VRPS 2011 Award Winners

Photo Credit:  Jennifer Cauldwell, City of Norfolk Recreation, Parks, and Open Space

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Best New Program, 25,001-50,000

Teen Quest Special Progam

Louisa County

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Best New Program, 50,001-100,000

Reston Green Living Series

Reston Community Center

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Best New Program, Greater Than100,000

Film Making and Multimedia, Downing Gross Cultural Arts Center

City of Newport News Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism

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Best New Special Event, Less Than 25,000

Ghosts of Violet Banks Past

Colonial Heights Recreation and Parks

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Best New Special Event, 25,001-50,000

Leesburg Air Show

Town of Leesburg Parks and Recreation

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Best New Special Event, 50,001-100,000

Roanoke Outdoor Circus

Roanoke Parks and Recreation

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Best New Special Event, Greater than 100,000

Ball's Bluff 150th Reenactment

Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority

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Best New Facility - Bricks and Mortar, Less than 25,000

Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center

City of Fairfax Parks and Recreation

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Best New Facility - Bricks and Mortar, 25,001-50,000

Ida Lee Park Maintenance Facility

Town of Leesburg Parks and Recreation

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Best New Facility - Bricks and Mortar, 50,001-100,000

James City County Parks and Recreation

Freedom Park Interpretive Center

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Best New Facility - Bricks and Mortar, Greater than 100,000

Eastern Henrico Recreation Center

County of Henrico Division of Parks and Recreation

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Best New Facility - Parks, Playgrounds, Blueways, Greenways, and Trails, 25,001-50,000

Free Wheeling Way Accessible Playground

County of Warren Parks and Recreation

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Best New Facility - Parks, Playgrounds, Blueways, Greenways, and Trails, 50,001-100,000

Walrond Park Trail

Roanoke County Parks, Recreation, and Tourism

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Best New Facility - Parks, Playgrounds, Blueways, Greenways, and Trails, Greater than 100,000

Long Bridge Park

Arlington County Parks and Recreation

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Best New Renovation/Addition - Bricks and Mortar, 50,001-100,000

Reston Community Center at Lake Anne

Reston Community Center

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Best New Renovation/Addition - Bricks and Mortar, Greater than 100,000

Virginia Randolf Museum

County of Henrico Division of Parks and Recreation

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Best New Renovation/Addition - Bricks and Mortar, Less than 25,000

North Park Renovation

City of Waynesboro Parks and Recreation

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Best New Renovation/Addition - Parks, Playgrounds, Blueways, Greenways, and Trails, 50,001-100,000

Jamestown Beach Park Shoreline Renovation

James City County Parks and Recreation

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Best New Renovation/Addition - Parks, Playgrounds, Blueways, Greenways, and Trails, Greater than 100,000

Paradise Play - Cameron Run Regional Park

Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority

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Best New Environmental Sustainability, 25,001-50,000

Invasive Plant Management

Charlottesville Parks and Recreation

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Best New Environmental Sustainability, Greater than 100,000

Growing Wetlands in the Classroom

City of Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation

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Best Promotional Effort - Traditional, Less than 25,000

Herndon Festival Sponsorship Catalog

Town of Herndon Parks and Recreation

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Best Promotional Effort - Traditional, 25,001-50,000

Leesburg Airshow Poster

Town of Leesburg Parks and Recreation

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Best Promotional Effort - Traditional, 50,001-100,000

Civil War Homes Tour Guide

Roanoke County Parks, Recreation, and Tourism

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Best Promotional Effort - Traditional, Greater than 100,000

Annual Report 2010-2011 Wall Calendar

Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority

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Best Promotional Effort - Specialty, Less than 25,000

Herndon Festival Tshirt

Town of Herndon Parks and Recreation

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Best Promotional Effort - Specialty, 25,001-50,000

Car Magnets

Town of Leesburg Parks and Recreation

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Best Promotional Effort - Specialty, 50,001-100,000

Green Ridge "5 for $25"

Roanoke County Parks, Recreation, and Tourism

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Best Promotional Effort - Specialty, Greater than 100,000

Facility Toor Kiosk

County of Henrico Parks and Recreation

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Distinguished Private Sector Service

Munden Point Park Cleanup Project

STIHL Inc.

