City Parks And Recreation Department Wins State Association Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 31, 2006

For more information, contact:
Julie Ramey, Community Relations Manager, City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation, 349.3719
Maria K. Heslin, Communications Director, City of Bloomington, 349.3569

Bloomington, IN -- Mayor Mark Kruzan announced today that the City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department was presented with the Essential Service Award for Promotional and Marketing Materials by the Indiana Park and Recreation Association at its annual convention in Indianapolis on January 18, 2006.

"Our Parks and Recreation Department represents one of the top such departments in the nation," Mayor Mark Kruzan said. "We are privileged to have creative staff members that continually present the community with information in new and engaging ways."

The Parks and Recreation Department maintains 34 park sites on more than 2,100 acres, plus two outdoor swimming pools and two cemeteries. The Department also owns and manages several facilities for public use, including the City of Bloomington's Adult Community Center, Banneker Community Center, Allison-Jukebox Community Center, Low Ropes Challenge Course, Cascades Golf Course, Twin Lakes Sports Park, Winslow Sports Complex and the Frank Southern Ice Arena. Parks and Recreation programmers plan more than 500 events, classes and activities each year.

"We were impressed by the diversity of the marketing pieces submitted by the City of Bloomington," said IPRA Awards Committee Chair John Lester of Lester Recreation Designs, Greenwood Ind. "And by the way the Parks and Recreation Department communicates the many benefits of parks and recreation to its community."

The City's Parks and Recreation Department produces more than 200 marketing pieces annually to promote the department's programs, services and facilities. The seasonal program guide, designed and created in house and delivered to thousands of city households each year, was presented with the Kudos Award for Best Catalogue by the National Recreation and Park Association in 2004.

"We are honored that our promotional materials are recognized by both our state and national associations for their quality and uniqueness," said Mick Renneisen, Director of the City's Parks and Recreation Department. "These awards reflect not only our staff's dedication and innovative ideas, but also the community's support of parks and recreation programs and services."

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