Awards and Honors

 

Local Awards

Awards of Appreciation from Bismarck Parks and Recreation District partners

• Bismarck Fire Department
• Great American Bike Race
• Kroll’s Bismarck Marathon
• Missouri Slope Model Aero Club
• Ford World Curling Championships – 2002

Northern Lights Council of the Boy Scouts of America

• 2015 Outstanding Community Partner Award

Bismarck Mandan Convention and Visitors Bureau

VIP Award for securing events and meetings in Bismarck/Mandan

• 2003: Randy Bina – National Playground Safety Training Institute;
  Steve Neu – National Recreation and Park Association
• 2006: Randy Bina – Amateur Softball Association and 2008: Men’s National D Northern Territory
• 2009: Tim Kuntz & Naomi Erdahl – Amateur Softball Association of America – Men’s Northern Territory Class E/Rec; National Championship and Men’s Northern Territory Class C Tournament
• 2011: Kevin Klipfel – US Paralympics Swim Trials
• 2014: Kevin Klipfel – American Legion Central Plains Regional Baseball Tournament 
• 2015: Mike Wald – US Paralympics CanAm Swim Meet (also honored Ted Alme & AquaStorm Swimming Club)
• 2021: Kevin Klipfel & Ethan Eberle – USA Softball National Men’s Class D Slowpitch Tournament
• 2023: Ethan Erbele – USA Softball Men’s Class E/Rec Northern National Championship

Golfweek Magazine Best Courses You Can Play In ND Award

• Riverwood Golf Course
  2006-2007-2008-2014-2015

MarCom Platinum Award

• Agency MABU – BPRD 2007 Annual Report

 

State Awards

Governor Burgum Main Street Award

• Livability for All Ages – 2019

ND Safety Council 

• Friend of Safety Award – 2012
• Community Outreach Award – 2015
• Commendation for Safety Award – 2016
• Workplace Safety Merit Award – 2020
• Workplace Safety Milestone Award – 2021
• Workplace Safety Milestone Award – 2022

ND Association of Nonprofit Organizations

• Partnership Building Award – 2017

ND Council of Engineering Companies

• KLJ – Engineering Excellence – Elks Aquatic Complex – 2007

ND Forest Service

• Tree City USA Award every year since 1977
• Community of the Year – Bismarck – 2010
• Distinguished Leadership Award – Randy Bina – 2012
• Distinguished Service Award – Greg Smith – 2015

ND Ready-Mix and Concrete Products Association

• Elks Aquatic Complex – Excellence in Concrete Award – 2006

ND Recreation and Park Association Awards

• Award for Excellence in Stewardship – 2004 – Land & Water Conservation Fund
• Distinguished Professional Award honors professional members of NDRPA and NRPA with more than 10 years of experience. BPRD professionals recognized:
  • 1990 – Steve Neu
  • 1995 – Randy Bina
  • 2003 – Tim Kuntz & Dennis Nybo
  • 2015 – Greg Smith, Operations Director
  • 2019 – Kevin Klipfel, Facilities and Programs Director
  • 2020 – RaNae Jochim, Recreation Manager
  • 2021 – Mike Wald, Facilities Manager, Arenas & Outdoor Pools
• Golden Egg Award recognizes outstanding and innovative park projects. BPRD projects honored:
  • 1994 –Matching Grants Program
  • 1995 –Recreational Trails
  • 2004 – Missouri Valley Legacy Center
  • 2006 – Magical Moments Playground
  • 2007 – Frances Leach High Prairie Arts & Science Complex
  • 2011 – BSC Aquatic & Wellness Center
  • 2014 – Bismarck Municipal Ballpark
  • 2015 – Hillside Aquatic Complex
  • 2021 – Cottonwood Park Expansion
• Innovative Programming Award recognizes and honors an NDRPA member agency or organization that demonstrates leadership with advanced groundbreaking ideas in programming. BPRD programs honored:
  • 2014 – July Celebration
  • 2015 – Pre-School Programming
  • 2016 – Park Passport
• Outstanding Young Professional Award honors professional members of NDRPA and NRPA who have experience of less than 10 years and are age 35 or younger. BPRD professionals recognized:
  • 2001 – Kevin Klipfel, Valley City Park District (now with BPRD)
  • 2017 – Jahna Gardiner, Aquatics Specialist
  • 2023 – Dylan Thiem, Facilities Manager, Arenas & Outdoor Pools
• Partnership Award honors organizations and individuals for outstanding contributions to the park, recreation and conservation movement. BPRD partners recognized:
  • 1994 – Triple Star Day Camp
  • 1998 – Retired Senior Volunteer Program
  • 2003 – Bismarck Sertoma Club (Sertoma Park)
  • 2003 – Dakota Jr. Golf Association (Youth Golf Lessons)
  • 2006 – Bismarck Capital City Curling Club
  • 2007 – Bismarck Kiwanis Club
  • 2009 – Nishu Bowmen Club
  • 2010 – Tesoro Mandan Refinery
  • 2011 – Bismarck Youth Fastpitch Softball Association
  • 2011 – Bismarck Youth Baseball
  • 2012 – GO! Bismarck-Mandan
  • 2012 – Sanford Health Foundation (Great American Bike Race)
  • 2014 – Missouri Slope Model Aero Club
  • 2015 – Bismarck Public Schools
  • 2023 – Bismarck Public Schools & City of Bismarck (Local Foods Program)

