The Carrollton Parks and Recreation Department was named the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association Fourth District Agency of the Year.

The Agency of the Year Award is presented to a department whose services have made significant contributions to recreation in the community. The award was presented October 19 at the Center for the Arts.

The CPRD operates on a $5.4 million budget and provides more than 6,700 recreational programs. Parks and Rec maintains 16 facilities, four cemeteries, two pools, one splash park, a dog park, six tennis courts, six pickleball courts and 32 parks.

The city acquired 278 acres of land for future growth of park areas to be used predominantly for conservation and passive recreation. The department received two grants: the Alice Huffard Richards grant of $25,000 for trail building and $500,000 from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to renovate Midtown Water Park.

Parks and Rec made many facility improvements this year, including a two million dollar addition to the Carrollton GreenBelt, renovations and resurfacing at the Lakeshore track and the Lakeshore Park expansion that includes a large playground, three pavilions and a grassed play space that is all handicap accessible.

The department has made a tremendous effort in the last year to provide well maintained facilities, numerous recreation programs and strategic planning for future growth. Along with being named Agency of the Year, the department received ten other Fourth District individual and program awards for accomplishments over the last year.

Individual and Program Award Winners from the Banquet

Outstanding Volunteer Athletic/Aquatics – Ricky Walker

Outstanding Volunteer Programming – Richard Morton

Outstanding Support Staff Administration – Dee Rudisel

Outstanding Support Staff Athletic/Aquatics – John Driver

Outstanding Support Staff Programming – Andrea Gonzalez

Outstanding Special Event Programming – Breakfast with Santa, Carrollton Senior Center

Outstanding Special Event Athletic/Aquatics – Lacrosse Play Day

Outstanding Program – Programming Bonner Fitness Center

Outstanding Project – Fourth Street

Network Professional Programming – Candace Cline

For questions concerning these awards, please email tloolen@carrollton-ga.gov.