Community Service Awards

Each year MRPA recognizes individuals and groups throughout Michigan who show outstanding support to public recreation and park programs in their community. Awards presented at this event include Community Service, Margaret Whitehead Senior of the Year, Youth Sports Coach of the Year, and Youth Sports Staff Member of the Year.

2008 Winners

2009 Winners

Annual Conference Awards

Individual awards are presented to members who reflect the highest standards of the parks and recreation profession. These are the highest honors that our association can award, and include the Fellowship, Park Resource Leadership, New Professional, Recreation Leadership, Legislator of the Year, and Local Elected Official of the Year Awards.

Design awards are given to MRPA Agency Members for outstanding work in the areas of Facility and Landscape/Site Design.
Organizational awards are given to MRPA Agency Members for innovative programs and park resources as well as brochure and website design.

2008 Winners

2009 Winners

Therapeutic Recreation Awards

The Young Professional Award recognizes innovative ideas and spotlights creativity and diversity in promoting, creating, and implementing therapeutic recreation services.

The Karen Linn Medve Outstanding Achievement Award recognizes excellence and accomplishment in the therapeutic recreation profession.

The Excellence in Therapeutic Recreation Programming Award recognizes a hospital, agency, or department for its innovation and breadth of service in TR program development. This award is given to acknowledge accomplishments and/or consistently high standards in clinical or community settings.

2008 Winners

MRPA Student Scholarships

Each year, the MRPA Scholarship Committee awards up to nine scholarships to students studying in the parks, recreation, and related fields. The awards vary from $500 - $3,000. The Scholarship Committee designates amounts to each scholarship winner based on the application and interview process. The Committee also reserves the right to select less than nine recipients, if desired, based on the performance of the applicants. 

2009 Scholarship Recipients

MRPA Hall of Fame

The MRPA Hall of Fame provides recognition for professionals and special individuals who have made outstanding, unique, lasting, and extraordinary contributions though recreation and park services in Michigan. The Hall of Fame is on permanent display at the Summit on the Park in Canton, Michigan.

Class of 2005

Class of 2006

Class of 2007

Class of 2009