Jerry D. Garrett Memorial Young Professional Award
Jennifer A. Robertson, City of Rowlett
Jennifer Robertson has proven herself to be an asset to the Cities of The
Colonyand Rowlett and has served in several leadership positions within
the Texas Recreation and Park Society. Jennifer’s involvement with
TRAPS began in 1998 when she was elected Interim Student Branch
President and then Student Branch President, and has continued through
chairmanships of the Student Development and Awards committees. She
has also served on the Southwest Regional NRPA Awards committee.
Her one year tenure as Recreation Superintendent in Rowlett has resulted
in, among other things, the Rowlett Community Centre exceeding all
projections by 150-200% in the categories of attendance, participation,
revenues and programs.
Honorary Life Member
Diane Darnell
Diane Darnell, CPRP, has been a dynamic, dedicated, hands-on leader
since the beginning of her career over 36 years ago. "Queenie," as many
of us know her, has been instrumental in TRAPS for just as long. Her
involvement has included developing the Ways & Means committee,
serving on every state-level committee, serving as a member of the Board
of Directors, and as President of TRAPS in 1996-1997. Diane has also
been an activemember of the Texas Parks and Recreation Foundation
Board of Directors for many years. During her career, sheworked for
Hurst Parks and Recreation, the Texas Senior Games, and Lancaster
Parks and Recreation.
Administration/Management Award
Aquatic Boot Camp -
Rockwall Parks and Recreation Department
Seeking away to provide newknowledge and skills to their seasonal staff,
Rockwall Parks andRecreation created theAquaticBoot Camp and
implemented it into their pre-summer training. After being selected for
employment, staff participated in a one-weekmilitaryboot camp style
programthatwas adapted to an aquatic setting. Throughthis program, the
staffwere able to break down all barriers and become a teamthat could
respond as one unit to any emergency.
Promotional Award
Pearland Parks and Recreation Department
In an effort to bring awareness to Pearland Parks and Recreation
department’s programs and their benefits aswell as improve the public
opinion, the staff set forth to promote the department through give-aways,
increased exposure in the newspaper, aswell as traditional flyers and
brochures, all "tools" of the trade.
Best Web Site Award
Pearland Parks and Recreation Department
- www.pearlandparks.com
Along with a new logo, new tag line and a new website name The City of
Pearland unveiled the newlook of their web site. The site was designed to
make information easy to find, highlight quality instructors, drive people to
their online registration process and give their citizens a reason to check
back regularly to get themost up to date information. The web site was
designed by staff with the help of a web developer with the needs of the
citizens in mind and is a continuous work in progress. You are invited to
check out the website at www.pearlandparks.com
Service Club Award
Friends of West University Parks, Inc
West University Place Parks and Recreation Department
The Friends of West University Place Parks is a 501(c)3 volunteer based
organization dedicated to raising funds for the development of land and the
construction and improvement of parks and green spaces in West University
Place. This organization has raised over $2.5million in hard dollars
and an additional $1million in in-kind donations.
Conservation Award
Arlington Conservation Council
Arlington Parks and Recreation Department
Arlington Conservation Council is an environmental non-profit organization
involved with conservation efforts in Arlington and the surrounding areas.
Their mission is to promote environmental awareness and conservation of
our natural resources,which this group has accomplished through donation
of over 700 hours of service a year.
Commercial Award
San Antonio Chapter
Associated General Contractors of America
San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department
Comprised of 425 member firms in 19 counties, the San Antonio Chapter
of the Associated General Contractors ofAmerica has been a significant
contributor to the San Antonio parks system by volunteering their time,
talent and resources to several projects, including the renovation of
historical buildings, and construction of newfacilities.Notable projects
include the McAllister Park pavilion and the renovation of Alamo Plaza.
Excellence in Planning Award
Towards A Bright Future - El Paso
El Paso Parks and Recreation Department and Halff Associates
The Parks Plan includes a look at every aspect of the parks and recreation
system. The plan suggests anaction plan and prioritization schedule for
each of the different categories of facilities. To simplify decision making,
basic improvements are called the "Plan for Today",while the visionary
future actions are called the "Plan for a Bright Future". The plan also
includes anextensive audit of operations and man power, and suggest
numerous changes to the management, staffing and programming of the
system. It also suggest a "Parks District" format to relieve the under
funded department.
Arts and Humanities Award - Class I
A Dive Into the Past -
Austin Parks and Recreation Department
The Dive Into the Past event was created to compliment a new display,
"Native Waters: Sacred Springs," at the Splash! Into the Edwards Aquifer
exhibit. Hourly presentations and an active "Trade Central" have kept
over 116,000 visitors playing and learning about archaeology and the
lifestyle of the first settlers to Texas-theTonkawa, Karankawa, Caddo,
and Comanche Tribes.
Arts and Humanities Award - Class II
Diez y Seis
Grand Prairie Parks and Recreation Department
Grand Prairie hosted their first Diez y Seis Celebration at their brand new
recreation center, Bowles Life Center. This free event commemorated
Mexico’s Independence fromSpain. The event featured live entertainment
from the recreation center’s cultural and performing arts classes.
Arts and Humanities Award - Class III
Brazoria County Fair And Senior Center
Pearland Parks and Recreation Department
Arts and Humanities classes offered at the Melvin Knapp Senior Center
have developed creativity, improved hand/eye coordination, and created
opportunities for socializing formembers of the community 50 and older.
This interest has led to an increasing number of theCenter’s patrons
displaying their work in competition at the Brazoria County Fair.
