APRA Annual Awards

Recognizing excellence in the field of Parks, Recreation, Cultural and Community Services

Award Nominations Open October 1st 2024

Our Annual Awards honor communities throughout the State of Arizona that demonstrate excellence in long-range planning, resource management and innovative approaches to delivering superb park and recreation services with fiscally sound business practices.

The APRA Award Program includes twenty-one categories. At the beginning of each October, agencies are invited to submit applications for consideration. Award winning recipients are announced at the ARPA Annual Conference.

A committee of park and recreation professionals reviews and scores all application materials. Committee members are chosen for their considerable experience and knowledge in the field parks and recreation on both local and national levels.

Looking for past winners? Browse through winners going back to 2006. Should you find an error or have documentation prior to 2006 please email jsullivan@apachejunctionaz.gov.

NEW in 2024

Agencies can submit a program submittal in several categories, but a program/event can only win one category. If a submittal should win in multiple categories they will be contacted and have to select the category to recognized in.

The Professional Emeritus Award has changed to the Lifetime Achievement Award. The criteria has changed.

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Awards Presentation

Winners will be announced at the APRA Annual State Conference.

Anyone wishing to attend the event must be registered/paid in advance, including award winners.

@AZParksRec

Nomination paperwork and supplemental materials must be received in full by the Awards and Citations Committee Chair via email by midnight on the submission deadline date. If paperwork is not in by the specified date and time you will not qualify - the new on-line form will automatically close on the listed deadlines.

SUBMISSIONS will open OCTOBER 1st.

Awards must be paid in full when you submit the form; be prepared with credit card details.

AWARD SUBMISSION DETAILS

Early Bird Deadline

$25 per nomination

payment must be made at the time of submission via c/c

All nomination information must be received by the Awards Committee Chair no later than 5:00 pm on April 1st 2025.

Standard Deadline

$40 per nomination

payment must be made at the time of submission via c/c

All nomination information must be received by the Awards Committee Chair no later than 5:00 pm on April 30th 2025

No matter the amount of begging, pleading and excuses there will be no submissions or changes to a submission accepted after the deadline!

Nominating Tips

Each year the Awards Committee receives approximately 100 nominations. Each nomination is carefully reviewed by a panel of APRA members from around the State. Their responsibility is to select the most outstanding nominations for recognition. When submitting a nomination, please consider the following suggestions:

Read the criteria for each award category and the nomination procedures carefully.
The committee suggests that you use award criteria headings when writing your nomination. Each criteria is assigned a point value. Nominations should provide information pertaining directly to each award criteria.
Nominations should be clear, concise and well written. Most awards win based on the way in which the submission is written so be sure to pay attention or have your grant writer or PR staff help you wordsmith the document.
Submit complete nomination materials, submissions that do not contain all of the required details will not be considered.
Spend time preparing the nomination application; and submit in a timely manner.
For more information and tips watch the youtube video!

The way in which you write and present your award will impact the likelihood of winning.

Questions?

Contact Jamie Sullivan

Awards and Citations Chair

Awards Banquet Sponsor

Award Plaque Sponsor

12950 N 7th Street | Phoenix AZ 85022

@AZParksRec