Awards & Accomplishments

     

On-going

Accreditation-the Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department has been accredited since October 2004 from the CAPRA Board of the National Recreation & Park Association.

2013

2012

The Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Department received from Ellis & Associates a Gold Audit Award for the safety of our Aquatics program. Below is the criteria for the award: 

• ALL Overall Audit scores were found to Exceed Industry Standards and Meet or Exceed the rigorous and proactive Standards of the Comprehensive Aquatic Risk Management Program. AND
• 70% of all Lifeguard Observations, Supervisor Observations, and VAT Observations Exceeded Industry and the E&A Comprehensive Aquatic Risk Management Program Standards
• 40% of the client base will receive this Award for 2012.   

The Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department was awarded the Building Contractors Association “Excellence in Construction Award” for Taylor’s Dream Boundless Playground.  Taylor’s Dream opened in 2011 at Kreager Park and is a regional destination playground designed for children of all abilities.  The BCA Excellence in Construction Award received for Taylor’s Dream was for the category of new construction under $4 million.  Taylor’s Dream had been nominated by Fetters Construction for its unique character and for its key community focus.  Receipt of this BCA Award is a great honor to the Fort Wayne Parks, its patrons, and all the sponsors and collaborators who came together to make this dream come true. 

Taylor’s Dream Boundless Playground was awarded the prestigious Daniel Flaherty Park Excellence Award at a ceremony on February 27 2012 in Angola, IN. This recognition is awarded to park facilities and programs completed in the last five years that represent the cutting edge of the leisure movement throughout the United States. Taylor’s Dream Boundless Playground represents innovation, cost effective design, demonstrates the utilization of community input and resources, and provides a significant impact on the community itself.

Golf Operations Pro/Manager, Rick Hemsoth was awarded the “PGA Indiana Section Junior Golf Leader”.

The City of Fort Wayne was named Tree City USA for the 22 consecutive year. In addition, the Growth Award from the National Arbor Foundation was received again.  The Growth Award is earned because a city meets a higher standard for urban forestry management activities.

Fort Wayne is named a 2012 Playful City USA Community by the national non-profit organization KaBOOM.  Fort Wayne is being recognized for our efforts in making play a priority for the health and well-being of our children.  Fort Wayne earned this distinction for the third year due to our outstanding dedication to increasing play opportunities for children.  Fort Wayne is one of 213 communities (out of 450 communities that expressed an interest) being recognized as a Playful City USA Community in 2012.


2011

The Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department received an Excellence in Design Award from the Downtown Improvement District at the annual Downtown Design Awards/Archies/AIA Design Awards. The award was for the recently completed Foellinger Freimann Botanical Conservatory Patio and Courtyard project, designed by Alec Johnson and installed by Lawnscape, Inc. In addition, we received a Golden Broom Award for Salon Park. We also received a commendation award from ARCH for their re-dedication and continuing stewardship of the Thieme Drive Overlook.

The City of Fort Wayne have been recognized as the 2011 Outstanding Government Entity in Promoting the Principles of Urban Forestry in Indiana. The award was presented at the recent  21^st Annual Indiana Urban Forest Council Conference at Fort Harrison State Park Inn. The Council recognized Mayor Henry’s initiative and long-term plan to deal with the Emerald Ash Borer Crisis. 

The Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Department received a State Award for “Outstanding Municipality of the Year” for efforts in addressing the Emerald Ash Borer challenge.

Fort Wayne is named a 2011 Playful City USA Community by the national non-profit organization KaBOOM.  Fort Wayne is being recognized for our efforts in making play a priority for the health and well-being of our children.  Fort Wayne earned this distinction for the second year due to our outstanding dedication to increasing play opportunities for children.  Fort Wayne is one of 151 communities being recognized as a Playful City USA Community in 2011.

Taylor’s Dream Boundless Playground is one of two national grand prize winners of the Synthetic Turf Council’s 2011 Search for the Real Field of Dreams Contest. The playground won a $1,000 award by overcoming numerous obstacles to provide local youth with opportunities to play outside, enjoy sports and build self-esteem.

The Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Aquatic staff has received the Gold International Aquatic Safety Award for their commitment to professional excellence and their desire to make a difference for those who frequent our aquatic facilities. This award is distributed by Ellis & Associates, International Aquatic Safety & Risk Management Consultants. Only lifeguards scoring in the top 30% of the audit criteria receive this award.

The National Register of Historic Places granted the designation Historic District to the Fort Wayne Park and Boulevard System because it was an "example of a comprehensive public space and transportation system developed from 1909 to 1955."  Further, our Department was recognized by the Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology for our Historic District designation and was given a Historic Preservation Award. 

The City of Fort Wayne was named Tree City USA for the 21st consecutive year. In addition, the Growth Award from the National Arbor Foundation was received again.  The Growth Award is earned because a city meets a higher standard for urban forestry management activities.

