City Parks Department Honored with Multiple Awards from State Association

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 18, 2013

For more information contact
Mayor Mark Kruzan, City of Bloomington, (812) 349-3406 or [mayor@bloomington.in.gov|mailto:mayor@bloomington.in.gov]

Mick Renneisen, Director, City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department, (812) 349-3711 or [renneism@bloomington.in.gov|mailto:renneism@bloomington.in.gov]

John Carter, President, Board of Park Commissioners, 330-7720 or [jcarter@mccsc.edu|mailto:jcarter@mccsc.edu]

[Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department Mick Renneisen (center) accepts the Outstanding Agency of the Year Award from IPRA President Nate Thorne (left) and IPRA Executive Director Chris Owens at the IPRA Awards of Excellence program January 18.|image:13619,right]Bloomington, IN - The City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department was presented with four separate Awards of Excellence at the Indiana Park and Recreation Association annual conference at the Bloomington/Monroe County Convention Center last night, including the Outstanding Agency of the Year Award.

The Outstanding Agency award is presented annually to a park and recreation department that has shown excellence in the administration of parks and recreation services within the state of Indiana.

IPRA executive director Chris Owens said, "The Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department enhances the community's quality of life as a contributor to Bloomington's clean, natural environment; an everyday part of citizens' healthy, active lifestyles; an integral part of the local economy; a steward of more than $50 million in community assets; and a part of what makes the City of Bloomington a great place to live, work, and play."

Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department Director Mick Renneisen said, "As every department director knows, awards like these are a reflection of a truly dedicated and committed staff, and I want to acknowledge their ongoing efforts to provide healthy and wholesome parks, facilities, and programs for the Bloomington community."

He added, "We are especially grateful to Mayor Kruzan, our city council, and most of all to the people of Bloomington, who enjoy and support our city parks and who have faith that our department will continue to provide the types of properties and programs that enhance the quality of life here in Bloomington."

The Awards of Excellence presentation included additional honors for the city parks and recreation department. The Cascades Park Trail, which opened in May 2012 and connects Lower Cascades Park and Lower Cascades ballfields to the Ferguson Dog Park at Stone Mill Road, won the Park Development-$500,000 to $750,000 award.

"Numerous external agencies and organizations proved invaluable in seeing the Cascades Park Trail plan, design, and construction to fruition," said IPRA Executive Director Chris Owens. "Bloomington's existing trails have already proven to be economic drivers as well as alternative transportation options and places to exercise. With the first phase of the Cascades Park Trail system in place, the stage is set to further expand the trail system, and the many benefits of trails, to the north side of Bloomington."

The department was also presented with two program awards: Youth and Family Program Award for the Banneker Summer Food Service Program, and Health and Fitness Program Award for the Story Book Trail.

The Banneker Summer Food Service program, which provides healthy, nutritious meals and recreation programs during the summer at no cost to children, is the community's first and only free summer program targeting those living in low-income households. The Story Book Trail offered participants in area summer day camps the chance to brush up on their reading skills while learning about good food and healthy activity choices.

"Reading in a group, with the freedom to be loud, silly, and to laugh, made reading time into fun time," said Bloomington Parks and Recreation's health and wellness coordinator Lindsay Buuck. "By engaging all the senses, and the carefree freedom of movement, the Story Book Trail prepares children to re-enter school in the fall having retained reading skills from previous years, and with their minds and bodies prepared to learn."

The Indiana Park and Recreation Association at the Bloomington/Monroe County Convention Center brought more than 500 people to Bloomington this week for its three-day conference. The conference concludes Jan. 19. For more information about the Indiana Park and Recreation Association, visit www.inpra.org.

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