ALLEN, TX – Nov 7, 2014 – The Allen Parks and Recreation Department was presented with four awards during the Texas Recreation and Parks Society (TRAPS) North Region conference held Nov. 7 in Grand Prairie, Texas. The department earned The Excellence in Programming Award, the Horizons Award, the Communications Award and the Maintenance Award. These honors come on the heels of receiving international recognition in the form of two awards from the International Festival & Event Association and after becoming a finalist for the second consecutive year for the National Parks and Recreation’s Gold Medal Award, an overall departmental award that is the most prestigious honor in the park and recreation industry.
The TRAPS Excellence in Programming Award was earned in the aquatic/recreation category where Joe Farmer Recreation Center’s Zombie Survival Apocalypse Camp was recognized. The program teaches important survival skills like archery, fishing, geocaching, orienteering shelter and outdoor cooking in a fun and innovative way. The award is given to an outstanding on-going program that has been offered two or more years.
Ashley McInnis received the TRAPS Horizons Award. This award is given to an outstanding professional with less than five years of experience in the parks and recreation industry. Ashley currently holds the position of Recreation Program Supervisor and has made a significant impact in her three years working for Joe Farmer Recreation Center.
The marketing division of the Parks and Recreation Department earned the TRAPS Communications Award for outstanding communication efforts of a park and recreation or leisure agency for the past year through the use of social media. Their Summer Sounds Selfie promotion which tied into the Market Street Allen USA Celebration and the department’s annual Parks and Recreation month observance was recognized.
The City of Allen earned a TRAPS Maintenance Award for a project which increased the quality and capacity of Allen’s softball fields through the installation of artificial turf. The purpose of this award is to recognize superior maintenance standards and practices including creative approaches to problem solving and innovative means and methods of maintaining parks and recreation facilities.
The Texas Recreation and Park Society is a non-profit 501(c)3 educational and professional organization founded 76 years ago. The organization is committed to advancing the field of parks, recreation and leisure services in Texas, while advocating for enhanced recreation opportunities and the increase of public green space for Texans. Additionally, the organization serves as a clearinghouse of information on parks and recreation, fosters networking and promotes the sharing of information. The Allen Parks and Recreation Department is one of approximately 2,000 professional and citizen-advocate members of the organization.