Santa Clarita Receives “Award of Excellence”

The City of Santa Clarita’s Youth Grove Project in Central Park received a prominent award from the California Park & Recreation Society (CPRS).

Out of nearly 300 applications, the City received one of the 38 “Awards of Excellence” given in the Neighborhood/Community Life category at the 2007 California and Pacific Southwest Recreation & Park Training Conference, held in Sacramento on March 8-10, 2007.“The CPRS awards program is the highest acknowledgment our Department can receive, and we are honored to be recognized. This award is dedicated to the families, community members, volunteers, and donors who made the Youth Grove happen,” commented Rick Gould, Director of Parks, Recreation, & Community Services.CPRS is a membership organization with 4,200 members representing the 525 local parks and recreation agencies in the state.  Its mission is to provide the leadership and resource to promote the role of parks and recreation in creating community through people, parks and programs.“Our organization is proud to honor park and recreation agencies throughout the state that provide families, individuals, and groups spaces to learn and play, create and imagine, and be safe and secure,” commented CPRS Executive Director Jane H. Adams.

The Youth Grove is a permanent memorial dedicated to Santa Clarita youth who have died in traffic-related incidents.  It is designed to raise awareness about safe driving habits, and to influence drivers to make responsible choices when behind the wheel.  The CPRS Award is the second recognition the Youth Grove has received. It was also honored with the Helen Putnam Award for Excellence by the League of California Cities in September, 2006. The Youth Grove is located in Central Park, 27150 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, and currently includes 67 names.

For more information about the project, please call the City of Santa Clarita’s Community Services Division at (661) 255-4965 or visit www.santa-clarita.com