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Distinguished Private Sector Service

Pathways for Radford

Pathways for Radford

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Distinguished Volunteer Award

Fred Corbett

County of Roanoke Parks, Recreation, and Tourism

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Distinguished Volunteer Award

Craig McKenzie

McLean Community Center

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Outstanding New Professional

Lisa Walker

Hanover County Parks and Recreation

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Outstanding New Professional

Scott Ramsburg

Roanoke County Parks, Recreation, and Tourism

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Distinguished Service Award

Marcy Durrer

Hanover County Parks and Recreation

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Fellows Award

Cindy Jo Daniel

County of Henrico Parks and Recreation

2012 VRPS Annual Conference: Saturday Canoe ADVENTURE!

by Art Thatcher, City of Norfolk Recreation, Parks, & Open Space

OFF THE MOUNTAIN ACTIVITY:  Saturday, September 8, 1-5pm, Canoe the Tye River

"For the experienced canoeist.  Enjoy a 2.5 mile trip along the scenic Tye River nestled in a remote section of Nelson County.  The River has large granite boulder formations and class II-III rapids for the full experience ... Excursion brought to you by Wythe, Nelson, and Charlottesville Parks and Recreation."

"You don't paddle against the current, you paddle with it. And if you get good at it, you throw away the oars."

Kris Kristofferson

It was true love ....

by Nancy Turnage, VRPS Central Office

"Join a Wintergreen Volunteer naturalist to exlore Virginia mountain geology, geography, plants, animals, and local lore.  Come prepared with good day-hiking equipment for variable weather and hiking conditions ... Our focus will also be directed on how to lead a hike, understanding your audience and provide an educational experience to the group while having fun in a natural environment."

The air was crisp, the sky a glorious blue, and the calming greenery of Wintergreen Resort simply breathtaking.  As I embarked on my first educational session, "Leading a Nature Hike", the call of the woods beckoned.  We loaded the Wintergreen Shuttle and were off to embrace the Appalachian Trail (or "AT" as my new post-session-hike lingo has now afforded me).

"Alga met Fungus in the trees, and they took a Lichen to each other.  Unfortunately, their marriage ended up on the rocks ...."


The lesson from our fearless leader, Richard, in this little love story was to explain the tendency of lichens to colonize on rock.  However, Richard's true message was for each of us, in our leadership roles, to gauge the audience and convey lessons in whatever context reaches them - and it did.  Otherwise, how else would I have any recollection of the nature of the symbiotic relationship between algae and fungi in lichens?  It is altogether likely that I have never before used those three words in the same sentence in the course of my entire life.

Richard concluded the discussion portion of the session, atop beautiful Indian Rock, by emptying his hiking pack and explaining the merit of each necessary component.  He solicited the group as to what other items we have found useful in our own packs.  My new bff CJ shared a tip regarding dollar store warming blankets:  cost-effective, small additions to any responsible hikers backpack (or vehicle driver's glovebox), that offer a myriad of uses:

• solar still (to draw moisture in the event of a dehydration issue)
• warming
• reflective signaling device
• ground cloth
• tarp

My enjoyment of the afternoon and the benefits of the experience are not limited to the hike nor to my newfound enlightenment as to the algae/fungi love story.  And, they are not limited to me.  Below is a message shared post-hike by fearless-leader-Richard:

Many thanks to everyone who attended the conference on Sunday and participated in the hike.  I can honestly say that you were one of the more exciting and energetic groups that I have had the pleasure of meeting.  I had the opportunity to sit-in on the key note speaker session and feel as though you all have a wonderful opportunity to advance your programs looking at all of the demographic changes we have in the future.  I feel privileged to have been a small part of what looks like a great conference. 




Happy Trails to all ... in this case the Appalachian.

#ClimbUp