News: 2026 Award Nominations & Information

Date Published Author
9/9/2026 12:00:00 AM   

2026 Award Nominations 
Email krpsawards@gmail.com for any awards questions



DEADLINE: FRIDAY OCTOBER 23, 2026
  • EMAIL NOMINATIONS TO: krpsawards@gmail.com
  • Emailed submissions will receive confirmation upon receipt.     

 
NOMINATION PACKETS 

AGENCY AWARDS
One outstanding department, outstanding state park and facility award will be given each year to a parks and recreation department or agency in the following classes:
Class I: 5 or less Full Time Employees
Class II: 6-10 Full Time Employees
Class III: 11-19 Full Time Employees
Class IV: 20+ Full Time Employees
  1. Facility -Recognizes an indoor or outdoor facility that offers a unique enhancement to the quality of life in the field of recreation and leisure service within a community.
  2. Program- Recognizes an indoor or outdoor program that offers an unique enhancement to the quality of life in the field of recreation and leisure service within a community. 
  3. Department- Recognizes an outstanding KY Recreation Department who has contributed to the quality of life in their community through programming, facilities, and community engagement. 
  4. State Park- Recognizes an outstanding Kentucky State Park who has contributed to the quality of life in their community through programming, facilities, and community engagement. 
  5. Maintenance Team-Recognizes an outstanding contribution by a department or organization maintenance team that has enhanced their park system and quality of life within a community.

PROFESSIONAL AWARDS
  1. Professional of the Year- Recognizes a practicing recreation professional for outstanding contributions to the profession with more than 5 years experience with distinctive leadership in the field and meritorious service to our profession 
  2. Young Professional of the Year- Recognizes a new parks and recreational professional for outstanding contributions to the profession.
  3. Fellow Award- Recognizes a professional recreation leader who has dedicated interest in the profession or the field of leisure 
  4. Hall of Fame Class of 2026- Reserved for any professional or special individual who has made unique, and extraordinary contributions to the parks and recreation progress in Kentucky. 

PARTNERSHIP AWARDS
  1. Communication Award- Recognizes entities and their involvement with publishing outstanding articles, programs, and coverage in the field of parks and recreation.
  2. Public Official Award- Recognizes a current federal, state or local official who has contributed significantly to the benefit of parks, recreation, leisure services and open space programs. 
  3. David Lose Award- Presented to an agency, organization or individual that has developed and/or established a successful partnership or relationship to significantly help advance and impact the cause of the parks and recreation movement and whose dedication to the field parallels the same dedication and zeal towards parks, recreation and conservation that was exhibited by David Lose.
  4. Special Citation- Recognizes individuals and private industry or agencies that have given outstanding help or aid in the field of recreation or leisure time pursuits.
 SCHOLARSHIPS
  1. Alton Little Scholarship (Undergrad) Awarded to an undergrad student majoring in Leisure Studies, Recreation and/or Park Curriculum.   Must be a KRPS member since January. 
  2. John McClelland Scholarship (Masters)- Awarded to a Master's Level student majoring in Leisure Studies, Recreation and/or Park Curriculum.   Must be a KRPS member since January.


COMMUNITY SPARKS GRANTS PROGRAM
The KRPS Community Spark Grants are a micro-grant initiative of the Kentucky Recreation and Parks Society designed to help KRPS members launch new or expanded programs, events, experiences, and community-centered ideas. Five grants will be awarded each grant cycle. Each grant provides $1,000 in seed funding for a project that can create meaningful impact through parks and recreation.
The program is intentionally simple. We are looking for ideas that respond to a real community opportunity, invite people into recreation in a meaningful way, and demonstrate the creativity and resourcefulness that define our profession. Projects do not have to be large to matter. In fact, the heart of this program is the belief that a relatively small investment can help a good idea take root. 

OTHER AWARDS & INFORMATION 
  1. Presidential Citation- Recognizes an individual who has been the most supportive to the President during his/her term. Award also given and is only nominated by the KRPS president and approved by the awards committee. 
  2. AGENCY AWARDS JUDGING RUBRIC- CLICK HERE TO VIEW
  3. PROFESSIONAL AND PARTNERSHIP AWARDS JUDGING RUBRIC-CLICK HERE TO VIEW


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