The City of Boulder’s Parks and Recreation Department was recently selected to receive the 2011 Barb King Environmental Stewardship Award by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). The Barb King Environmental Stewardship Award recognizes parks and recreation agencies that have achieved excellence in environmental stewardship and exceptional service in the field, furthering the aims and values of parks and recreation.

“We are honored to receive this award for our department’s efforts in environmental stewardship,” said Kirk W. Kincannon, director of the Parks and Recreation Department. “Our staff works hard to ensure that our department’s best management practices for minimizing our environmental impact are upheld, and strives to protect the natural quality of our city in all areas.”

NRPA will present the award publicly at a special reception at the association’s 2011 Congress & Exposition in Atlanta, Ga., on Nov. 2, 2011.

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 Forum Awards Committee, and are chosen for excellence in a variety of topics, including professional and voluntary service, programming, leadership, research and public outreach.

“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, CEO of NRPA.