Department honored for ‘Walk in Park’ report and volunteer services provided by Erma and Dave Miller
Sarasota County’s Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Department (PRNR) has received two awards from the Florida Recreation and Park Association (FRPA) in recognition of annual report materials and volunteer contributions, the county has announced.
PRNR staff was presented with the Public Relations Printed Material Award and the Voluntary Service Individual Award during FRPA’s annual conference, held Aug. 30 through Sept. 2 in Orlando, a news release says.
The FRPA Public Relations Printed Material Award went to PRNR for the Walk in the Park report, “a comprehensive annual summary that provides a year in review as well as a look ahead to future projects and goals,” the release points out.
PRNR Director Nicole Rissler said county staff “is proud to share the Walk in the Park annual report with community members as it was created to recognize staff accomplishments and highlight the contributions of our volunteers,” the release notes. “The report provides readers with a visually enhanced timeline of parks and beach improvements, capital projects, economic impacts of sports tourism and more,” the release adds.
The FPRA Voluntary Service Individual Award was dedicated to Erma and Dave Miller, who have contributed more than 47 years of volunteer services at Sarasota BMX, part of the Youth Athletic Complex, the release continues.
“We are thrilled that for the third year in a row we have earned The Florida Recreation and Park Association Voluntary Service Individual Award,” Rissler said in the release. “We are incredibly fortunate that the volunteers in this community are as dedicated to our parks system as we are. The Millers are a prime example of the many volunteers we have that continue to preserve our world-class amenities,” Rissler added.
The Florida Recreation and Park Association annually honors parks and recreation agencies, employees, volunteers and partners who make an impact on their communities, the release points out. “Nominations are reviewed by a volunteer committee and then peer-rated based on supporting details,” the release says.
The FRPA Awards presentations take place at the annual conference each September. More information on the FRPA awards program may be found at frpa.org/awards.