Be Thankful

by Sandy Kellogg

Aquatic Operations Supervisor, Mount Vernon RECenter

Fairfax County Park Authority
VRPS Aquatics Resource Group 2016 Chair

VRPS 2016 Awards Co-Chair

It’s been a long fall for my family.  On October 2nd my condo, River Towers in Alexandria, started to collapse.  32 families were evacuated, and our part of the building was officially condemned pending repairs.  I have been homeless ever since.  Technically I’m an Internally Displaced Person, with a Red Cross Case number and everything.  My husband, son and I were allowed to have a 10-minute ‘gather what you can’ run through the house, and that was it.  Optimistically it will be at least 6 months before we are allowed back in.

Before everyone starts a telethon or fundraiser, this is going to be the BEST Thanksgiving ever.   My children are all coming home, and there’s actually a home for them to come to!  A good friend has a cottage on his property and offered it to us.  We rely on electric heaters, and I’m reminded why commuting in NOVA is miserable, but we have a home, good friends, family coming, and a place to go every night.  Best Thanksgiving ever.

This experience has made me look at what we do.  Many Parks and Rec professionals run large buildings with good facilities.  Are we prepared to open our doors for a community emergency?   New facilities should be built with emergency response in mind.  A washer and dryer hookup would add a very small expense to a design or remodel, but it changes us from a recreation center to a possible emergency shelter.  We can provide activities for children, warming areas, even staging areas for emergency response, all just by opening our doors and becoming part of the solution.   Our neighbors depend on us, let’s not leave them out in the cold.

Can You Dig It?

by Milada Weaver

Volunteer Program Manager
Arlington County Department of Parks and Recreation

Parks, recreation, admin, sports, development...basically every corner of the Arlington County Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) worked together to make things better on Monday, October 17. There was sweat, there was dirt, there was laughter, there was sun, there was a lot of great work done!  This is the second year that DPR “Digs In”  pulled together staff to beautify our parks and build team spirit.

VRPS Annual Awards: Recognizing Excellence in 2015

President’s Awards

Given at the Discretion of the President for Exceptional Service to the Society during 2016

2016 Annual Conference Committee

·         Doug Blount (Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism):  Co-Chair

·         John Shaner (Salem Parks and Recreation):  Co-Chair

·         Dean Crane, CPRP (Blacksburg Parks and Recreation)

·         Marcia Dougherty (Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism)

·         Jim Farmer (Botetourt County Parks and Recreation Department)

·         Allen Hayes (Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism)

·         Brian Laws, CPRP (Fairfax County Park Authority)

·         Arlain Martin (Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism)

·         Melida McKee, CPRP (Roanoke Parks and Recreation)

·         Alex North (Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism)

·         Scott Ramsburg (Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism)

·         Wendi Schultz (Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism)

·         Dr. Susan Van Patten (Radford University)

·         David Weir, CPRP (Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism)

·         Maureen Wilson (Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism)

2016 Leadership Training Institute Committee

·         Kristen Hamill, CPRP (Newport News Parks, Recreation and Tourism):  Co-Chair

·         Matt Spruill, CPRP (Colonial Heights Recreation and Parks):  Co-Chair

·         Terry Caldwell, CPRP, AFO (Christiansburg Aquatic Center)

·         Nancy Ellis, CPRP (James City County Parks and Recreation)

·         Kat Fish (Prince William County Parks and Recreation)

·         Brian Gannon, CPRP, AFO (Reston Community Center)

·         Michael Kalvort, CPRE (Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation)

·         Derek Stamey, CPRP (Goochland County Parks and Recreation)

·         Amy Woodson, CPRP (Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation)

Marcy Durrer, CPRP (Hanover County Parks and Recreation)

Dr. Susan Van Patten (Radford University)     

To see the following list, complete with photos, click here.

