The Step Ahead Award

In recognition of being the first department to submit their application for awards review, demonstrating initiative, preparedness, and a commitment to excellence. Your team continues to set the pace and lead by example—always one step ahead.   Congratulations to our 2025 recipient, Springfield Parks & Recreation!

Award Application Instructions

Below are links to the instructions for each award application.  Please read them carefully.  Each set of instructions includes a link to the online application you will complete and upload your narrative, photos and any other documents too.  When you click submit on the application form, it is final.  You cannot go back and modify it.  Anything emailed to TRPA will not be accepted.  You will receive a confirmation email from jotforms.com after you click submit.  As you are completing the form online,  please do not wait until the last moment to start your application.  The system time stamps everything when you click submit.

TRPA Individual Awards

Fellow Award  The Fellow Award is TRPA's highest award to honor and recognize individuals who have significantly contributed to and influenced TRPA and the parks and recreation profession throughout his/her career.  Since 1972, this award has recognized professional members of the TRPA that during their career have made outstanding contributions to the parks, recreation and conservation field over and above their normal and expected duties. This award is not intended to honor an individual for a single contribution.  This award is not necessarily awarded each year.  Please complete this fillable PDF and submit it via the Jotform linked above.

Distinguished Young Professional This award recognizes a young professional that exemplifies the management skills in planning a wide variety of parks and recreation opportunities and activities; whose efforts and commitment to excellence in parks and recreation during the course of the past awards period has set an example that has raised the standards of parks and recreation; and who through leadership, inspiration and incentive has made noteworthy contributions to their local service area and for the association.  Directions

Lifetime Member Award  The Lifetime Member Award honors and recognizes individuals who have made numerous and/or significant long-term contributions within the parks and recreation profession.  This prestigious award can be given to more than one nominee each year.  Directions

TRPA Four Star Awards (awarded to agencies)

New Policy as of November 2025

Agencies that receive a Four-Star Award are not eligible to apply in that award category for 3 years (award cycles).

Previous 4 Star Award Recipients

	2025	2024	2023	2022
New Facility (over $500K)	Franklin Parks Department	City of Chattanooga	Knoxville Parks & Recreation	Hendersonville Parks & Recreation
New Facility (under $500K)	Knoxville Parks & Recreation	Franklin Parks Department	Sevierville Parks & Recreation	Springfield Parks & Recreation
Renovated Facility (over $500K)	Smyrna Parks & Recreation	Hendersonville Parks & Recreation	Memphis Parks	Knoxville Parks & Recreation
Renovated Facility (under $500K)	Hendersonville Parks & Recreation	Murfreesboro Parks & Recreation	Goodlettsville Parks & Recreation	Johnson City Parks & Recreation
Public Relations	Hendersonville Parks & Recreation	Gallatin Parks & Recreation	Murfreesboro Parks & Recreation	Memphis Parks
Special Events	Johnson City Parks & Recreation	Hendersonville Parks & Recreation	Hendersonville Parks & Recreation	Memphis Parks
Innovative Programming	Johnson City Parks & Recreation	Tellico Village Parks & Recreation	Metro Nashville Parks & Recreation	Tennessee State Parks & American Canoe Association-TN

 

Innovative Program Award  The TRPA Innovative Program Award recognizes the importance of creative, trend-setting ideas as the cornerstone of expanding community participation in leisure programs. The award honors agencies that have demonstrated leadership in successfully developing and executing programs or events that reflect groundbreaking ideas. Entries must be based on activities that have been initiated within the past year, and may be either a one-time program or a multi-session class.  An Agency may submit one application in this category.  Directions

New Facility Award  The TRPA New Facility Award is awarded to a park or facility that has finished construction within the last 12 months from the posted awards submission deadline.  It may be a building, sports complex, trail, playground, splash pad or other recreational facility.  It may be indoor, outdoor or a combination of both.  If the park or facility is developed in phases, it may be submitted at the completion of any phase; additionally, a facility that is part of a larger park may be entered as a stand-alone submission (for example, a new tennis complex in an existing park.)  There are two separate awards for this category – submitted within project budgets.  An agency can apply for no more than one (1) in each of the budget levels.  Directions

Facility Budget $500,000 or less
Facility Budget $500,001 or more

Public Relations Award  The TRPA Public Relations Award is presented annually to the agency significantly impacting the public’s awareness and recognition of public parks, recreation and leisure services programs through marketing and public relations.  An Agency may submit one application in this category.  Directions

Renovated Facility Award  The TRPA Renovated Facility Award is awarded to a park or facility that has finished a renovation within the last 12 months from the posted awards submission deadline.  It may be a building, sports complex, trail, playground, splash pad, or other recreational facility.  It may be indoor, outdoor or a combination of both.  If the park or facility is renovated in phases, it may be submitted at the completion of any phase; additionally, a facility that is part of a larger park may be entered as a stand-alone submission (for example, a renovated tennis complex added in an existing park.)  There are two separate awards for this category – submitted within project budgets.  An agency can apply for no more than one (1) in each of the budget levels.  Directions

