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CRPA History & Awards
History
(pre-1970 – 1979)
- The history of our agency began around 1970 when the Cherokee County Recreation Commission was formed under the guidelines of the Georgia Recreation Enabling legislation.
- The first director was hired in 1972 and the commission evolved into an arm of county government.
- Early parks included Kenney Askew Park, Buffington Park and Fields Landing.
(1980 – 1994)
- July 11, 1989 – Cherokee County voters went to the polls to vote on a $12M bond referendum for recreation and parks projects but the measure was defeated 60%-40%.
- April 7, 1990 – Hobgood Park opens, becoming the first major park developed in more than ten years.
- March 1991 – Recreation and parks appears on the SPLOST project list for the first time. The SPLOST passes 68% - 32%.
- March 1992 – Recreation and parks projects totaling $3M are on the SPLOST ballot and the referendum passes 70% - 30%.
- Spring 1994 – Hobgood Park Youth Association (now known as Hobgood Baseball, Inc.) was launched.
- 1994 – The South Annex Recreation Center is opened.
(1995 – 2006)
- February 1995 – Johnny Barnett bequeaths $200k to Cherokee County for what would eventually become Barnett Park on Bells Ferry Road.
- 1995 – The Cherokee Recreation & Parks Authority begins operations as a quasi-governmental agency, authorized by the Georgia General Assembly and separate from Cherokee County Government.
- 1997 to 1999 – Three new parks developed primarily with SPLOST funds and using county forces open; Dwight Terry Park (formerly known as Pine Bluff Park); Barnett Park; and Sequoyah Park.
- 2000 – Launched the agency’s first web site, www.crpa.net.
- 2004 – Completed the first 10 Year Comprehensive Recreation & Parks Master Plan since 1984.
- 2006 – Opened JJ Biello Park.
(2007 – 2019)
- January 2007 – First volunteer appreciation banquet held; would late be named the Volunteers in Parks (VIP) Banquet.
- May 2007 – The Cherokee Recreation & Parks Authority is dissolved. Recreation and Parks is reorganized as a department of the Cherokee County Government once again.
- November 2008 – Cherokee County voters overwhelmingly approve a referendum for $90M in general obligation bonds for recreation and parks projects.
- December 2010 – Keith Hammond, director for more than 20 years, retires.
- 2011 – Cherokee Youth Basketball (CYB) inaugural season.
- Summer 2012 – The Splash Pad @ Cline Park opens.
- May 2013 – The doors open on the Cherokee County Aquatic Center, the first of its kind in Cherokee County.
- 2015 – Recognized by National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS) with the Excellence in Youth Sports Award
- April 2017 – Patriots Park opens.
- August 2017 – Phase 1 of Cherokee Veterans Park opens.
- 2017 – Implemented Inmate Workforce Program with Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office to augment maintenance in county parks.
- November 2018 – Opened Monument at Cherokee Veterans Park.
- May 2019 – Cherokee County Board of Commissioners approved the 2019-2028 Cherokee County Recreation, Parks, Green Space and Trails Master Plan.
(2020 – Present)
- April 6, 2020- Cherokee Recreation & Parks was rebranded and launched the new logo
- June 2020 – The Board of Commissioners adopted the CRPA Strategic Plan 2020-2024: Bringing Our Vision to Life.
- October 2021 – Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies, (CAPRA)
- April 2021 – SW Cherokee County Parks & Trails Master Plans approved
- September 2021 – Renovations to Kenney Askew Memorial Park and Richard “Hunkey” Mauldin Sports Complex are completed.
