MPRB receives Award of Excellence

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) has received the 2008 Award of Excellence from the Minnesota Recreation and Park Association for the planning process it used to create its Comprehensive Plan. The Award of Excellence program recognizes agencies or organizations in Minnesota for outstanding achievements in parks, recreation and leisure services. The award presented to the Minneapolis park system was for excellence in administrative and management strategies. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Comprehensive Plan maps the course for the park system into the future. It was approved by the Park Board on October 17, 2007. Prior to writing the plan, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board conducted months of community outreach and research to better understand the needs of the communities it serves. A draft of the plan was available for public review and comments on the plan were received until August 15. The approved plan incorporates comments that were received during the comment period from residents, park visitors, agencies, and organizations. Minneapolis officials really made the Comprehensive Plan a community project.

“This award recognizes the dedication residents, commissioners and staff displayed to develop a plan for the Minneapolis Park system, and showcases the steps taken to understand the park and recreation needs of the community. We are discovering that the process is as important in shaping the future of the park system as the plan,” said Jennifer Ringold, Project Manager.

MRPA was formed in 1937 to foster the growth and development of the parks and recreation profession throughout the state. Presently, MPRA has 1,000 professional, corporate, agency, board/commission, student, and retiree members throughout the state. Because its summertime and Minneapolis / Saint Paul parks have been in the news so much recently, (with this award and the recent national rankings from the Trust for Public Land) I think its time to do a series of posts highlighting our great parks. Over the next few posts, I hope you are inspired to learn about our great park system and take the chance to visit some of our excellent park facilities.