2008
Goodan Ranch Center wins multiple awards
Ramona Grasslands Preserve document wins State award
California Parks and Recreation Society (CPRS) Annual Conference
California Parks and Recreation Society District XII Awards (3)
National Recreation and Park Administrators (NRPA) Pacific Southwest Award
2007
California State Association of Counties Award
Award winning GIS maps
California Parks and Recreation Society District XII Awards (2)
2006
National Association of Counties (NACo) 2006 Achievement Award Program
Fallbrook, Lakeside, and Spring Valley Community Needs Assessment
Lakeside and Spring Valley Teen Center/Outdoor Adventure Program
On-line Camping Reservations System
County Trails Program Award
California Recreational Trails Committee Award
California Parks and Recreation Society Awards Annual Conference (3)
California Parks and Recreation Society District XII Awards (4)
2005
California Parks and Recreation Society Award of Excellence
State Recreational Trails Committee Appointment
California State Association of Counties (CSAC) Challenge Award
National Recreation and Park Administration (NRPA) Gold Medal Award finalist
National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Award
National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials (NACPRO) Award
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Goodan Ranch Center wins multiple awards
The Department of Parks and Recreation proudly accepted the following awards for the new Goodan Ranch Center, which opened to the public in September of 2007. The $1.5 million project was funded by County insurance proceeds from the Cedar Fire, and includes ranger facilities, an exhibit room, public restrooms and a meeting hall:
CA Parks & Recreation Society (CPRS) Achievement Award for Facility Design and Planning This award is presented annually by peers for one regional park project that effectively integrates active public involvement in the planning and design of energy efficient and environmentally friendly park facilities to satisfy the needs of the community.
SDG&E Sustainable Communities Champion
This award was designed to encourage sustainable development. The program promotes green building design practices in SDG&E’s service area and provides incentives for qualified projects that greatly exceed the California Energy Efficiency Standards and obtain LEED® certification. Goodan Ranch Center is 48.3% more energy efficient than is required by Title 24 and is expected to obtain LEED "Silver" and possibly "Gold" certification.
SANDEE (San Diego Excellence in Energy) Special Achievement in Energy by a Government Agency
This award recognizes outstanding projects and activities that have achieved significant energy savings and/or contributions toward the goals of the San Diego Regional Energy Strategy 2030 through the implementation of energy efficiency, energy conservation, renewable energy measures and CO2 reduction in San Diego County. Building materials used in Goodan Ranch Center contain high recycled content and the cement alone avoided an equivalent of 129 tons of CO2 emissions.
Ramona Grasslands Preserve Area document wins State award
The Ramona Grasslands Preserve Area Specific Management Directive (ASMD) document received the 2008 State Association of Environmental Professionals (AEP) award for Outstanding Environmental Resource Document. In September 2007 the ASMD won the AEP San Diego Chapter award in the same category. The ASMD was written for the Preserve establishing biological, water quality, and cultural goals for a workable and cost-effective management program for maintaining and restoring the grasslands. The Preserve will be open to the public for passive recreation including multi-use trails (hiking, biking, and equestrian) and include interpretive programs regarding the distinctive sensitive species and habitats found within the Preserve.
California Parks and Recreation Society Annual Conference
At the 2008 annual conference for the California Parks and Recreation Society, the Miracle Field at San Dieguito Park received the Award of Excellence for Facility Design.
California Parks and Recreation Society District XII awards
San Diego County Parks and Recreation staff received several accolades at the 2008 awards and installation banquet for CPRS District XII:
Jason Hemmens was named as Past President of the Board of Directors, and Cailin Hunsaker was named as the Park Operations representative for another year.
Supervising Ranger Marla Barlow received an Award of Achievement for Outstanding Performance.
Administrative Trainee Sylvia Bugiel received a Citation of Achievement for Outstanding Performance.
National Recreation and Park Administrators Pacific Southwest Award
At the 2008 National Recreation and Park Administrators (NRPA) Pacific Southwest Awards Banquet, Recreation Program Manager Jason Hemmens received the Outstanding Young Professional Award.
California State Association of Counties award
The Department of Parks and Recreation received a 2007 Honorable Mention Challenge Award from the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) for the "It's How We Live" program. This program consists of a series of wellness festivals in low-income, high-risk areas in the county. About 6,000 people have attended the events in the last two years. Each of the "It's How We Live" festivals was free to the public and featured entertainment, healthy food, sports demonstrations, interactive games, health screenings, and other ideas for healthy living. DPR coordinated the events with the help of the county's Health and Human Services Agency and several other public and private partners.
Award winning GIS maps
Ken Marlow, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Analyst for the Department of Parks and Recreation, received the Most Artistic award at the 26th Annual ESRI User Conference for his two maps, Laying Claim to the Sweetwater River (.jpg version (2 MB) pdf version (9 MB) and Life along the Sweetwater River (.jpg version (2 MB); .pdf version (9 MB)). The maps, which address both land usage in the area and vegetation, will be utilized on interpretive panels at Sweetwater Regional Park, assisting visitors by providing greater information about the history, archaeology, flora, and usage of the Sweetwater watershed. The ESRI Conference is held annually in San Diego, and is considered the premier conference worldwide for GIS professionals.
2007 California Parks and Recreation Society Awards Banquet -- 2 awards
DPR received two awards at the CPRS District XII Awards and Installation Banquet. The Outdoor Adventure Program received the Achievement Award for Outstanding Recreation Program. Cory Linder, Chief of Recreation, Community Centers, and Public Relations, received a Full-Time Professional Recognition Award for his contributions to the County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation.
