People, Projects, Programs, & Events Receive OPRA Honors

Two professionals will receive the association’s highest honor, as the newest inductees into the OPRA Hall of Fame.

JIM GARGES is the first of our Hall of Fame inductees. Jim retired in 2017 after ten years serving as the Director of the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department in North Carolina. In Ohio, he served as the Director of the Cincinnati Recreation Commission, Director of the City of Kettering Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts (where his department won a National Gold Medal), and Director of Delaware Parks and Recreation. Jim’s service to the profession has been truly remarkable. He served as Chairman of the State of Ohio Parks and Recreation Advisory Council (1997 to 2007); State of Ohio Recreation Resources Commission (1996 -2007); NRPA Chairman on the National Issues and Action Committee (1998-00); Indiana University Executive Development School Board of Trustees (1997-00); and Chairman of the National Recreation and Parks Association Great Lakes Regional Council (2000). He has also made numerous presentations to professional audiences such as OPRA and NRPA. The number of staff that Jim mentored throughout his career was tremendous, and they now serve in many leadership roles across the state and nation. Jim worked to make his staff feel special and made sure to work with all his team members to make sure they were heading in the right direction as professionals.

MARY MERTZ, Director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, will be inducted into the OPRA Hall of Fame. Throughout her distinguished career, Director Mertz has made significant contributions to the state of Ohio’s parks, recreation, and natural resources. Her leadership, expertise, and vision have enhanced environmental conservation and public access to natural spaces, creating a model for sustainable outdoor recreation. With an extensive legal and public service background, her life’s work has been exemplified by a commitment to the public’s good. At ODNR, she has pioneered conservation initiatives including the H2Ohio Water Quality Program. She has been instrumental in leading ODNR's efforts to tackle water quality challenges across Ohio. She has provided enhanced public access to recreation by promoting and managing critical capital investments in State Parks including nature center construction and renovations. Director Mertz has also been at the forefront of promoting environmental education. Through her leadership, ODNR has also provided unprecedented support for ODNR law enforcement. Director Mertz has also been a critical partner to OPRA, ensuring that Ohio remains a leader in parks, recreation, and natural resource management. She is tireless in her devotion to the work of parks and recreation and is one of Ohio’s foremost leaders in promoting the life-changing work that parks and recreation is all about.

KIM CONRAD, the retired Director of Grove City Parks and Recreation, is the winner of the Harvey Woods Lifetime Achievement Award. She dedicated more than 34 years to the Grove City Parks and Recreation Department, including 24 years as director. The growth overseen by Kim and her team throughout those years was tremendous. The new facilities completed during her tenure are truly too numerous to mention. Grove City now has 30 parks, 518 acres of open space, and extensive multiuse paths, now totaling over 38 miles. Kim not only made a huge impact in parks and recreation in Grove City and Central Ohio, she left a legacy throughout Ohio and the nation. The Grove City Parks and Recreation Department became a nationally accredited CAPRA agency for the first time in 2006 under her leadership. She served on the OPRA Board and was president for two years during the transition of our organization, helping to position OPRA for the tremendous growth we have experienced. Her dedication to mentoring and empowering others helped to shape the careers of so many in our profession.

KEN CARTER, of the Centerville-Washington Park District, is our 2024 OPRA Professional of the Year. Ken has been the driving force behind the success of the Centerville-Washington Park District (CWPD) for 28 years, 15 of those as the Operations Manager. His innovative thinking and foresight have helped the Department become a leader in important areas. In 2017, he spearheaded the initiative to install climate-controlled AEDs across all eight CWPD community parks. Last year, he expanded this effort to include larger nature parks. This vision is the reason CWPD continues to set the standard in safety and innovation and has saved the lives of park visitors. Additionally, Ken has been a key player in implementing the district's ADA transition plan. Under his leadership, CWPD has made significant strides in inclusivity, allowing more visitors to enjoy the parks in meaningful ways. Ken exemplifies what it means to serve the community. His people-first attitude shines through in everything he does. He is a beloved figure at community meetings, and a strong advocate for continuing education, going above and beyond to provide assistance to professionals around the state.

