Awards Program

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The Florida Recreation and Park Association State Awards Program is designed to recognize and celebrate the individuals and organizations that contribute to the success and value of parks and recreation in the State of Florida.

Designed to bring attention to its recipients, the awards program highlights the successes of Association members, as well as those partners working to achieve shared goals. The sharing of new and creative programs is yet another benefit of involvement in the awards programs.

Excellence in parks and recreation is visible in many places. We encourage you to take notice of the parks and recreation programs, professionals and partners that deserve recognition. Then, take action by nominating them for awards.

Award nominations for 2025 will open in March 2025.



2024 Award Winners

For a list of past award winners, click here.

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ACHIEVEMENT
The Florida Recreation and Park Association’s Achievement Award recognizes special or unusual service to the Association and the parks, recreation, and leisure services profession.  Individuals receiving this award must have rendered that service within two years of their nomination. 

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE
The FRPA Distinguished Service Award recognizes individuals who have provided special or unusual service to the Association; or have made significant contributions to advancing the parks and recreation profession.  Individuals receiving this award must have contributed over a period of time, and the results of their work must be demonstrated in the narrative portion of the nomination form. This award is intended to recognize those that have consistently and without hesitation engaged in the work of the Association.
GOLDEN SHOVEL
The Florida Recreation and Park Association's Golden Shovel Parks Professional Award recognizes the continuous dedication of a park employee who has demonstrated outstanding service to the field of parks and recreation.  		LIFETIME
The FRPA Lifetime Award is intended to recognize “lifetime” service to the Florida Recreation and Park Association and the parks, recreation and leisure services profession.  Individuals who are nominated for this award must be retired at the time the award will be presented, have maintained their membership in FRPA, and must have been active in FRPA.   
RISING STAR
The FRPA Rising Star Award is presented annually to those individuals employed in the field of parks, recreation or leisure services for a period of no more than five years. 
 		AGENCY EXCELLENCE
The FRPA Agency Excellence Award is to recognize and honor the state’s most outstanding community Park, Recreation and/or Leisure Service agencies for excellence in Parks and Recreation in the areas of health, economic development, environmental sustainability, and community development.  Entries must be based on activities that have been initiated in the past year.
INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING
The FRPA Innovative Programming Award recognizes the importance of creative, trend setting ideas as the cornerstone of expanding community participation in leisure programs. Awards will be given for programs that are intended to influence the public the categories of Health, Community Building, Economic Impact and Development and Environmental Sustainability and Resiliency. Nominations must select one of these pillars to enter under.
 		PUBLIC RELATIONS
The FRPA Public Relations Award is presented annually to the individual or agency significantly impacting the public’s awareness and recognition of public parks, recreation and leisure services programs through marketing and public relations. Recognition is available in four categories. 
SPORTS TOURISM
The Florida Sports Foundation in partnership with FRPA is proud to present the Excellence in Sport Tourism Award for Florida Recreation and Park Departments. This award program is designed to recognize department contributions to the Sport Tourism efforts of their community. To be considered for this award, a department must be an FRPA member in good standing and nominated by a Florida Sports Foundation Industry Partner in good standing (Regional Sports Commission).
 		CORPORATE SUPPORT
The FRPA Corporate Support Award is presented annually to the Corporation, Foundation, or Business Entity which has made significant and consistent contributions to the parks, recreation and leisure services field through sponsorship, creation or implementation of a program, project or series of programs which have advanced the field or opened new opportunities for such advancement, within the last one year period.
VOLUNTARY SERVICE - GROUP
The FRPA Voluntary Service Award is presented annually to citizens or organizations whose voluntary contributions of time and efforts over a period of time, have improved the quality and quantity of leisure opportunities through parks, recreation and leisure service programs and projects in neighborhoods, communities, or the State of Florida.
 		VOLUNTARY SERVICE-INDIVIDUAL
The FRPA Voluntary Service Award for individuals, is presented annually to citizens whose voluntary contributions of time and efforts over a period of time, have improved the quality and quantity of leisure opportunities through parks, recreation and leisure service programs and projects in neighborhoods, communities, or the State of Florida.