Bismarck Parks & Recreation

State-Wide Honors

October 14, 2015 — News

 

A Bismarck project, person, programs and a partner received awards at the annual meeting of the North Dakota Recreation and Park Association (NDRPA) recently in Fargo. Bismarck Parks and Recreation District (BPRD) nominated the award winners.

The Golden Egg Award, given for outstanding and innovative park projects, was awarded to the Hillside Aquatic Complex. This new pool, featuring two slides, a climbing wall, four lap lanes and a large patio deck opened on June 8. The building itself has new locker rooms, four restrooms,  a roof patio, five family changing rooms, concessions, an elevator and a large community room that holds 175 people. Attendance at the complex this summer was over 32,000, compared to over 8,800 in 2014.

Bismarck Public Schools (BPS) received the NDRPA Partnership Award, which honors organizations for outstanding contributions to the park, recreation and conservation movement. BPS and BPRD consistently work together to provide numerous indoor and outdoor facilities for youth and adult recreation programming, as well as collaborative efforts for special events and tournaments. Through BPRD’s Matching Grant program, BPS has been provided 77 grants totaling over $222,000 to assist schools with new and upgraded playgrounds.

BPRD received the Innovative Programming Award, which demonstrates groundbreaking ideas in programming. BPRD received the award for its Pre-School Programming, which includes Toddler Splash Days, a child and parent program to introduce young ones to water, and for Play Dates, a free program for parents and preschoolers to play together at BPRD facilities.

 

 

 

 

-State Awards – pg. 2

 

 

BPRD Operations Director Greg Smith received the organization’s Distinguished Professional Award, which honors members with more than 10 years of experience. Smith has been with

BPRD for 21 years, first as a manager, and in 2010, a director. Smith is responsible for all outdoor spaces and parks at BPRD, and holds certifications in playground safety and professionalism in the field of parks and recreation.