THE LEHNER FAMILY, volunteers at Five Rivers MetroParks, are our 2024 Citizens of the Year. In 2021, high school freshman, Leo Lehner, passed away after an incident during rowing practice. Though the Lehner family was surrounded by their family, friends, networks, and local parochial/Catholic diocese community, they decided to work through their insurmountable grief by being a living reflection of Leo’s values: adventure, generosity, kindness, and authenticity. In April 2022, Leo’s extended family participated in MetroParks’ largest annual day of service, volunteering at Possum Creek MetroPark’s newly improved nature play area. Wanting to take the single day of service a step further, Mike and Kate reached out to MetroParks’ staff to inquire about more in-depth volunteer opportunities. After hundreds of hours of demanding volunteer work, the Lehner family has helped maintain the nature play area and – through personal fundraising – has supported plans for significant additions to it that will make it more hands-on and accessible to children and parents.

HEATHER BOKMAN, of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, is our 2024 Jack Hanna Resource Conservation Award winner. Throughout her career with ODNR, Heather has been a tireless advocate for wildlife conservation and environmental stewardship. Her early work laid the groundwork for a deep understanding of the connection between Ohio’s wild spaces and the communities that depend on them. In 2022, Heather accepted the newly created position of Sustainability Coordinator in the ODNR Division of Parks and Watercraft, where she launched and has since led the ConServe Ohio initiative--an ambitious program designed to embed sustainability into every aspect of Ohio State Parks’ operations. Under Heather’s leadership, the ConServe Ohio initiative has grown from a vision into a robust, impactful program with far-reaching benefits. She has championed a holistic approach to sustainability, emphasizing that ecological protection must go hand-in-hand with economic responsibility and social inclusion. This triple-bottom-line approach ensures that sustainability is more than just an environmental issue.

MAGGIE WEST, from the City of Hilliard, is the winner of the Outstanding Youth Leadership Award. In 2022, Maggie began her professional journey with the city as a lifeguard. Since then, Maggie was quickly promoted as a lead lifeguard for the City of Hilliard Aquatics Team. In this position, she has not only demonstrated incredible responsibility and professionalism but has also acted as a mentor and leader to a group of 12 first-year lifeguards. Her mentorship has been invaluable in fostering a positive, team-oriented environment where everyone feels empowered to contribute and grow. As an active member of the Hilliard Recreation and Parks Advisory Committee (RPAC), Maggie attends monthly meetings and acts as a voice for younger residents and is a representative from her high school providing valuable perspective and feedback.

JEN WELDAY, of the City of Reynoldsburg, is our Youth Sports Coach of the Year. For over six years, Jen has coached and led both Superhero Baseball and Superhero Flag Football for the city. Jen started Superhero Baseball for her son, Caleb. While playing in other baseball leagues on adaptive, hard surfaces, Caleb wanted to play in dirt like everyone else. Jen came to the department and proposed Superhero Baseball that now has expanded into Superhero Flag Football. Grass stains, dirt, and all—just as Caleb wanted. She encourages kids to try their hardest, have fun, and be a good teammate. The community of players and families that have grown together is shown in the amount of people interested in the programs and participate in the Superhero Program each season.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE SHARON RAY is OPRA’s 2024 Public Official of the Year. Representative Ray is accessible, engaging, and a true public servant. She is a strong supporter of parks and recreation agencies in her Medina County district. Rep. Ray has a proven record of supporting what we do as an association, from visiting local parks with her grandson and attending park events to speaking with OPRA members about critical issues and regularly funding improvements. In the recent state capital budget alone, Rep. Ray championed more than $4.5 million for park and recreation projects benefiting the city of Wadsworth, Medina County Park District, the Village of Lodi, and more. Representative Ray understands the mission of parks and recreation and has been a leader in Columbus and in Medina County, advocating for that mission with other legislators and local elected officials.

“These people are setting the bar in terms of improving the quality of life around the state,” Woodward said. “They are the shining stars of parks and recreation in Ohio.”

The OPRA Awards of Excellence will be presented on February 4, 2025 at the Annual Awards Dinner at the Kalahari Resort and Conference Center in Sandusky.