NDRPA Hall of Fame

• 2005 – Steve Neu
• 2011 – Randy Bina
• 2021 – Tim Kuntz
• 2021 – Dennis Nybo (formerly with BPRD)

ND Babe Ruth Baseball Hall of Fame

• 1996 – Steve Neu
• 2014 – Tim Kuntz 

ND Parks and Recreation Department

• Community Project Award – Sertoma Park – 1990

• Citizen Advocacy Award honors organizations and individuals for outstanding contributions to the park, recreation and conservation movement.
  • 1994 – Jim McCord, Bismarck Parks & Recreation District
  • 2006 – Colleen Stockert, Bismarck Magical Moments Playground

• Prairie Rose State Games Award of Appreciation to the host city, Bismarck, and host agency, Bismarck Parks and Recreation District
  • 1987-1989-1994-1995-1999-2003-2006-2010-2011

Special Olympics North Dakota

• Outstanding Organization Area Award – 1996
• Recognition of Support and Leadership for hosting the Special Olympics North America Softball Championship – 2017

National Awards

All American City – 1997

American Softball Association (ASA) James Ferrell Award of Excellence

For conducting one of the highest ASA tournaments, BPRD has received this award for each of the national tournaments hosted in Bismarck.

• 1993-1994-1996-2000-2005-2006-2008-2010-2011-2013-2014-2021-2023

JC Penney Golden Rule Award

• Exchange Club Sleepy Hollow Arts Park – 1991

National Recreation and Park Association Awards

• American Park and Recreation Society Meritorious Service Award
  • 1999 – Steve Neu, Bismarck Park District
• Citizen Board Member Branch Outstanding Board or Commission
  • 2001 – Bismarck Parks and Recreation District
  • 2004 – Award of Appreciation/Hosting Board of Trustees Meeting
• Commission for the Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA)
  • 2008 – Bismarck Parks and Recreation – First accredited agency in ND
  • 2013 – Re-accreditation
  • 2018 – Re-accreditation
  • 2023 – Re-accreditation
• Gold Medal Award
  • 1993 and 2017 – Bismarck Parks & Recreation District
• Gold Medal Finalist
  • 1991-1992-1993-1999-2016-2017
• Fellow Award
  • 1990 – Steve Neu
  • 1997 – Randy Bina
• National Distinguished Professional Award
  • 2021 – Randy Bina
• Sports Illustrated Sports Town Designation for North Dakota – 2004

Midwest Regional Council of the National Recreation and Park Association Awards

• Arts & Humanities
  • 2008 – Frances Leach High Prairie Arts & Science Complex, Bismarck Parks & Recreation District
• Organization Citation
  • 1991 – Bismarck Recreation Council
  • 2007 – Bismarck Parks and Recreation District/Magical Moments Playground Committee

National Park Service Honors

• National Recreation Trail Designation – Hay Creek Trail – 2002
• Missouri Valley Millennium Legacy Trail Designation – 2001 

Playful City USA from KaBOOM!

• National Campaign for Play 2010-2017

US Tennis Association

• Northern/USTA – Member Organization of the Year – 2023
• Northern Section/USTA – Jack Dow Development Award – Rod Morasch, Head Tennis Professional, Capital Racquet & Fitness Center – 2018
• Outstanding Site – Capital Racquet & Fitness Center – 1999
• Tennis Town USA – 1997