People - Brief Article

Parks & Recreation, Jan, 2000

AWARDS

Illinois Gov. George H. Ryan recently presented the 1999 Governor's Award for the Arts to the Decatur Park District at a dinner and ceremony in Chicago. This honor recognizes contributions made by individuals and organizations that encourage excellence in the arts and support the growth of arts in Illinois.

The park district's cultural arts department offers diverse programming and special events, which involve hundreds of performers and reach thousands of audience members annually.

"Illinois benefits educationally, economically, and culturally from investing in the arts and supporting established arts groups," Ryan said. "Recognizing those who have devoted so much to the arts is an important step toward increasing our awareness of all these benefits."

Aquatics International magazine recently announced the winners of its first Best of Aquatics Awards:

Best emergency action plan: Rutgers University, Piscataway, N.J.

Best children's programming: Fairfax County (Va.) Park Authority

Best special-events programming: Sioux Valley Hospital Wellness Center, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Best programming for special populations: Fairfax County Park Authority

Best adult programming: Transpersonal Swimming Institute, Berkeley, Calif.

Best in-service training program: Rutgers University

Best promotional marketing campaign: Chatham County (Ga.) Aquatic Center

Best fund-raising campaign: Virginia Beach (Va.) Department of Parks and Recreation

Best customer service: Webb's Pro Fitness, Norwell, Mass.

The three recipients of the 1999 Elly Doyle Park Service Award, Harry W. Allen, Park Partners, and Save the Farm, were recently honored. In addition to the Doyle Award recipients, five others -- Kristina M. Caplin, Reston Youth Baseball, the Washington Post, WBIG FM, and Julia Rausch -- were given special recognition for their contributions to the parks in Fairfax County, Va. The 1999 Walter L. Mess Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority Award was presented to Loren Booda and the Northern Virginia Model Railroaders.