HomeMy Public PortalAboutTOL NR 2019-09-18 VRPS Award
Town of Leesburg
News Release
For Immediate Release
September 18, 2019
Media Contact:
Leah Kosin, Public Information Assistant
lkosin@leesburgva.gov 703-771-2781
Leesburg’s Department of Parks and Recreation Receives “Best
New Renovation/Addition” Award at VRPS State Conference
The department was recognized for improvements to Greenway Park
Playground, which were implemented in summer 2018.
Leesburg, VA (September 18, 2019) –
Leesburg’s Department of Parks and
Recreation was the recipient of the “Best New
Renovation/Addition” award during the 64th
Annual Conference of the Virginia Recreation
and Park Society, held in Tysons Corner, last
week.
Over 500 delegates from around the state
gathered as an opportunity for recreation and
park professionals to discuss areas of common
interest. Highlighting each year’s conference is a formal presentation of awards, which honors
individuals, departments, and organizations throughout Virginia who have demonstrated
excellence in any of several areas during the previous year.
Out of 115 applications that were considered for awards in 14 different categories, Leesburg
Parks and Recreation won for recent improvements to the Greenway Park Playground.
Originally built in 1997, staff recognized the original playground was outdated and had been
receiving community comments for upgrades. As a result, staff requested and was awarded
Capital Improvement funding in the FY18 budget for the Greenway Playground redevelopment.
New equipment was purchased in early June 2018 and arrived on schedule for a mid-July install.
The removal and installation of the play structure was completed in ten days, one day prior to
the deadline date of August 1, 2018. The Town celebrated the newly renovated playground
with a ribbon cutting ceremony on August 3, 2018.
Designed by Playground Specialists, Inc., the playground features two play areas, one for ages 2
to 4 and the other for ages 5 to 12. New components to the playground include climbers,
climbing walls and nets from Playground Specialists’ Adventure Series, a swivel seat, ground-
level musical and play panels, and an imagination play area. The most unique addition is the
cargo net climber, the first of its kind in Leesburg and clearly the favorite feature among the
children at the ribbon cutting.
The Town of Leesburg strives to provide a healthy and active environment for its citizens. The
Greenway Park playground not only benefits children’s physical health, but also plays an
important role in their psychosocial development.
Greenway Park is one of seventeen parks in the Town of Leesburg’s 368 plus acre park system
and features a four acre park featuring a playground, basketball court, picnic tables, benches,
and a nature trail.
The mission of the Virginia Recreation and Park Society is to unite all professionals, students,
and interested lay persons engaged in the field of recreation, parks, and other leisure services in
the Commonwealth of Virginia. For more information on the Society contact the state office at
804-730-9447 or visit the website at www.vrps.com.
# # #