  

Fellows Award

·         Nancy E. Ellis, CPRP, James City County Parks and Recreation

Distinguished Service

·         Benita Ripley, Lynchburg Parks and Recreation

Outstanding New Professional

·         Alicia Engels, Henrico Division of Recreation and Parks

·         Lindsay Blankenship, Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism

Distinguished Private Sector Service

·         Landscape Supply Inc., Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism

·         Enrichmond, Richmond Parks, Recreation & Community Facilities

Distinguished Volunteer Service

·         Catherine Ledec, Fairfax County Park Authority

·         Charley O’Hara, Falls Church Recreation and Parks

Best New Program

·         Population Under 25,000 and Under

o   Heroes Camp, Hopewell Recreation and Parks

·         Population 25,001 – 50,000

o   Roverwalk, Danville Parks and Recreation

·         Population 50,001 – 100,000

o   RCC Rides, Reston Community Center

·         Population Greater than 100,000

o   Footgolf at Pinecrest Golf Course, Fairfax County Park Authority

Best New Special Event

·         Population 25,000 and Under

o   Irish Road Bowling, Staunton Parks and Recreation

·         Population 50,001 – 100,000

o   A Christmas Past at the Fishburn Mansion Open House, Roanoke Parks and Recreation

·         Population Greater than 100,000

o   Miss Abilities Chesapeake, Chesapeake Parks, Recreation and Tourism

Best New Facility (Bricks and Mortar)

·         Population 50,001 – 100,000

o   Whaleyville Community Center, Suffolk Parks and Recreation

·         Population Greater than 100,000

o   Bow Creek Recreation Center, Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation

Best New Facility (Parks, Playground, Greenways and Trails)

·         Population 25,000 and Under

o   Second Avenue/Park Road Improvement Project, Radford Parks and Recreation Department

·         Population 25,001 – 50,000

o   Danville Art Trail, Danville Parks and Recreation

·         Population 50,001 – 100,000

o   Jamestown Beach Event Park, James City County Parks and Recreation

·         Population Greater than 100,000

o   Elizabeth River Park, Chesapeake Parks, Recreation and Tourism

Best New Renovation/Addition (Bricks and Mortar)

·         Population 25,000 and Under

o   Shepherd Stadium Dugouts, Colonial Heights Recreation and Parks

·         Population 25,001 – 50,000

o   Ballou Recreation Center Upgrade, Danville Parks and Recreation

·         Population 50,001 – 100,000

o   Miller Center, Lynchburg Parks and Recreation

·         Population Greater than 100,000

o   Spring Hill RECenter, Fairfax County Park Authority

Best New Renovation/Addition (Parks, Playgrounds, Greenways & Trails)

·         Population 25,000 and Under

o   Crystal Springs Recreation Area, Wytheville Parks and Recreation

·         Population 50,001-1000,000

o   Roanoke River Trail, Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism

·         Population Greater than 100,000

o   Water Mine Family Swimmin' Hole, Fairfax County Park Authority

Best New Environmental Sustainability

·         Population 25,000 and Under

o   Lake Tams Renovation, Staunton Parks and Recreation

·         Population 25,001 – 50,000

o   Native Tree Walk at Ida Lee Park, Leesburg Parks and Recreation

·         Population 50,001 – 100,000

o   Neighborhood Center Teaching Gardens, Lynchburg Parks and Recreation

·         Population Greater than 100,000

o   Virginia Beach Trees for Clean Water Grant Initiative, Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation

Best Promotional Effort - Traditional

·         Population 25,000 and Under

o   Fall “History Edition” Program Guide, Goochland County Parks and Recreation

·         Population 25,001 – 50,000

o   Discount Movie Ticket Flyers, Orange County Parks and Recreation

·         Population 50,001 – 100,000

o   A Christmas Past at the Fishburn Mansion Brochure, Roanoke Parks and Recreation

o   Green Ridge Folder, Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism

·         Population Greater than 100,000

o   2015 Strategic Plan Report, Fairfax County Park Authority

Best Promotional Effort - Specialty

·         Population 25,000 and Under

o   2015 Herndon Festival Digital Brochure, Herndon Parks and Recreation

·         Population 25,001 – 50,000

o   25th Annual Flower and Garden Festival Wineglass, Leesburg Parks and Recreation

·         Population 50,001 – 100,000

o   Lynchburg is for Locavores Campaign, Lynchburg Parks and Recreation

o   Roanoke County Parks App, Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism

·         Population Greater than 100,000

o   15-second Video Promotion: Annual RECenter Membership Sale, Fairfax County Park Authority