National Association of Counties (NACo) 2006 Achievement Awards
In 2006 the Department of Parks and Recreation received three Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo). See below:
Fallbrook, Lakeside, and Spring Valley Community Needs Assessment
The needs assessment provided guidelines for improvement and development of community facilities and programs for the next five years, established a priority for facility and program development, and provided the Department with a sound and systematic basis for making decisions and selecting courses of action regarding programs, facilities, and marketing strategies.
Lakeside and Spring Valley Teen Center/Outdoor Adventure Program
The program targets youth participants of the Lakeside and Spring Valley Teen Centers, operated by Parks and Recreation. The program encompasses a variety of free outdoor activities for at-risk youth, including camping, backpacking, rock climbing, kayaking, canoeing, surfing, and mountain biking excursions, annually for four years. Furthermore, the program provides first-time outdoor experiences for underserved urban youth and gives them an introduction to a lifelong appreciation of the outdoors.
On-line Camping Reservations System
The County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation designed and developed an Internet Computerized Reservation System to provide a new expanded campsite reservation and day-use availability system. The new system was launched on October 1, 2004. The customer is able to view digital photographs of each campsite with detailed descriptions of the site amenities. Customers are now able to make camping reservations from anywhere there is internet service In addition to campground services, on-line clients are also able to check on the availability of the entire county's day-use facilities, which include picnic areas, wedding areas, and pavilions.
County Trails Program
The Department of Parks and Recreation accepted an award honoring the County of San Diego Trails Program at the 21st California Trails and Greenways Conference held May 5-7. This award recognizes important trail programs by organizations or agencies that initiated and implemented the program.
California Recreational Trails Committee Award
Presented by the governor-appointed Recreational Trails Committee, this award recognizes private citizens and elected officials who have made significant contributions in support of trails in California. Created to inspire a greater commitment to the expansion of California's trail network and its programs, nominees must have been publicly involved with trail issues for at least seven years. Extra consideration given for accomplishments related to creation of a specific "product" such as a trail or trail program. The Department of Parks and Recreation nominated County Board of Supervisors Deanne Jacob, District 2, and she became the first recipient of this prestigious awards.
California Parks and Recreation Society Awards Annual Conference -- 3 awards
The Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) received three awards at the Annual State Conference for the California Parks and Recreation Society. The Casey Conrad health and Fitness Award was given for DPR's health and fitness programs and for our implementation of the County's Childhood Obesity Action Plan. DPR also received an award for our involvement in the CPRS District XII Greater San Diego Parks and Recreation Coalition and implementing efforts that include Hears-N-Parks., health festivals, and more. Finally, the County's Trails Program received the "Best of the Best" award in the Neighborhood/Community Life category.
California Parks and Recreation Society Local Banquet -- 4 awards
DPR received four awards at the CPRS District XII Awards and Installation Banquet. The Finney Overlook Project, Otay Valley Regional Park, received an Achievement Award for Facility Design. Melake Ghebrehiwet, Senior Project Manager, received a Full-Time Professional Recognition Award for his outstanding contributions to the County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation. Christine Lafontant, Recreation Manager, received an award for her efforts addressing the physical activity and wellness needs of her respective communities and for strategically offering healthy solutions; and Jason Hemmens, Recreation manager, received a service award for his involvement with District XII. Hemmens was elected as President Elect to the CPRS District XII 2006-07 Board of Directors.
California Parks and Recreation Society Award of Excellence
The Department of Parks and Recreation, in collaboration with the Greater San Diego Recreation and Parks Coalition for Health and Wellness, received a California Parks and Recreation Society 2006 Recreation and Community Service Award of Excellence for their outstanding efforts addressing the physical activity and wellness needs of their respective communities and strategically offering healthy solutions. The coalition is composed of parks and recreation department representatives from 13 San Diego area cities and the County of San Diego.
State Recreational Trails Committee Appointment
The Department of Parks and Recreation's County Trails Program Coordinator, Maryanne Vancio, was appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to the State of California Recreational Trails Committee on December 22, 2005. The committee meets throughout the year and focuses on promoting trail use throughout the state as well as regional and statewide planning efforts.
California State Association of Counties (CSAC) Challenge Award
The Department of Parks and Recreating received an Honorable Mention Challenge Award from CSAC for the Lakeside and Spring Valley Teen Center's Outdoor Adventure Program. The program targets youth participants of the Parks and Recreation-operated Lakeside and Spring Valley Teen Centers. The program encompasses a variety of free outdoor activities for at-risk youth, including camping, backpacking, rock climbing, kayaking, canoeing, surfing, and mountain biking excursions, annually for four years. Furthermore, the program provides first-time outdoor experiences for underserved urban youth and gives them an introduction to a lifelong appreciation of the outdoors.
National Recreation and Park Administration (NRPA) Gold Medal Award finalist
The County Department of Parks and Recreation qualified as a finalist for the National Recreation and Park Administration's (NRPA) Gold Medal Award, the highest honor in the parks and recreation industry. Gaining recognition for outstanding leisure services, the department stands as one of four national finalists. As a finalist for the award, the County demonstrates its success in addressing the needs of San Diego County's diverse communities through the collective energy of citizens, staff, and elected officials.
National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Award
The County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation was honored by the National Association of Counties (NACo) with an achievement award for its docent volunteer program at Rancho Guajome Adobe. The Rancho Guajome Adobe docent program is a volunteer-based group that strives for historical preservation and interpretation of the County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation's historic adobe located in Vista. This docent program comprises more than 40 volunteers, who function in four subcommittees: the furniture committee, the gift shop committee, the livestock committee, and the special events committee. In addition, the docents lead interpretive tours of the adobe for the public on Saturdays and Sundays at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 2 p.m.
National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials (NACPRO) Award
The Department of Parks and Recreation received a major national award from the National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials (NACPRO). This award recognizes a county park and recreation agency that has provided a unique or exceptional program, activity, or event, which provides an outstanding example that other agencies could adopt or emulate.
