Metro Clerk

Resolution RS2018-1495

A resolution recognizing Nashville’s Parks and Recreation Department and employees for their statewide honors and recognition at the Tennessee Recreation and Parks Association’s 67th Annual Conference.

WHEREAS, the Tennessee Recreation and Parks Association (TRPA) is a non-profit professional society of approximately 1,400 individual and agency members organized in 1952 as the leader in supporting highly effective professionals to achieve healthy, livable communities; and

WHEREAS, the Tennessee Recreation and Parks Association exists to strengthen and unite those committed to the benefits of parks and recreation; and

WHEREAS, in October 2018, Metro Nashville’s Parks and Recreation Department won three statewide honors and two Board seats during the Tennessee Recreation and Parks Association’s 67th Annual Conference held in Knoxville, Tennessee; and

WHEREAS, Nashville’s beloved Fannie Mae Dees “Dragon” Park Restoration Project won TRPA’s Four Star Award for Best Renovated Facility, acknowledging the hard work and collaborative partnership between Metro Parks, the Hillsboro West End Neighborhood, volunteers, and people living in the immediate neighborhood; and

WHEREAS, Metro Parks’ CRAFT Basketball and Enrichment Program – a city-wide program for teens that offered training on gang resistance, youth violence education, illicit drugs, alcohol and tobacco prevention, personal responsibility, financial literacy and career development – received the TRPA’s Four Star Award for Best Innovative Program; and

WHEREAS, the CRAFT Basketball and Enrichment Program, led by Metro Parks in collaboration with Metro Nashville Public Schools and the Metro Nashville Police Department, stemmed from the 2016 Youth Violence Summit and served over 600 high school students in 16 community centers across Davidson County; and

WHEREAS, in addition to Metro’s park facilities and programs, three Metro Parks employees received honors during the conference; and

WHEREAS, Lindsey Magness received TRPA’s 2018 Robert Horsley Award for the most outstanding recreation program by community center personnel in the state; and

WHEREAS, under the leadership of Lindsey Magness, three major annual programs for senior citizens; the Valentine Ball, the Senior Picnic and the Senior Games, have garnered accolades from all sectors of the community and have helped Metro Parks serve over 132,000 seniors this past year; and

WHEREAS, Bob Benson, the Business Services Coordinator for Metro Parks, was sworn in as President-Elect of TRPA, and recently completed his second year as Secretary/Treasurer for the association; and

WHEREAS, Nethraja Rajaratnam, an Office Support Specialist in the Special Services Division of Metro Parks, was sworn-in as Secretary/Treasurer of TRPA, and in her new role, looks forward to sharing the story of how important parks are throughout Tennessee; and

WHEREAS, the city of Nashville is lucky to have an outstanding Parks and Recreation Department that offers a wide variety of facilities and programs throughout Davidson County; and

WHEREAS, Metro Parks currently oversees 15,114 acres of open space, including 184 parks and 85 miles of greenway; and

WHEREAS, Metro Parks’ mission is to sustainably and equitably provide everyone in Nashville with an inviting network of parks and greenways that offer health, wellness and quality of life through recreation, conservation and community; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper that the Metropolitan Council recognize the Metro Parks and Recreation Department and employees for their hard work and service to the city of Nashville and Davidson County.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. The Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record to formally recognize and honor the Metropolitan Nashville Parks and Recreation Department and employees for their statewide honors and recognition at the Tennessee Recreation and Parks Association’s 67th Annual Conference.

Section 2. The Metropolitan Council Office is directed to prepare a copy of this Resolution to be presented to Parks and Recreation Director Monique Odom, and Parks and Recreation employees Bob Benson, Lindsey Magness, and Nethraja Rajaratnum.

Section 3. This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.