Richardson, TX – Today, the City of Richardson was honored at the 2011 Texas Recreation and Park Society (TRAPS) Annual Institute and Trade Show with the Texas Gold Medal for excellence in the field of recreation and park management for the past three years. This award honors communities that demonstrate excellence in long-range park planning, park and recreation resource management, and agency recognition.
“We are honored to receive this prestigious award from the Texas Recreation and Park Society, and we are proud of our dedicated employees and volunteers who have worked tirelessly for the City and this department,” said Richardson Mayor Gary Slagel. “We have signature events in this community that truly make us stand out, and all of our projects, programs, and services would not be possible without the combined efforts of our professional staff and community residents who give their time to make Richardson a fun place to live and work.”
The award, presented at a special luncheon today in McAllen, Texas, was given to Richardson for its extraordinary ability to address the needs of those it serves through the collective energies of citizens, staff and elected officials. The nomination comprises 12 categories that range from use of budgets to amount of visitors to types of surveys conducted. Some of the areas where Richardson excelled over the 2007-2009 judging timeframe included:
Unusual challenges faced– Swine Flu breakout; reduction in staff; economic downturn; and sheltering of hurricane evacuees
Programs that excelled during three-year period– Neighborhood Vitality Program; Wildflower! Festival Planting Program; Dine Smart, Dine Local; New (Huffhines) Recreation Center; Tree the Town; expansion of existing programs
High-level of support and involvement in TRAPS– 33 staff members involved in TRAPS in 2007 and 34 involved by 2009; various board positions and certifications from organization for staff members during the three-year period
TRAPS is a non-profit professional and educational organization founded more than 70 years ago to advance the profession of parks, recreation, and leisure services in Texas. A state affiliate member of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), TRAPS also maintains professional affiliate relationships with several state universities, athletic and civic organizations, recreational entities, state agencies, and commercial vendors who provide services or programs related to parks, recreation and leisure service management. For more information visit www.traps.org
About the City of Richardson
With over 99,200 residents, the City of Richardson is widely recognized for its commitment to excellence, its rich history and its bright future, all of which make Richardson a smart choice for residents and businesses. Known globally for its high-tech business leadership, the City of Richardson also offers a high quality of life, diverse array of neighborhoods, convenient Metroplex location, multi-modal transportation infrastructure and outstanding City services. Richardson has been repeatedly recognized as one of the top places to live and work by the national media, and the City remains dedicated to continuous improvement, as well as to the principles of open government and two-way communications with residents. To learn more, visit www.cor.net.