WHEATON, Md. – Montgomery Parks received top awards in creative marketing campaigns and initiatives from the Maryland Recreation and Parks Association (MRPA) at its Annual Showcase Awards on November 17, 2023, in Laurel, Maryland.
The department won the Raising Up Award for its “Shine Brighter Together” event recognizing Autism Acceptance Month. The Raising Up Award is “presented to public departments/agencies for partnering or collaborating with another city, county, state or national agency to create a unique and creative recreation program for the enhancement of the community.”
Shine Brighter Together is an annual autism acceptance event that is a partnership between Montgomery Parks, various local government agencies, businesses, and non-profit organizations such as The Arc Maryland. The most recent Shine Brighter Together event occurred on April 23, 2022. Over 300 people of all ages attended the free event which included family-friendly entertainment and hands-on, sensory activities and opportunities to learn about autism and the community’s resources. As part of this event, a new “commUNITY” mural was unveiled on the wall of the Wheaton Regional Park Adventure Playground to raise awareness of the value and importance of inclusion.
“We are so proud of our Program Access Team and marketing group for receiving the Raising Up Award and congratulate all the staff involved in the award-winning projects,” said Mike Riley, director of Montgomery Parks. “It’s an honor to be recognized for projects that have such a positive impact.”
Montgomery Parks also received two marketing and communications awards:
Facility Brochure – Award for the best brochure spotlighting a specific facility (park, community or sports center): Little Bennett Campground Rack Card
Program Logo – Award for the best development of a logo to identify a park and recreation program or special event: Parks Playhouse
About Montgomery Parks
Montgomery Parks manages more than 37,000 acres of parkland, consisting of 419 parks. Montgomery Parks is a department of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), a bi-county agency established in 1927 to steward public land. M-NCPPC has been nationally recognized for its high-quality parks and recreation services and is regarded as a national model by other parks systems.
Accessibility
Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, encourages and supports the participation of individuals with disabilities. Please contact the Program Access Office at 301-495-2581 (Voice), MD Relay 7-1-1 or 800-552-7724 or ProgramAccess@MontgomeryParks.org to request a disability modification. Visit Montgomery Parks Program Access for more information.
###