New York State Annual Awards
Each year, park and recreation professionals across New York State have the opportunity to recognize the best of the best in 19 different categories representing the various aspects of parks, recreation and leisure services along with our Memorial Hall of Fame. It is a great honor to acknowledge the programs, facilities, agencies and individuals that make our profession an integral part of the communities we serve.
The NYSRPS Awards not only allow us to recognize excellence amongst our peers, but they also provide the opportunity to showcase our accomplishments to the boards, commissions and supervisors who may not be aware of the exceptional services we provide every day. By celebrating our individual accomplishments, we are strengthening the parks and recreation community as a whole, and reinforcing the important role we play in our towns, cities, counties and beyond. To celebrate these achievements, our 2026 Awards and Recognition Ceremony will take place on Thursday, November 5th in Buffalo, NY.
Nomination Procedures
The awards are given at the Annual Awards Presentation, held each year during the Annual Conference. Only current members of the New York State Recreation and Park Society are eligible to nominate qualified candidates.
Nominations for non-members of NYSRPS are accepted, unless otherwise indicated by specific Award criteria. A deserving recipient may receive the same award once every 10 years. Nominations submitted by non-members will be disqualified.
- It is required that all nominations include images of the individual, organization, publication, facility or program for presentation purposes at the Awards Reception.
- NYSRPS Regional Group award winner nominations (selected via local award ceremonies) must be submitted by the Regional Group Award Chairperson. These nominations must be submitted together, in one package, and each entry must be accompanied by the official NYSRPS nomination form with award category indicated.
- The NYSRPS Awards Committee will be solely responsible for the review, evaluation, and selection of award winners. Nominators will be informed in writing of the decision of the Awards Committee prior to the Annual Conference. Decision of the committee will be final. All award entries will remain the property of the NYSRPS.
Individual Awards
This special award is to recognize a person who live(d) or work(ed) in the State of New York and has achieved prominence for his/her excellence in achieving outstanding and lasting contributions to the advancement of recreation and parks on the local and/or state levels. These contributions should be of long term impact upon the recreation and park movement. A minimum of 20 years in the field of Recreation and Parks is required. Nominee is to be a resident of/or work in the State of New York at the time of prominence.
Organizational Awards
This award recognizes a vendor, company, or individual who has significantly contributed to the field of parks and recreation and developed a strong partnership with NYSRPS, a local organization or agency. This vendor, company, or individual has shown great leadership and support to the parks and recreation field by providing equipment, volunteer time, in-kind services or other contributions to a project or program that benefits the community and demonstrates the importance of parks and recreation.
Small and Large Agency Awards
For award classification purposes, agencies will be grouped based on the size of the agency served. This distinction helps provide equitable recognition opportunities for both smaller and larger organizations that are making meaningful contributions to the parks and recreation profession.
Small: Up to 100,000 Residents
Large: More than 100,000 Residents
This award recognizes a park and recreation professional or agency who has made an outstanding effort during the last one to five years to sustain and improve the environment and/or reduce the environmental impact made by the agency.
If you have any questions, please reach out to our Awards Committee Chair, Joe Stout at joe@thewpf.org
Past Winners of our Highest Honors
Distinguished Service
Outstanding Service
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Joseph M. Caverly, Westchester County Parks
Robin Kunstler, Patricia Urquhart & Professor Lestor Rhoads John P. Silsby, Town of Tonowanda
Joseph P. Davidson, City of New York
Patricia Urquhart, T own of Manlius
Uluss (Gus) Thompson, NYS Parks & Recreation
Jim Donahue, Town of Perinton
Salvatore Cresenzi, Village of Rye Brook
Edward Wankel, New York State Department of Parks & Recreation
Gary Lane, Town of Tonowanda
Bryon Bissonette, City of Plattsburgh
Judith A. Gordon, Suffolk County Department of Parks
Mr. Daniel Drake, Town of Southport
Mr.Tom Kehoskie, Town of Camillus Parks and Recreation
Mr. Michael Cooper, Town of Penfield
Mr. Paul Blake, Sales Representative, Mid-Altantic Products
Dr. Arthur Mittelstaed, Jr., Recreation Safety Institute
Justin Pokines, Town of Sullivan
Frank Allkofer, Monroe County Parks
William Zimmermann, City of New Rochelle
Richard Rose, Town of Orangetown
Joseph A. Stout, Westchester County PRC
Charles Connington, Clarkstown Parks & Recreation
Sally Rogol, City of Rye
Ann Smiley, Town of Lysander
Jack Voelker, Chautauqua Institution
Jeff Myers, Town of Perinton
N/A
N/A
Linanne Conroy, Town of Penfield
Tom White, City of Syracuse
Edean Casey, Town of Onondaga
N/A
Eric Bacon, Town of Camillus
Charry Lawson, Town of Onondaga
Robert Robare, Town of Plattsburgh
Dave Goldberg, Town of Pound Ridge
Leiko Kiggins, Onondaga County Parks
Robin McCombie, Town of Sullivan
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2025
Village & Town of Mt. Kisco, NY
Ontario Beach Program Committee Inc. of Rochester, NY
Rosaline Preudhomme
Bill Diamond, Diamond Studios & Associates, Inc.
Daryl Willenbrink
Jeanie T. Piatt, Project Playground Citizens Group, Town of Newburgh
E. William Miller, Town of Tonawanda Parks & Rec Committee
Jean Marshall, Town of Gates
Cheektowaga YES Program
Genesse Region Telephone Pioneers
Onondaga Park Association
Bernadette Castro
Vergie Mingo, Western New York Children’s Psychiatric Center
William Murray, NYSOPRHP- Central Region
Jody Rogers, Town of Cicero
James Smiley, Oswego County Catholic Charities
Tom White, City of Syracuse
Bonnie Brown, City of Syracuse Aquatics Director
Peggy Kenyon, Town of Manlius
Jim Raulli, Village of Manlius
Elaine Apfelbaum, Town of Clarkstown
Martin Denecke, Town of Hamburg
Jeff Myers, Town of Perinton
Bob Ellis, Onondaga County Parks
Patrick Driscoll, City of Syracuse
Wayne Morris, Town of Clay
Kristine Zingaro, Town of Manlius
Karen Keast, Town of DeWitt
Julie LaFave, Town of Cicero
Mary Beth Roach, City of Syracuse
Teresa Roth, Village of North Syracuse
Bill Barber, City of Binghamton
Bill Lansley, Onondaga County Parks
Josh Haeick, Village of Hamburg
Paul Palmer, City of Binghamton
Thomas Venniro, Hilton-Parma
Bill Alley, Town of Cicero
Brian Kelley, Onondaga County Parks
Kathleen O'Connor, Westchester County PRC
Beverly Geier, Town of Webster
