructions includes a link to the online application you will complete and upload your narrative, photos and any other documents too. When you click submit on the application form, it is final. You cannot go back and modify it. Anything emailed to TRPA will not be accepted. You will receive a confirmation email from jotforms.com after you click submit. As you are completing the form online, please do not wait until the last moment to start your application. The system time stamps everything when you click submit.

TRPA Four Star Awards (awarded to agencies)

Innovative Program Award The TRPA Innovative Program Award recognizes the importance of creative, trend-setting ideas as the cornerstone of expanding community participation in leisure programs. The award honors agencies that have demonstrated leadership in successfully developing and executing programs or events that reflect groundbreaking ideas. Entries must be based on activities that have been initiated within the past year, and may be either a one-time program or a multi-session class. An Agency may submit one application in this category.

New Facility Award The TRPA New Facility Award is awarded to a park or facility that has finished construction within the last 12 months from the posted awards submission deadline. It may be a building, sports complex, trail, playground, splash pad or other recreational facility. It may be indoor, outdoor or a combination of both. If the park or facility is developed in phases, it may be submitted at the completion of any phase; additionally, a facility that is part of a larger park may be entered as a stand-alone submission (for example, a new tennis complex in an existing park.) There are two separate awards for this category – submitted within project budgets. An agency can apply for no more than one (1) in each of the budget levels.

Facility Budget $500,000 or less
Facility Budget $500,001 or more

Public Relations Award The TRPA Public Relations Award is presented annually to the agency significantly impacting the public’s awareness and recognition of public parks, recreation and leisure services programs through marketing and public relations. An Agency may submit one application in this category.

Renovated Facility Award The TRPA Renovated Facility Award is awarded to a park or facility that has finished a renovation within the last 12 months from the posted awards submission deadline. It may be a building, sports complex, trail, playground, splash pad, or other recreational facility. It may be indoor, outdoor or a combination of both. If the park or facility is renovated in phases, it may be submitted at the completion of any phase; additionally, a facility that is part of a larger park may be entered as a stand-alone submission (for example, a renovated tennis complex added in an existing park.) There are two separate awards for this category – submitted within project budgets. An agency can apply for no more than one (1) in each of the budget levels.

Facility Buget $500,000 or less
Facility Budget $500,001 or more

Special Event Award The TRPA Special Event Award recognizes the importance of creative, trend setting ideas as the cornerstone of expanding community participation in leisure programs. The award honors agencies that have demonstrated leadership in successfully developing and executing events that reflect community impact. Entries must be based on events that have been initiated within the past year. It may be a one-time event or annual event, with participation or attendance that is significant to your community or target audience. An Agency may submit one application in this category.

TRPA Individual Awards

Lifetime Member Award The Lifetime Member Award honors and recognizes individuals who have made numerous and/or significant long-term contributions within the parks and recreation profession. This prestigious award can be given to more than one nominee each year.

Distinguished Young Professional This award recognizes a young professional that exemplifies the management skills in planning a wide variety of parks and recreation opportunities and activities; whose efforts and commitment to excellence in parks and recreation during the course of the past awards period has set an example that has raised the standards of parks and recreation; and who through leadership, inspiration and incentive has made noteworthy contributions to their local service area and for the association.

Fellow Award The Fellow Award is TRPA's highest award to honor and recognize individuals who have significantly contributed to and influenced TRPA and the parks and recreation profession throughout his/her career. Since 1972, this award has recognized professional members of the TRPA that during their career have made outstanding contributions to the parks, recreation and conservation field over and above their normal and expected duties. This award is not intended to honor an individual for a single contribution. This award is not necessarily awarded each year.

TRPA Branch/Section Awards

Ethnic Minority Interest Section (awarded to an agency)
Donald H Stanton Award Donald Stanton was one of Nashville’s inner city community center directors. He became involved in TRPA and started the Ethnic Minority Interest Section. This award is presented to the Community Center Staff determined to have planned, developed and implemented the best overall State-wide program. Agencies can nominate one award in this category

Municipal/County Interest Section (awarded to individuals)
Maynard Glenn Award "Coach" Maynard Glenn served as Director of the City Parks & Recreation Department for 30 years. This award is given annually by the Municipal/County Interest Section to personnel or specialists who have planned, conducted or was responsible for the most outstanding (non-community center) recreation program during the year. Agencies can nominate one individual in each of the categories

Robert Horsley Award Robert Horsley and a co-worker organized and conducted tournaments in Tennessee which caught on a became national in scope. He sponsored Rook tournaments all around the state. It was a big game in our community centers and there was an annual city and state rook tournament for years. This award is given annually by the Municipal/County Interest Section to recognize community center personnel, who have planned, conducted or was responsible for the most outstanding recreation program during the year. Agencies can nominate one individual in each of the categories

Wayne Hansard Award Wayne Hansard was the director of Morristown Parks and Recreation for thirty three years. He was responsible for development of numerous Parks and Recreation facilities in Morristown and Hamblin County including Frank Lorino Park, Cherokee Park and Miller Park. This award is given annually by the Municipal/County Interest Section to the person who have demonstrated Excellence in the Maintenance of Parks, Facilities, and/or Grounds in a cost effective and efficient manner for the safety of the citizen user or user group. Agencies can nominate one individual in each of the categories

Parks & Facilities Branch (awarded to individuals)

Resource Management Award of Excellence This award is presented by the Facilities and Parks Branch to one individual that has demonstrated outstanding achievement in the field of Resource Management.

Programming & Recreation Branch (awarded to individuals)

Dennis Rainier Award Dennis Rainier spent thirty-seven and a half years with Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Department. He was the Director for twenty-eight years before his retirement. Some of his projects with the Parks and Recreation Department included SportsCom, StarPlex, Richard Siegel Championship Soccer Complex, Barfield Cresent Park, Patterson Park Community Center, Kids' Castle at Old Fort Park, Bark Park, and the Greenways. This award is given to an individual who has demonstrated Excellence in athletic planning, physical activity, fitness and wellness programs, policies, and activities. Agencies can nominate one individual in each of the categories

Events and Programming Award This award is presented to an individual that has demonstrated innovation and creativity and inspired others to develop similar programs in the arts and special events. Agencies can nominate one individual in each of the categories.

Longfellow Aquatics Award This award is given to the person, or persons, responsible for outstanding programming or accomplishments in Aquatics. It is presented in honor of Commodore W. E. Longfellow who started the American Red Cross Lifesaving Service in 1914. Agencies can nominate one individual in each of the categories

Marketing Award This award is presented to an individual that has demonstrated innovation and creativity and inspired others to develop similar marketing initiatives. Agencies can nominate one individual in each of the categories

Not sure if someone has already received an award? Check out the past recipients
lists below

Fellows

Lifetime Members

Young Professionals