The City of Owensboro was honored with two awards at the Kentucky Recreation and Parks Society Conference, which was held November 12-14, 2014 at the Owensboro Convention Center. Smothers Park was honored with the 2014 Kentucky Recreation and Park Society Outstanding Facility award. With the new slogan ‘Let’s Go Downtown,’ the Owensboro Parks and Recreation Department is celebrating Owensboro’s revitalized riverfront as a point of pride for residents. “Smothers Park is a community gathering place, it has become what we all sincerely hoped for, a one-of-a-kind, Owensboro destination for not only our residents, but also for everyone within our region to visit, enjoy and experience what is uniquely Owensboro, in place and people,” commented Parks Manager Amanda Rogers.
In addition to the state award for Smothers Park, Owensboro Mayor Ron Payne was selected 2014 Kentucky Recreation and Parks Society Outstanding Public Official for his vision and success implementing Owensboro’s riverfront revitalization. “I am extremely honored to receive this award on behalf of the citizens of Owensboro. What our community has accomplished in the last four years has been incredible.”
The Kentucky Recreation and Park Society was organized in 1954 as a nonprofit professional association for Kentucky’s parks and recreation professionals. Our Mission is to further the growth and development of recreation and park services in Kentucky. This is accomplished by providing conferences, workshops, technical assistance, advocacy, and other exchanges of information that enable each professional to become effective in improving the quality of life in the Commonwealth of Kentucky communities.
