The mission of the City of Arlington Parks and Recreation Department (APRD) is to provide quality facilities and services that are responsive to a diverse community and sustained with a focus on partnerships, innovation and environmental leadership.
With more than 4,700 acres of parks, recreation facilities, open spaces, natural trails, and playgrounds, there are many opportunities for open play and exercise. Four divisions manage these resources, including Park Operations and Planning, Community Programs, Enterprise Programs and Business Services.
The department received a number of national, state, regional and individual awards in 2013 and 2014.
NATIONAL HONORS
The APRD received top honors through selection as a Gold Medal Finalist by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), designation as a Playful City USA from Kaboom! in 2013 and 2014, selection as a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation and as winner of the Website Design Award by LERN (Learning Resources Network).
STATE HONORS
The APRD blew the competition away at the state level, receiving the Individual Voluntary Service Award for Park Board member Sue Phillips, the Lone Star Recreation Programming Achievement Award (Class 1) for Arlington's Re-LEAF urban forestry project, the Planning Excellence Award for the department's Skatepark Master Plan and the Park Design Excellence Award for the new Nature Playground at River Legacy parks. The department also accepted two prestigious awards from the Texas Recreation and Park Society: Website Design Award for NaturallyFun.org and the Lone Star Legacy Park Award recognizing the history and contributions of Meadowbrook Park. Finally, the Forestry and Beautification team earned first place in competition for Keep Texas Beautiful Government Award (Texas cities with population of 50,000+).
REGIONAL HONORS
Former APRD Director Pete Jamieson was awarded the TRAPS North Region Parks Professional of the Year. In addition, the department received the TRAPS North Region Park Design Excellence Award for the Southwest Nature Preserve.
INDIVIDUAL HONORS
The Arbor Day Foundation honored APRD Urban Forestry and Beautification Manager Heather Dowell by designating Arlington as a Tree City USA. Communities achieve Tree City USA status by meeting four core standards of sound urban forestry management: maintaining a tree board or department, having a community tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry and celebrating Arbor Day.
The APRD is currently in the process of becoming a Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) accredited agency.
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