Maintenance Award
Memorial Gardens Fountain
Odessa Parks and Recreation Department
The innovative design of bridge containers to provide park continuity and
beautificationwhile increasing efficientmaintenance operationprocess and
decreasingmaterial andmaintenance costs. The area these containers
were hungwas lacking in character and attractiveness, thus creating a
disruption inthe parks natural flowof ambiance. The holders, designed in
house, are an innovative design that anchors to the bridges providing
support, stabilitywhile complementing the architectural style of the bridges,
container, and plants.
Lone Star Programming Award - Class I
Active Adult Adventure Club
Austin Parks and Recreation Department
Austin Parks and Recreation Department’s ActiveAdult Adventure Club is
a programdesigned to keep seniors active byintroducing themto
kayaking,mountain biking and hiking. One "active adults" said, "The
programprovides an opportunity for active adult to learn newskills and to
meet others interested in challenging themselveswith outdoor activities."
Lone Star Programming Award - Class II
World Challenge
Grand Prairie Parks and Recreation Department
This programwas used as an incentive to challenge children and teens to
becomemore physically active and live healthy active lifestyles. The youth
participated inswimming, cycling, running and rock climbing; hence
climbingMount Everest, running theBostonMarathon, cycling theTour de
France, and swimming the EnglishChannel.
Lone Star Programming Award - Class III
Camp Fear- Rowlett’s Halloween Family Campout
Rowlett Parks and Recreation Department
Seeking away to provide a safe, fun, and unique Halloween experience
for families, the City ofRowlett implemented Camp Fear for the first time
in 2006. The program included dinner, tent decorating, trick-or-treating, a
Haunted Trail, professional storytelling, and coffee sponsored by
Starbucks. Over 200 people participated.
Lone Star Programming Award - Class IV
KidzConnect
Coppell Parks and Recreation Department
Kids ages 3-12 in Coppell went back to school last summer, participating
in KidzConnect, a unique, three-week summer programthat provided 71
wide-ranging classes in amini-camp format. Thirty-eight instructors were
used at 6 sites to provide the large number of classes. After the success of
the programlast year, City staff plan to expand it for 2007.
Lone Star Programming Award - Class V
CSI Camp
Corinth Parks and Recreation Department
The City of Corinth Parks and Recreation Department offered a Crime
Scene Investigation Camp to the area teens as part of its summer activities.
This week long camp was designed to provide a source of motivation and
positive interest in our law enforcement agencies. What a great way to
encourage teen activities and get another department involved!
Innovations in Park DevelopmentAward
Bad Königshofen Family Aquatic Center
Arlington Parks and Recreation Department
The Bad Königshofen Family Aquatic Center brings a splash of Old World
culture to Arlington. The $4 million facility was constructed with funds
allocated from the department’s 1997 bond referendum. This 3.2 acre
facility is the newest of Arlington’s seven aquatic facilities and commemorates
the 55 year Sister City relationship between Arlington and Bad
Königshofen,Germany. It is also the first municipalpool facility in the
Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex to house a drop slide.
Park Design Excellence Award
The Harbor
Rockwall Parks and Recreation Department and TBG Partners
The Harbor at Rockwall is an exciting new mixed-use destination within
the Metroplex. The project was born with a local developer who owned
31 acres of property adjacent to a seven-acre tract owned bythe City of
Rockwall. The developer would commit to building a high-end commercial
development if the City of Rockwall would commit to developing their
seven-acre tract to forma synergy. With the help ofTBG Partners, The
Harbor was designed, bringing additional tax base, providing public space
for the residents near Lake RayHubbard, and additional hotel roomswere
added.
Recreation Facility Design Excellence Award
The Allen Senior Center
Allen Parks and Recreation Department and
Pro Forma Architecture
The Allen senior program beginnings were indeed humble, having once
occupied a smallone roomwood-frame bungalow in old downtown Allen.
Today a 22,000 square foot state of the art Senior Center has been
created, featuring "countryclub appeal", a sense ofactiveness and vitality,
good acoustics, and exterior materials that flowed with the new building’s
natural backdrop of the greenbelt.
The City of Pasadena Parks and Recreation has taken information from
their Master Plan, created in 1998, which then developed the Pasadena
Bayou/Greenbelt Trails Master Plan in 2001. Some of the major accomplishments
have been: renovations of the PAL gymnasium, relocation of the
historic strawberry house, renovations of several pavilions and parks,
construction ofnew recreation center, expansionof the Administration
building, beginning of a natatorium study in collaboration with Pasadena
ISD, design of hike and bike trails, and adding over 100 acres of new
park land.
In 1998, the City of Frisco Parks and Recreation adopted a master plan
that included park improvements, recreation programs, business planning,
funding strategies, and partnership development. Using this plan, Frisco
developed citywide hike and bike trails, acquired new parkland, constructed
a Senior Center and a Recreation and Aquatic Center. The
awardwining Six Cities Hike and Bike Trail Master Plan was also developed.
The original master plan was revised in 2004, because all major
elements had been accomplished.
The City of Georgetown adopted the Parks, Recreation Open Space
Master Plan in 2002, as an element of the Georgetown Century Plan. The
Century Plan is a comprehensive strategic plan to improve citizens’ quality
of life. Several grants were applied for and awarded from: Texas Parks
and Wildlife, LCRA, and The Corps of Engineers. The residents of
Georgetown also passed a $10 million bond to renovate the Recreation
Center. The Gary family also publicly announced their donationof 525
acres of land and their home, withamatching; $5 million once the land is
developedwithin 3 years of their departure.