The National Recreation and Park Association’s awards program consists of the National Gold Medal Award (presented by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration in partnership with NRPA), and the NRPA Awards which include the Innovation Awards, Spotlight Awards, Scholarships and Fellowships, and the Robert W. Crawford Hall of Fame.

NRPA Awards recipients are selected by the NRPA Awards and Scholarship Committee, except for the NRPA Best in Innovation Award where the winner is determined by public vote. Each award has specific eligibility criteria. All applicants must be current NRPA members.

The deadline to apply for all 2022 NRPA Awards, Scholarships and Fellowships was March 25. 

 

2021 NRPA Award Winners

Spotlight Awards

Robert M. Artz Advocacy Award
Bruce Rinker, Cleveland Metroparks board of park commissioners, Cleveland Metroparks, Cleveland, Ohio

Robert W. Crawford Young Professional Award
Chris Bass, assistant director, City of Douglasville, Douglasville, Georgia

RWJF-NRPA Award for Health Equity
Emilie Harmeyer, ShreveCorps program director, Shreveport Green, Shreveport, Louisiana

National Distinguished Professional Award
Randy Bina, executive director, Bismarck Parks and Recreation District, Bismarck, North Dakota

Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt Award for Excellence in Recreation and Park Research
Alan Ewert, professor emeritus, Indiana University

Innovation Awards

Innovation in Health Award
Healthy U: A Series of Conversations, Port St. Lucie Parks and Recreation, Port St. Lucie, Florida

Innovation in Conservation Award
Ocala Wetland Recharge Park, City of Ocala, Ocala, Florida

Innovation in Social Equity Award
Re-Connecting Cleveland: Pathways to Opportunity TIGER Grant Project, Cleveland Metroparks, Cleveland, Ohio

Innovation in Park Design Award
Westwood Hills Nature Center Interpretive Center Building Project, City of St. Louis Park, Operations and Recreation, St. Louis Park, Minnesota

NRPA Best in Innovation Award 
Ocala Wetland Recharge Park, City of Ocala, Ocala, Florida

Scholarships and Fellowships

Young Professional Fellowship
Kristen Herndon, Greensboro Parks and Recreation
Cameron Levis, Bowling Green Parks and Recreation Department

Diversity Scholarship
Chamreece Diggs, Greensboro Parks and Recreation
Joseph Godette, Greensboro Parks and Recreation

Student Scholarship
Matt Colwell, University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
Celeste Morales, California State University - East Bay

Robert M. Artz Advocacy Award 
Chris Riley, park board commissioner, Decatur Park District; Decatur, Illinois

Robert W. Crawford Young Professional Award
Gerry Logan, executive director, Starkville Parks and Recreation; Starkville, Mississippi

RWJF-NRPA Award for Health Equity 
Tina Fleming, community services director, and Lindsay Jorstad, outreach manager, Gwinnett County Government; Lawrenceville, Georgia

National Distinguished Professional Award 
Dirk Richwine, CPRE; Parker, Colorado

Innovation Awards

Innovation in Health Award
City of Port St. Lucie Parks and Recreation; Port St. Lucie, Florida

Innovation in Conservation Award 
Metroparks Toledo for Howard Marsh Metropark; Toledo, Ohio

Innovation in Social Equity Award
City of Santa Clarita; Santa Clarita, California

Innovation in Park Design Award 
Three Rivers Park District; Plymouth, Minnesota

NRPA Best in Innovation Award 
City of Port St. Lucie Parks and Recreation; Port St. Lucie, Florida

Scholarships and Fellowships

Young Professional Fellowship
Takeyra M. Collins, Virginia Wesleyan University
Jill Ellison, Seattle Parks and Recreation
Katy Keller, Indian Trail Parks and Recreation
Hillary Roemersberger, Apex Park and Recreation District

Diversity Scholarship
Ashley Jones, Norfolk Recreation, Parks and Open Space
Nelson Musselman, City of Lewisville

Student Scholarship
Heidi Weiler, University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
Jordan Sylvester, Texas Southern University

 

2019 Best of the Best Awards Ceremony Video

The NRPA Awards are presented at the annual Best of the Best ceremony during the NRPA Annual Conference.