Dover Parks and Rec Assistant Director Honored as New Professional of the Year

The following was provided by Dover Parks and Recreation.

Jessica Cooney of Dover Parks & Recreation was selected as the winner of the 2011/2012 Massachusetts Recreation and Park Association’s “New Professional of the Year Award”. The Massachusetts Recreation and Park Association’s Executive Board established this award to recognize a new professional who has been in the field less than 10 years and has made outstanding contributions to the profession in the past year.

Cooney was nominated by her peers from around the state and was chosen for the award by the MRPA’s award’s committee through a thorough selection process. 

The award was presented to Cooney during the Awards Brunch at the Annual MRPA State Conference on Thursday, March 8, 2012 at the Sturbridge Host Hotel and Conference Center in Sturbridge, MA. 

Upon receiving the award, Jessica spoke to those in attendance expressing her gratitude and thanked her fellow young professionals, mentors, along with the Town of Dover for their support in her professional endeavors.

Dave MacTavish, Director of Dover Parks & Recreation; along with Kathy Gorman, Dover’s part-time programming assistant were also present at the awards ceremony to support Jessica.

Jessica has been the Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation for Dover, MA for the past six years.

For the town of Dover, Cooney has increased the number of programs being offered in the community significantly over the past six years. 

She has created working relationships with the school systems and other town and parent groups within the community, repositioning the department as more vital and key member of the community. 

Cooney has also created a new website for the department, along with installing new online registration software and phone systems. 

She serves in town as an advisory committee member for future plans of the town’s community center and is assisting in the planning process of a $3.5 million turf field project by preparing, organizing, and attending group and public meetings related to the project.