Facility Buget $500,000 or less
Facility Budget $500,001 or more

Special Event Award The TRPA Special Event Award recognizes the importance of creative, trend setting ideas as the cornerstone of expanding community participation in leisure programs. The award honors agencies that have demonstrated leadership in successfully developing and executing events that reflect community impact. Entries must be based on events that have been initiated within the past year.  It may be a one-time event or annual event, with participation or attendance that is significant to your community or target audience.  An Agency may submit one application in this category.  Directions

 

TRPA Branch/Section Awards

Ethnic Minority Interest Section (awarded to an agency)
Donald H Stanton Award  Donald Stanton was one of Nashville’s inner city community center directors. He became involved in TRPA and started the Ethnic Minority Interest Section.  This award is presented to the Community Center Staff determined to have planned, developed and implemented the best overall State-wide program.  Agencies can nominate one award in this category.  Directions

Municipal/County Interest Section (awarded to individuals)
Maynard Glenn Award  "Coach" Maynard Glenn served as Director of the City Parks & Recreation Department for 30 years.  This award is given annually by the Municipal/County Interest Section to personnel or specialists who have planned, conducted or was responsible for the most outstanding (non-community center) recreation program during the year.  Agencies can nominate one individual in each of the categories.  Directions

Robert Horsley Award  Robert Horsley and a co-worker organized and conducted tournaments in Tennessee which caught on a became national in scope.  He sponsored Rook tournaments all around the state. It was a big game in our community centers and there was an annual city and state rook tournament for years.  This award is given annually by the Municipal/County Interest Section to recognize community center personnel, who have planned, conducted or was responsible for the most outstanding recreation program during the year.  Agencies can nominate one individual in each of the categories  Directions

Wayne Hansard Award  Wayne Hansard was the director of Morristown Parks and Recreation for thirty three years.  He was responsible for development of numerous Parks and Recreation facilities in Morristown and Hamblin County including Frank Lorino Park, Cherokee Park and Miller Park.  This award is given annually by the Municipal/County Interest Section to the person who have demonstrated Excellence in the Maintenance of Parks, Facilities, and/or Grounds in a cost effective and efficient manner for the safety of the citizen user or user group.  Agencies can nominate one individual in each of the categories.  Directions

Parks & Facilities Branch (awarded to individuals)

Resource Management Award of Excellence  This award is presented by the Facilities and Parks Branch to one individual that has demonstrated outstanding achievement in the field of Resource Management. ​ Directions

Programming & Recreation Branch (awarded to individuals)

Dennis Rainier Award  Dennis Rainier spent thirty-seven and a half years with Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Department. He was the Director for twenty-eight years before his retirement.   Some of his projects with the Parks and Recreation Department included SportsCom, StarPlex, Richard Siegel Championship Soccer Complex, Barfield Cresent Park, Patterson Park Community Center, Kids' Castle at Old Fort Park, Bark Park, and the Greenways.  This award is given to an individual who has demonstrated Excellence in athletic planning, physical activity, fitness and wellness programs, policies, and activities.  Agencies can nominate one individual in each of the categories.  Directions

Events and Programming Award  This award is presented to an individual that has demonstrated innovation and creativity and inspired others to develop similar programs in the arts and special events, including marketing those programs and events.  Agencies can nominate one individual in each of the categories.  Directions

Longfellow Aquatics Award  This award is given to the person, or persons, responsible for outstanding programming or accomplishments in Aquatics.  It is presented in honor of Commodore W. E. Longfellow who started the American Red Cross Lifesaving Service in 1914.  Agencies can nominate one individual in each of the categories.  Directions

Not sure if someone has already received an award?  Check out the past recipients
lists below

Fellows

Lifetime Members

Young Professionals

 

Fellow Award Videos

25 Years of the Fellow

Mike Gorham, CPRP
Joe Huff, CPRP
David Lose
Sue Stuhl, CPRP

TRPA Fellows Interviewed by the Mark Fraley Podcast
Mary Wherry
Charlie Ellenburg
John Wilbanks, CPRP
Brad Chambers, CPRP
Jerry Dillehay
Kitty Frazier, CPRP
George Brogdon, CPRP
Bob Parker, CPRP
Anne Marshall, CPRP
Austin Fesmire, CPRP
Larry Zehnder, CPRP
Gerald Parish, CPRP
Craig Price, CPRP
Sylvia Pinson, CPRP
Tommy Lynch
April Johnson, CPRP
Joe Huff, CPRP
Mike Gorham, CPRP
Michael Robertson