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Health & Fitness

NWSRA wins national award for recreation

Rolling Meadows, IL- July 2013—Northwest Special Recreation Association (NWSRA) was recently selected to receive the National Excellence in Inclusion Award by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA).  NRPA will present the award publicly at a special reception at the association’s 2013 Congress & Exposition in Houston, TX on Wednesday, October 9. 

 

Each year, NRPA National Awards are presented to individuals and agencies across the U.S. to honor their efforts—both professional and personal—in the field of parks and recreation.  Recipients are selected from a pool of applicants by NRPA’s National Awards and Scholarship Committee, and are chosen for excellence in a variety of topics, including professional and voluntary service, programming, leadership, research and public outreach. 

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Over the past five years, NWSRA has created a significant impact on its community by providing more than 9,000 inclusive recreational opportunities to individuals with disabilities of various ethnic backgrounds.  Ensuring the highest standards of inclusion, NWSRA has implemented an individualized approach to each inclusion experience to meet recreational needs.  Throughout the inclusion experience, staff members ensure that the participant’s needs are met through on-site visits, an assessment and conversations with family members, aides and park district staff.  Throughout 2,310 recreational activities in 2012, NWSRA worked to meet the needs of each individual to ensure a positive inclusion experience.  

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NWSRA Executive Director Tracey Crawford stated “We are truly honored to receive the NRPA Excellence in Inclusion Award.  At NWSRA, we continually strive to increase access to recreational programs for children and adults with disabilities in partnership with 17 park districts.  The staff members of NWSRA are leaders and innovators in the field of therapeutic recreation, and we are proud that their continued efforts to create outstanding opportunities have been recognized on a national stage.”

 

“NRPA is pleased to honor our nation’s park and recreation heroes—agencies and individuals who work tirelessly and with passion to improve the lives of their citizens and make their communities great,” said Barbara Tulipane, President and CEO of NRPA.

The Northwest Special Recreation Association (NWSRA) was formed in 1974 to provide recreation services to individuals with disabilities.  NWSRA is an extension of 17 member park districts located in the northwest suburbs of Chicago.  This type of agency is unique to Illinois.  NWSRA offers public access, year round recreational programming to over 14,000 individuals with disabilities in its service area. NWSRA is the largest of all special recreation associations and is a leader among peers with over 18,000 registrations for programs in 2012.  NWSRA is a two-time National Recreation and Park Association National Gold Medal Award winner and was recognized as a Distinguished Accredited Agency by the Illinois Park and Recreation Association, an honor only 10% of Illinois park and recreation agencies have received.  The mission statement of NWSRA is “We exist to provide outstanding opportunities through recreation for children and adults with disabilities.”

The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people. Through its network of 30,000 recreation and park professionals and citizens,

NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy lifestyles, recreation initiatives, and conservation of natural and cultural resources.

For more information, visit www.NRPA.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication,

Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrec-magazine.org.


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