- May 2022 – NE Cherokee County Park Plans approved
- June 3, 2022 – The Hickory Flat Gym Restoration Ribbon Cutting
- February 3, 2023- L.B. “Buzz” Ahrens, Jr. Recreation Center Ribbon Cutting
Awards
1999
- Georgia Recreation & Parks Association (GRPA) - District 5 Agency of the Year
- Georgia Recreation & Parks Association (GRPA) - Agency of the Year
2002
- Independent Sports Association (ISA) Complex of the Year- Hobgood Park
2003
- Georgia Recreation & Parks Association (GRPA) - District 5 Agency of the Year
- Georgia Recreation & Parks Association (GRPA) - Agency of the Year
2006
- Georgia Recreation & Parks Association (GRPA) - District 5 Agency of the Year
- Distinguished Professional Award (GRPA) - Keith Hammond
- Mike Daniel Award (GRPA) – Kim Hamilton (Townsend)
2008
- Amateur Softball Association (ASA) Complex of the Year – Twin Creeks Softball Complex
- Georgia Recreation & Parks Association (GRPA) - District 5 Innovative Program – Lineman Challenge
2009
- Georgia Recreation & Parks Association (GRPA) - State Innovative Program – Lineman Challenge
2013
- National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS) Excellence in Youth Sports Finalist
- Georgia Recreation & Parks Association (GRPA) - District 5 Agency of the Year
- Georgia Recreation & Parks Association (GRPA) - Most Outstanding New Recreation & Parks Facility - Cherokee County Aquatic Center (CCAC)
- Georgia Recreation & Parks Association (GRPA) - Lifeguard Competition – Bronze Medalists
2014
- National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS) - Excellence in Youth Sports Finalist
- ACG Build Georgia Award – CCAC
- Aquatics International Dream Designs – CCAC
- Cherokee Life magazine Best New Thing – CCAC
- Georgia Recreation & Parks Association (GRPA) - Lifeguard Competition – Bronze Medalists
2015
- National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS) - Excellence in Youth Sports Winner
2016
- Georgia Recreation & Parks Association (GRPA) - District 5 Agency of the Year
- Georgia Recreation & Parks Association (GRPA) - Outstanding Online Media – www.crpa.net
- Georgia Recreation & Parks Association (GRPA) - Outstanding Special Event – Paws in the Pool
- Georgia Recreation & Parks Association (GRPA) - Outstanding Aquatic Program – SPLASH!
- Georgia Recreation & Parks Association (GRPA) - District 5 Innovative Program – Senior Adventure Camp
2017
- Georgia Recreation & Parks Association (GRPA) - Outstanding Marketing & Visibility Award – Senior Adventure Camp Flyer
- Georgia Recreation & Parks Association (GRPA) - District 5 Innovative Program – Strut Your Mutt
- Georgia Recreation & Parks Association (GRPA) - Lifeguard Competition – Gold & Bronze Medalists
- Georgia Recreation & Parks Association (GRPA) - Winter Lifeguard Games – Silver Medalists
2018
- Georgia Recreation & Parks Association (GRPA) - District 5 Innovative Program – Glow in the Dark Egg Hunt
- Georgia Recreation & Parks Association (GRPA) - Lifeguard Competition – Bronze Medalists
2019
- Georgia Recreation & Parks Association (GRPA) - District 5 Outstanding Program – Cherokee Youth Basketball
- Georgia Recreation & Parks Association (GRPA) - Athletics/Aquatics Outstanding Special Event – CCAC Water Safety Week
- Georgia Recreation & Parks Association (GRPA) - District 5 Agency of the Year
- Georgia Recreation & Parks Association (GRPA) - Lifeguard Competition – Gold Medalists
- Georgia Recreation & Parks Association (GRPA) - Winter Lifeguard Games – Bronze Medalists
2020
- Georgia Recreation & Parks Association (GRPA) - District 5 Outstanding Program – Fishing Camp
- National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS) – Better Sports for Kids Quality Program Provider
- USA Swimming Safe Sport Club – Cherokee County Aquatic Center Pelicans Swim Team
2021
- Georgia Recreation & Parks Association (GRPA) - District 5 Distinguished Professional of the Year - Bryan Reynolds
- Georgia Recreation & Parks Association (GRPA) - District 5 Al Richardson Athletic Award - Shawn Schumacher
- Georgia Recreation & Parks Association (GRPA) - District 5 Outstanding Facilities & Grounds Maintenance Staff - Tony Stargel
- Georgia Recreation & Parks Association (GRPA) - District 5 Outstanding Special Event – CCAC Water Safety Week
- Leadership Cherokee - Bob Frongillo “Magic Spark Plug” Award - Frankie Sanders
- Safe Kids Chad Arp Award - Partner of the Year
- Georgia Recreation & Parks Association (GRPA) - Agency of the Year for 150,001 and Over
- National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS) – Better Sports for Kids Quality Program Provider
2022
- Georgia Recreation & Parks Association (GRPA) - Outstanding Program Award - Cherokee Youth Basketball
- National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS) – Better Sports for Kids Quality Program Provider
2023
- NACPRO Outstanding Program Award for Cherokee Youth Basketball (CYB)
- National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS) – Better Sports for Kids Quality Program Provider