Press release

At the annual California Parks and Recreation Society (CPRS) District 7 Awards and Installation event on February 24, 2017, Trails End Park was awarded the prestigious Outstanding Facility Award.

Skateboarders riding Little Brothers Skate Park with Pavilion small

Skateboarders riding Little Brothers Skate Park with Pavilion

Armando da Silva, President of District 7 which includes the counties of Mono, Fresno, Kings, Madera and Tulare presented the award in Hanford, California to Betsy Truax, Chair of the Recreation Commission and Stuart Brown, Parks and Recreation Director for the Town of Mammoth Lakes. “Trails End Park is an outstanding facility incorporating unique characteristics in design and maintenance that clearly demonstrates the Parks and Recreation profession’s mission,” commented da Silva.

Betsy and Stu Accepting Park Award

Betsy Truax and Stuart Brown Accepting Park Award

“We were both thrilled to accept this tremendous honor on behalf of the Town of Mammoth Lakes. I would like to personally recognize Jane Baer, founder of the JLA Project, Mammoth Lakes Recreation (Measure R), Volcom, Wave Rave Snowboard Shop and the many retail partners, generous donors, and hundreds of volunteers who worked tirelessly for over a decade to deliver a stunning recreational community park and world-renowned skate park for the community of Mammoth Lakes,” stated Stuart Brown.

Jane Baer was a powerful driving force in the creation of the Volcom Brothers Skate Park who channeled an amazing amount of grief into positive energy. Jane stated that she just wanted to build a place where kids can be kids. Her philosophy was simple: “Success starts with an idea or dream and is built by determination and an unwillingness to give up.”

Trails End Park Playground at dusk small

Trails End Park Playground

Trails End Park is a 4.1-acre, multi-generational park serving 8,000 residents of Mammoth Lakes along with thousands of visitors from around the world. The $2.34 Million park features the world-renowned Volcom Brothers and Little Brothers Skate Park, a small and inviting complementary community park, themed playground and new pavilion. The project began in 2004 with a community-wide groundbreaking event and on November 10, 2016, Mayor Richardson officially cut the ribbon celebrating the completion of this award-winning park.

During the CPRS District 7 Awards and Installation event, Stuart Brown, Parks and Recreation Director was also presented with the Outstanding Full-Time Employee Award. This award is presented to an individual that has demonstrated increasingly progressive job-related responsibilities, demonstrates new and innovative ideas in their area of expertise and has exhibited outstanding leadership qualities within the agency and community.

Volcom Skatepark Celebration small

Volcom Skatepark Celebration

Betsy Truax, Chair of the Recreation Commission stated, “I am fortunate to receive Stuart’s excellent and dedicated staff support to our Commission. In addition to running the Parks and Recreation Department, Stuart serves as the Public Information Officer (PIO) for the Town, crafting timely outbound messaging, overseeing the many Town communication channels and demonstrating outstanding leadership throughout the community—he is truly the public “face” of the Town.”

Mr. Brown was also appointed to the 2017-18 California Parks and Recreation Society (CPRS) District 7 Board of Directors as a Member at Large, representing Mono County. The board’s purpose is to advance the park and recreation profession through education, networking, resources and advocacy.

Stu accepting award for Outstanding FT Employee

Stuart Brown accepting award for Outstanding FT Employee

Founded in 1946, CPRS is a nonprofit, professional and public interest organization with more than 4,000 members who create community by: providing recreational experiences to individuals, families and communities, fostering human development, promoting health and wellness, increasing cultural unity, facilitating community problem solving, protecting natural resources, strengthening safety and security, strengthening community image and sense of place and supporting economic development.

CPRS membership is well-distributed, with 86 percent of park and recreation agencies in California boasting at least one CPRS individual member. In addition, over 175 park and recreation agencies are themselves CPRS members.

 

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