2023 Creating Community Award of Excellence

Aging Well: Programs, initiatives or innovative practices that promote healthy and active aging within the community

Arts and Cultural Services: Programs, initiatives or special events that celebrate community character and reinforce the value of visual, performing or historic resources

Community Health and Wellness: Programs, initiatives, special events or innovative planning efforts that promote healthy lifestyles and community wellness

Economic Vitality: Programs, initiatives, special events or innovative planning efforts that positively enhance a community's economic position

Environmental Stewardship: Programs, initiatives, events or innovative practices that may involve volunteers, organizations, or stakeholders to enhance the physical environment, promote the conservation of natural resources or connect children with nature, i.e. beautification projects, environmental education, community clean-ups, etc.

Organizational Survival: Initiatives, strategies, or programs that demonstrate “survival” or innovative approaches to the delivery of park and recreation services in challenging fiscal and political environments, i.e. strategic planning, re-positioning, agency restructuring or merger, budgeting, human resources, etc.

Neighborhood/Community Building: Programs, initiatives or special events in partnership with one or more organizations that seek to strengthen the role of children and families as the cornerstone of a strong community

Park and Facility Maintenance Management: Programs, initiatives, practices or events performed by agency personnel that preserve or enhance the quality of a park, open space, trail, recreation facility, or streetscape landscape.

Social Equity: Programs, initiatives or services specifically designed to better engage underserved populations, i.e. ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, LGBT, homeless/economically disadvantaged, etc.

Youth Development: Programs or services that help youth (up to age 18) acquire the attitudes, competencies, values and social skills they need to become successful adults

This award recognizes outstanding initiatives by agencies, departments, or districts in their effort to deliver the highest level of recreation and leisure programs and services that embody and embrace the values and mission of the profession and move the agency towards a stronger position or role within the community.

The entry must have been conducted for a minimum of three years. 

Telling the Story: Share how your program, park, facility, or marketing effort supports our California Action Plan and Parks Make Life Better! goals.

Community Need or Challenge and Desired Outcomes: Outline the community need or significant challenge your program, park, facility, or media project intended to answer/solve. Describe the desired outcomes you were looking to achieve.

Innovative Approach(es): Detail how your approach was different, new, or innovative in addressing your community need/challenge and reaching your desired outcomes.

Community Collaboration: Describe the role policy makers, staff, community members, partners and/or stakeholders played in reaching your desired outcomes.

Measuring Success: Specify, through measurable results, how you know you reached your desired outcomes as outlined above. Did the entry create a substantial community benefit, improve operational efficiencies, create new or increased value in the community or significantly enhance the provision of park and recreation services? How do you know?

Award Application Summary: In 150 words or less, please give us a compelling description of your award nomination, highlighting several points from the questions above. Note that this 150-word description may be used in future CPRS Award program marketing materials. Be sure it is representative of what you'd like not only our award judges but also general members, to read about your award nominee!

Additional Supplemental Information Requested/Required

a) 5 to 8 photos; each photo labeled with entry and agency name

b) Maximum 3 examples of background material that support one or more of the criteria, e.g. partnership agreement, press releases, needs assessments. (PDF)

c) If you are not a park and recreation agency and are submitting an application on behalf of a park and recreation agency/program/facility/park, please include a letter from said agency denoting they know you are submitting this award application. (PDF)