2010



Fort Wayne was recognized on August 18, 2010 for being a Playful City USA community. Representatives from Turnstone Center, the League for the Blind & Disabled, Easter Seals Arc and the YMCA joined the celebration as partners with the Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Department in this initiative. KaBOOM!, a national non-profit dedicated to saving play, recognized 118 cities across the country as Playful City USA communities, including Fort Wayne, which was selected for it’s outstanding dedication to play.

Rick Hemsoth, PGA Professional and Manager of Golf Operations for the Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Department, has been awarded the 2010 U.S. Kids Golf Master Kids Teacher Award. U.S. Kids Golf chose Hemsoth because of his "exemplary dedication to the growth and development of kids golf." The mission of US Kids Golf is to help kids have fun learning the lifelong game of golf and to encourage family interaction that builds lasting memories.

The Northeast Indiana Association of Fundraising Professionals announced the 2010 Northeast Indiana Outstanding Philanthropist Award.  The philanthropist awards are intended to recognize local people and organizations that donate time, expertise and resources to community development.

*Jerry D. Fox was honored as outstanding philanthropist for his involvement in sports and youth-oriented non-profits for more than 25 years. He has helped improve the sports program at IPFW and the construction of Memorial Stadium and the establishment of Lifetime Sports Academy.

*Taylor Reuille was honored as outstanding youth in philanthropy (K-12th grade), for her vision to bring a Boundless Playground to Fort Wayne. The playground will open next Memorial Day.

ARCH, Inc. announced a certificate of commendation to the Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Department for Outstanding Efforts to Restore the Building at Foster Pavilion #1 & Lakeside Park Sunken Gardens.

Fort Wayne Newspapers 2010 Reader's Picks 1st Place Winner for Best Local Park-Foster Park.

The City of Fort Wayne was named Tree City USA for the 20th consecutive year.

Merit Design Award for the design of Robert E. Meyers Park from the Indiana-American Society of Landscape Architects.



2009


Accepting the CAPRA Reaccreditation award: Perry
Ehresman (left), Al Moll (center), Steve
McDaniel (right). Missing from photo is Garry Morr.

The CAPRA Board of the National Recreation & Park Association granted 5 year national reaccreditation to the Department. Check out the news release for more information: Reaccreditation News Release

The Downtown Improvement District announced its Golden Broom Awards, which recognize outstanding maintenance. The Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Department received two awards one for downtown landscaping and the other for interior and exterior campus landscaping at the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory.  

Tree City USA. The Department has received this recognition for the past 19 years.

Growth Award, the National Arbor Foundation.  The Growth Award is earned because a city meets a higher standard for urban forestry management activities.


2008

Great Men, Great Women Award, Bennie Lewis, this award is given to recipients who demonstrate commitment, service and leadership to diversity at IPFW and/or the community of Fort Wayne as well as met other criteria.

Indiana Park & Recreation Association.  Outstanding Park Facility award given for the new Swinney Japanese Pavilion in Swinney Park.

All-American Rose Selections, Certificate of Achievement for Outstanding Rose Garden Maintenance, Lakeside Rose Garden.

Silver International Aquatic Safety Award from Ellis & Associates.  This award is given to Department's that consistently exceed the Ellis criteria for aquatic safety certification.

Tree City USA, The Department has received this recognition for the past 18 years.

Growth Award, the National Arbor Foundation.  Fort Wayne was one of only 14 cities in Indiana to earn a Growth Award. The Growth Award is earned because a city meets a higher standard for urban forestry management activities.

Foster Park, 1st Place Winner in the 2008 Readers' Pick for the Best Park. Foster was chosen as the est park in Fort Wayne as part of the Fort Wayne Newspapers & FortWayne.com contest.


2007

Tree City USA, Department has received this recognition for the past 17 years.

All-American Rose Selections, Certificate of Achievement for Outstanding Rose Garden Maintenance, Lakeside Rose Garden.

Silver International Aquatic Safety Award from Ellis & Associates, This award is given to Department's that consistently exceed the Ellis criteria for aquatic safety certification.

Golden Broom Maintenance Award from the Downtown Improvement District.  This award is given in recognition of maintenance at Freimann Square, Courthouse Green, Main Street Median and Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory.

Essential Service of Health and Fitness Award for the Lifetime Sports Academy, awarded by the Indiana Park & Recreation Association.

Volunteer Don Wolf, Outstanding Philanthropist Award, in recognition of his contributions toward Salomon Farm.


2006

Tree City USA.

All-American Rose Selections, Certificate of Achievement for Outstanding Rose Garden Maintenance, Lakeside Rose Garden.

Volunteers Tom & Marg Jehl, Outstanding Philanthropist Award, in recognition of their contributions to the Lifetime Sports Academy.


2005

Tree City USA.

Silver National Aquatic Safety Award, recognized by Ellis and Associates.  This recognition is for consistently exceeding Ellis & Associates criteria for aquatic safety certification.

Special Award, Indiana Park & Recreation Association, Kaleidoscope Showcase at the Foellinger Freimann Botanical Conservatory.

Facility Award, Indiana Park & Recreation Association, Lawton Skatepark.

Centennial, the Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Department celebrated 100 years of service to the community through a wide variety of events.

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