Three projects have been selected by a panel of judges for the 2017 Governor’s Award for Parks and Recreation. Cincinnati Recreation Commission’s Youth 2 Work program, Clark County Park District’s Mad River Gorge and Nature Preserve and the City of Miamisburg’s Pro-ffiti Initiative were selected from among the 14 first place award winners.
- The City of Cincinnati’s Youth 2 Work program (Y2WK), managed by Cincinnati Recreation Commission, was designed to bring together a body of hiring agencies working to hire Cincinnati teens during the summer. The eight-week program provides job readiness and life skills training to Cincinnati youth between the ages of 14-18. The summer 2017 program saw 481 youth employed throughout the City.
- The Clark County Park District gathered together local governments, businesses, climbing organizations and individuals who had a passion for the outdoors to establish Mad River Gorge and Nature Preserve. With help from this steering committee, the Park District received a Clean Ohio Conservation Fund grant to purchase close to 78 acres of woods, meadow, river, former railroad and natural dolomite cliffs which is now a haven for wildlife and outdoor enthusiasts from throughout the region.
- The City of Miamisburg’s Pro-ffiti Initiative seeks to enhance city beautification and mitigate instances of graffiti throughout Miamisburg’s historic downtown, parks and community space. Through the initiative, the city is able to react to and mitigate instances of graffiti around Miamisburg. The initiative tracks instances of graffiti before and after the installations of public art and will be able to gauge the lasting effects on city resources.
The Governor’s Award for Parks and Recreation, presented by Ohio Parks and Recreation Association was established in 2010 to recognize the one park and recreation program or project that has had the most significant impact on quality of life in the preceding year.
Officials from eight statewide organizations formed the voting panel for the 2017 award. They included: County Commissioners Association of Ohio, Ohio Association of Broadcasters, Ohio Association of Realtors, Ohio Chamber of Commerce, Ohio Homebuilders Association, Ohio Manufacturers’ Association, Ohio Municipal League and Ohio Township Association.
They judged the program and project winners based on the following criteria:
- Demonstrated impact of the program or project on the community quality of life;
- The project or program is unique/innovative or presents a new way of doing something;
- The program or project addresses a felt need in the community and includes clear goals which are achieved; and,
- The program or project is utilized by the community and outcomes can be demonstrated.
The award winner will be announced and the award presented at the OPRA Annual Awards Dinner on January 30, 2018 at the Kalahari Convention Center in Sandusky.