Disability Info
Fairfax County Park Authority Garners Three VRPS AwardsThe Virginia Recreation and Parks Society (VRPS) recently recognized the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) with three significant awards at the VRPS 54th annual conference held in Richmond, VA. This state-wide event honors individuals and organizations involved in parks and recreation throughout Virginia who have demonstrated excellence in any of several areas. Park Authority staff and Board members accepted awards for Distinguished Volunteer Service, Best New Program, and Best Promotional Effort in the circular and flyer category. The 2008 Distinguished Volunteer Service Award was presented to Gilbert McCutcheon, who has represented the Mount Vernon District as a member of the Fairfax County Park Authority Board for nearly two decades. His many accomplishments include championing the improvement and development of Frying Pan Farm Park; his instrumental role in completing the master planning and initial development of the former Lorton prison property, now known as Laurel Hill Park; as well as improvements and renovations to numerous parks within his district. McCutcheon can be found at the Mount Vernon Farmers Market every Tuesday morning from May through November working as a market master. He embodies the spirit of public service, and his leadership and vision for the future continue to benefit the public. The 2008 Best New Program Award was presented to the Park Authority's Adapted Leisure Services section in partnership with Lose the Training Wheels, Inc., an organization that provides adapted bicycles and training to children with disabilities. This unique program features bikes with rollers instead of back wheels and kids learn balance, steering and pedaling, eventually progressing towards a standard bike. Simply put, kids learn how to ride a bike! The 2008 Best Promotional Effort (circular/flyer category) was presented to the Sully Historic Site for its new brochure, The Forgotten Road. The brochure was a collaborative effort between site staff and the Park Authority's Production Services department. A grant from the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities partially funded the project. The brochure highlights the docent-led tour at Sully that explores slave life by taking visitors through original outbuildings and a representative slave cabin. VRPS is a private, non-profit professional organization, founded in 1953. Its purpose is to unite professionals, students, and interested lay persons engaged in the field of recreation, parks and other leisure services in Virginia. For more information, please contact the Public Information office at 703-324-8662. |
