IPRA Recognizes Work of Hamilton County Parks
Hamilton County elected officials, joined county parks staff and leadership and family and friends of those being honored at the IPRA Awards of Excellence Banquet, recently held in Indianapolis.
What a night for Hamilton County! Three of the county’s civic leaders and its parks department were honored at the Indiana Park and Recreation Association’s (IPRA) annual Awards of Excellence Banquet.
The statewide association bestows awards on individuals and agencies that have contributed to the parks and recreation field in a manner worthy of recognition by the professional organization and its members.
IPRA’s Awards of Excellence Banquet honorees and attendees (left to right): Al Patterson, past HCPR Parks Director, Steve Dillinger, County Commissioner, Dr. Judith Campbell, Parks Board Member, Bruce Oldham, HCPR Deputy Director, Chris Stice, HCPR Director, Lori Schwartz, Steve Schwartz, County Council Member and Parks Liaison, Donna Prather, Terry Prather, HCPR Parks Board President, Andrea Peoples, Dan Stevens, County Director of Administration and Kimberly Cockrill.
At the banquet, held on Wednesday evening, November 16 in the historic Union Station, Downtown Indianapolis, Hamilton County Council Member and Parks Liaison, Steve Schwartz, was recognized as Elected Official of the Year. Hamilton County Parks Board President, Terry Prather, was named Distinguished Citizen, and Al Patterson, past County Parks Director, received the prestigious Distinguished Life Member Award.
All three award recipients are well-known and respected for their deep love of the outdoors and particularly their passion for parks – a passion they have turned into practice that has benefited Hamilton County community members for decades.
On behalf of Hamilton County Parks and Recreation (HCPR), Parks Director Chris Stice accepted the coveted Clark Ketchum Conservation Award, an honor bestowed upon a parks department that has achieved a standard of excellence in conservation stewardship.
Upon receiving the award, Stice stated “This recognition,” the second such award earned by HCPR, “ is especially gratifying because it validates our parks department’s commitment to act as stewards of the land entrusted to us, as expressed in our mission statement.”
In a show of support for those being recognized, County Commissioner Steve Dillinger, County Director of Administration Dan Stevens, Parks Board member Dr. Judith Campbell and numerous family members and friends attended the ceremony. All agreed it was a good night for Hamilton County.
To learn more about Indiana Park and Recreation Association visit INPRA.org. Additional information about Hamilton County Parks and Recreation can be found on their facebook page or online at MyHamiltonCountyParks.com.