Forsyth Parks And Recreation Receives Agency Of Year Award

FORSYTH COUNTY, GA – Forsyth County Parks & Recreation received the Georgia Recreation and Park Association (GRPA) Agency of the Year Award during the GRPA awards banquet on Wednesday, Nov. 7. The award was presented to five population groups within the state, with Forsyth County falling into the largest population category – 150,000 and over.

“The annual state awards banquet celebrates and recognizes exemplary agencies for their work over the last year,” said Parks & Recreation Marketing and Community Relations Manager Laura Pate.

The agency of the year award nomination entry includes information about staff development,
budgeting and resources, facilities offered, use of technology and the nominees are judged on major accomplishments made within the last year as well as new and outstanding programs offered.

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One of the major accomplishments included in the nomination was earning national accreditation status from the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) in Sep. 2017. The department is one of only 166 agencies nationally to hold the recognition and the second county in Georgia to gain accreditation.

Some of the highlights presented in the nomination for outstanding programs included developing the new therapeutic recreation program, offering successful adventure and environmental education programs and providing access to fitness amenities at the recreation centers. Partnerships were also included in the nomination. The department partners with numerous athletic organizations to offer a variety of sports for the community as well as the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce to host the Play at the Park Festival.

“I am so proud of the exceptional efforts made by our staff to make this award possible and sincerely appreciate the continuous support our system receives from the Board of Commissioners, the Parks & Recreation Board and the citizens,” Parks & Recreation Director Jim Pryor said.

The Georgia Recreation and Park Association was formed in 1945 as a private, non-profit institution to support and promote the recreation and park industries within the state of Georgia.

Photo courtesy Forsyth County