MRPA Annual Showcase Awards
Nominations are currently open! Please the below information carefully before submitting your nomination(s).
Important Notice!!: During the application process, please remember that Speaker = Nominator
Landscape Site Award
- Purpose: Presented to a public or private agency for contributions to a natural or designed park landscape in the state.
- Criteria:
- Must be usable for recreational purposes with the primary emphasis on landscape design.
- Projects will be evaluated based on creativity, impact on the community, sustainability, and overall design.
- Membership in MRPA is not required.
- Submission Requirements:
- A maximum of ten pictures (jpeg).
- A 1,000-word maximum description of the project.
Writing, Research, or Audio Visual Award
- Purpose: Recognizes a published writing, research, or audio-visual publication that has enhanced MRPA or the parks and leisure services profession.
- Criteria:
- Contributions may be at the national, state, or local level.
- Research must have occurred within the past five years.
- Entries will be evaluated based on innovation, impact, and contribution to the field.
- Membership in MRPA is not required.
- Submission Requirements:
- A link and/or digital copy of the publication or production.
"The Maryland My Maryland" Special Event/Festival of the Year Award
- Purpose: Recognizes events that promote Maryland's way of life and contribute to recreation, parks, or conservation.
- Criteria:
- Event must have been held between January and December of the prior year.
- Evaluated based on community impact, uniqueness, and overall success.
- Events can be recognized once every five years.
- Membership in MRPA is not required.
- Submission Requirements:
- Must include special event/festival description
- Event flyer
- Images of event (jpeg)
- Submissions may include other attachments to support overall impact – social media posts, customer testimonials, evaluation techniques, budget and revenue reports, number of participants, etc.
Raising Up Award
- Purpose: Presented to public departments/agencies for partnering or collaborating to create a unique and creative recreation program enhancing the community.
- Criteria:
- Programs should have been held within the last two years.
- Partnerships can be with another city, county, state, national agency, or interdepartmental.
- Evaluated on collaboration, creativity, and community impact.
- One agency must be an MRPA member.
- Submission Requirements:
- A description of the program
- Digital Photos (JPEG)
- A complete list of partnering agencies including if they are an MRPA member.
Community Organization Award
- Purpose: Recognizes a volunteer group/organization that has contributed outstanding service to the parks, recreation, and leisure profession.
- Criteria:
- Evaluated on the impact and significance of their service.
- Membership in MRPA is not required.
- Submission Requirements:
- Include a description of the contributions made within the past two years.
- Photos of volunteer groups/organization
Community Volunteer Award
- Purpose: Recognizes an individual for outstanding service to a local/community park, recreation, or leisure program within the state.
- Criteria:
- Evaluated on leadership, impact, and dedication.
- Membership in MRPA is not required.
- Submission Requirements:
- Description of leadership and/or significant contributions made in the past five years.
- Photo of individual
Agency Volunteer Award
- Purpose: Recognizes an individual who has demonstrated outstanding service to a park and/or recreation agency within the state, such as a recreation council, board member, foundation member, or office volunteer.
- Criteria:
- Minimum of 100 documented volunteer hours within the past two years.
- Description of at least three specific projects or initiatives the volunteer significantly contributed to, with measurable outcomes
- Membership in MRPA is not required.
- Submission Requirements:
- Detailed description of the individual's role and contributions.
- Documentation of service within the past two years.
- Photo of nominee
Marketing and Communications Awards
Activity Guide
Award for the best quarterly or seasonal recreation and park guide distributed to the public. Entries should reflect a broad and diverse range of activities, facilities, and programs. Entries will be judged for cover design, content, readability, and the use of graphics and photos, presentation of theme and agency image. Submit one digital copy of a single issue with a maximum 1x guide per agency.
Facility Brochure
Award for the best brochure spotlighting a specific facility (park, community or sports center) first distributed from January – December 2025. The facility must be affiliated with a parks and recreation agency. Entries will be judged on design, readability, use of graphics/photos, presentation of facility and identification with the agency. Ability to persuade/inform the public will also be considered. Submit one brochure with a maximum of 1x brochure per agency.
Photo
Award for the best photo promoting the value of Maryland parks & Recreation from January-December 2025. Entries will be judged on creativity, composition and quality. Original photography only, no stock photos. Photo should be submitted digitally in JPEG format. Maximum of 1x photo per agency.
Program Flyer
Award for the best flyer promoting a specific parks and recreation program activity occurring from January – December 205. Entries will be judged on readability, creativity, use of graphics and complete-ness of information for the public. Submit one digital flyer for each program with a maximum of 1x flyer per agency.
Program Logo
Award for the best development of a logo to identify a park and recreation program or special event (sports, children’s or arts program, etc.) occurring from January – December 2025. Entries will be judged on creativity and use of the logo in print. Submit one color photo or graphic rendition of the logo with a maximum of 1x logo per agency.
Special Event Publication
Award for the best poster, brochure or other printed material promoting a special event occurring from January – December 2025. Submissions may include festivals, sporting events, fairs, etc. Entries will be judged on readability, creativity, and use of graphics. Submit one digital copy of each publication with a maximum of 1x publication per agency.
Social Media
Award for the best interactive marketing from January – December 2025. Submissions may include social networking sites, posts, social media campaigns, blogs, wikis, video-sharing sites, etc. Entries will be judged on content, design, ease of use, currency, and public input. Submit either an active link or a screenshot image of the entry. Maximum of 1x entry per agency.
Website
Award for an agency website that communicates and promotes the value of public recreation and parks on the internet. Entries will be judged on content, design, ease of use and currency of information. Submit website address, plus a screenshot of your website to ensure the full page is viewable.
Please Note:
- Please be sure to upload all supporting documents required for each award!
- Awards entries will be judged by the criteria provided.
- The date criteria for entries are for work or events from January 2025- December 2025.
- Important Notice!!: During the application process, please remember that Speaker = Nominator
View Past Winners & Photos
2026 MRPA Showcase Award Winners
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2026 MRPA Showcase Awards! These awards recognize outstanding marketing, communications, publications, and creative projects from parks and recreation agencies and organizations across Maryland.
🏆 Award Winners
| Award Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Activity Guide | Frederick County Division of Parks & Recreation |
| Agency Volunteer | No Submissions |
| Community Organization | Bicycle Advocates for Annapolis and Anne Arundel County (BikeAAA) |
| Community Volunteer | Harold Ginsberg (Howard County Recreation & Parks) |
| Facility Brochure | Ocean City Recreation & Parks – Ocean Bowl Skate Park |
| Landscape Site Award | Brookside Gardens – Montgomery Parks |
| Maryland My Maryland | Worcester County Recreation & Parks – Harbor Day at the Docks |
| Photo | Howard County Recreation & Parks – Kayak Photo |
| Program Flyer | Wicomico County Recreation, Parks & Tourism |
| Program Logo | City of Laurel |
| Raising Up Award | WB&A Trail Patuxent River Bridge (Anne Arundel County & Prince George's County – M-NCPPC) |
| Social Media | Montgomery Parks – Deer Vehicle Collision Awareness Campaign |
| Special Event Publication | Frederick County Division of Parks & Recreation – Janet Ryder Sasquatch Hunt |
| Website | Birding at Montgomery Parks |
| Writing, Research or Audio Visual Award | Single submission did not qualify |