Only completed submissions will be considered. Once a submission has been turned in, changes will not be made. Files emailed separately to committee members or staff will not be considered.
Arts & Humanities Award
This award honors those departments with outstanding Arts and Humanities programs. (A project or program that promotes cultural art for example: theatre, culinary, reading painting, sculpting, drawing, quilting, etc.)
Conservation Award
The purpose of this award is to recognize a group or individual who has made a significant contribution to parks and recreation in their community.
Department Marketing Award
This award honors the most outstanding promotional efforts of park, recreation and leisure agency for the previous year.
Excellence in Maintenance Award
This award recognizes creativity or innovation in the development of unique equipment to solve a particular problem; the development or discovery of a material or chemical to solve a problem; or the development and implementation of a system or process to maintain a park, building, pool or piece of equipment more efficiently or effectively.
Parks Professional of the Year
The purpose of this award is to recognize a Parks Professional who has made an outstanding contribution to their department, community and/or the profession.
Lone Star Programming Award
The Society confers this award for innovative and effective recreation programming to any organization that has offered for the first time, a new program to one of its client groups.
Young Professional Award
This award recognizes one outstanding young professional in the entire state in the field of Parks and Recreation who is committed to advancing the industry through leadership, work accomplishments and volunteerism.
Recreation Professional of the Year
The purpose of this award is to recognize a Recreational Professional who has made a significant contribution to parks and recreation in their community.
Part-time/ Seasonal Employee of the Year Award
The purpose of this award is to recognize an exceptional part-time or seasonal employee in either parks or recreation.
Individual of the Year Award
The purpose of this award is to recognize an individual for their outstanding contribution to the Parks and Recreation profession.
Excellence in Programming Award
The purpose of this award is to recognize an outstanding, on-going program that has been offered for two or more years.
Advocate of the Year Award
The purpose of this award is to recognize a group or individual who has made a significant contribution to parks and recreation in their community.
Rookie of the Year Award
The purpose of this award is to recognize park & recreation rookie (up and coming professional) who has made a significant contribution to parks and recreation in their community.
Photography Award
The purpose of this award is to recognize outstanding photography in the capturing of parks and/or recreation facilities, services, events and/or professionals in action.
2025 Central Region Awards
- Conservation Award – City of Pflugerville Parks and Recreation: “Kayak Cleanups at Lake Pflugerville”
- Art & Humanities Award – City of Schertz : “Monster’s Vale Collegium”
- Lone Star Programming Award – City of Schertz: “Together We Play”
- Department Marketing Award – Round Rock Parks & Recreation “Thor Knows RRTX is Worthy”
- Part Time/ Seasonal Employee of the Year Award – City of Cedar Park : Noah Reus
- Young Professional of the Year – City of Cedar Park: Josh Rodrigue
- Parks Employee of the Year – City of Temple: Karl Reigle
- Excellence in Maintenance Award – Austin Parks & Recreation : “Facility Construction – Nature Play Maintenance”
- Individual of the Year – City of Temple Parks & Recreation : Claryce Free
- Excellence in Programming – City of Kerrville Parks and Recreation Department: “Holiday Lighted Parade”
- Advocate of the Year – Round Rock Parks & Recreation : Casey’s Circle
- Rookie of the Year Award – City of Cedar Park: Kaitlyn Farris
- Best in Photography
- Special Events – City of Schertz : “Deck the City Hall”
- Athletics – City of Schertz : “Lacrosse Camp”
- Outdoor Recreation – City of Schertz : “Field Day”
- Aquatics – City of Schertz : “Cardboard Boat Regatta”
- Leisure and Cultural Arts – City of Schertz : “Monsters Vale LARP”
- Facilities – City of Temple Parks and Recreation : “Lions Junction Family Water Park”
- Camp – City of Schertz : “Great Outdoors Camp”