VALDOSTA – The Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks & Recreation Authority is the top agency in the state for the third year in a row according to the Georgia Recreation & Park Association.
The Association named VLPRA the State Agency of the Year for population 80,001-150,000.
VLPRA also won the award last year and in 2014. The agency’s executive director, George Page, also received GRPA’s most prestigious individual award: Distinguished Professional of the Year.
The Agency of the Year award honors the top Parks & Recreation department in the state based on facilities, outstanding programs, staff development, and accomplishments. The Authority’s achievements include a $6-million-dollar economic impact through hosted tournaments in the last fiscal year, record breaking enrollment numbers in youth sports, construction of a new basketball court, and the agency was awarded a coveted $100,000 Land & Water Conservation Fund grant.
The Distinguished Professional Award is a high honor recognizing an individual who has made outstanding and lasting contributions to the field of recreation. VLPRA Executive Director George Page received the award for his outstanding service to the community, his work with GRPA and other professional organizations, and his leadership over the award winning Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks & Recreation Authority.
VLPRA Board Chairman Mike McDowell says Page’s award and the Authority’s achievements are a point of pride for the community.
“VLPRA staff members are incredibly dedicated to providing the best possible service to residents,” McDowell says. “Mr. Page and his entire team are committed to achieving a level of excellence that is evident in their day to day operations and highlighted by these much deserved awards. We cannot be prouder of their accomplishments.”
VLPRA received the State awards at the GRPA State Conference Banquet in Athens, Georgia November 9th. VLPRA also brought home several awards from the GRPA District 3 Banquet in October. George Page received the Jim ‘Buck’ Goff Distinguished Professional Award”, the Authority won “Innovative Special Event of the Year” for it’s “Beyond the Runway Fashion Show”, and Mary Townsend was named “Volunteer of the Year”.
