2026 CARPD Awards of Distinction

The image features the logo of CARPD (California Association of Recreation and Park Districts) and announces the "2026 Awards of Distinction."

The Awards of Distinction winners were announced at the CARPD Conference on May 28, 2026, in Monterey, CA. Thank you to all that took the time to send in their nominations. It was another competitive year! Congrats!

District Awards

Outstanding New Facility:

Hayward Area Recreation and Park District - Ashland Roots Center

Cosumnes Community Services District - CORE Recreation Center

Outstanding Renovated Facility(Large District)​: 

Jurupa Area Recreation and Park District - Jurupa Community Center

Outstanding Renovated Facility(Small District)​: 

Fair Oaks Recreation and Park District - Village Park

Outstanding Activity/Program/Special Event(Large District):

Cordova Recreation and Park District - Cupcake Community Memorial

Outstanding Activity/Program/Special Event(Small District):

West Side Recreation and Park District - Full STEAM Ahead Summer Program

Isla Vista Recreation and Park District - Forward Ever, Backward Never

Outstanding Innovation:

Paradise Recreation and Park District - Connecting Neighbors-to-Neighbors

Enviromental Excellence:

Conejo Recreation and Park District - Water Conservation Plan

Southgate Recreation and Park District - EV Solar, Photovoltaic Panels & Technology

Individual Awards

Outstanding District Employee:

Charmayne Monday - Arden Manor Recreation and Park District

Outstanding General Manager:

Gabriel Lanusse - Greater Vallejo Recreation District

Outstanding Board Member:

George Galt - Boulder Creek Recreation and Park District

CARPD President's Award:

Dan Hughes - Beaumont-Cherry Valley Recreation and Park District

Jim Meredith Award:

Dennis Waespi - East Bay Regional Park District

Community Awards

Outstanding Community Organization/Partner: 

Archives Volunteers - East Bay Recreation and Park District

Elk Grove Lion's Club - Cosumnes Community Services District

Kiwanis Club - Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District

Paradise Community Center Board of Directors - Paradise Recreation and Park District

Outstanding Volunteers: 

Barbara Henderson - Jurupa Area Recreation and Park District

Kerry Bates Redler - Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District

Maggie Clark - East Bay Recreation and Park District

Melinda Michaels - Fulton-El Camino Recreation and Park District

CARPD Community Landmark:

Conejo Community Park - Conejo Recreation and Park District

North Shore Beach & Yacht Club - Desert Recreation District

 

A group of people at an event holds a plaque, with a backdrop promoting California's parks and recreation associations.
2026 Outstanding New Facility: Ashland Roots Center - Hayward Area Recreation and Park District
Three men, one holding an award, pose for a photo in front of a CARPD banner about recreation and park support.
2026 Outstanding New Facility: CORE Recreation Center - Cosumnes Community Services District
Two men are posing together with an award plaque in front of a backdrop promoting the California Association of Recreation and Park Districts.
2026 Outstanding Renovated Facility: Jurupa Community Center - Jurupa Area Recreation and Park District
Two men are posing together, one holding an award, in front of a backdrop for the California Association of Recreation and Park Districts.
2026 Outstanding Renovated Facility: Village Park - Fair Oaks Recreation and Park District
A group of four people poses for a photo, holding a plaque, with a banner for CARPD in the background, celebrating community service.
2026 Outstanding Activity/Program/Special Event (Large District): Cupcake Community Memorial -
Two men are posing with an award in front of a banner for the California Association of Recreation and Park Districts (CARPD).
2026 Outstanding Activity/Program/Special Event (Small District): Full STEAM Ahead Summer Program - West Side Recreation and Park District
A group of people poses with an award at a CARPD event, promoting education and support for recreation and park districts.
2026 Outstanding Activity/Program/Special Event (Small District): Forward Ever, Backward Never - Isla Vista Recreation and Park District
Four people are presenting an award at a CARPD event, with a backdrop highlighting the organization's mission.
2026 Outstanding Innovation: Connecting Neighbors-to-Neighbors - Paradise Recreation and Park District
The image shows four men at an event, one presenting an award, alongside a banner for the California Association of Recreation and Park Districts.
2026 Environmental Excellence: Water Conservation Plan - Conejo Recreation and Park District
Three men are posing at an event, with one holding an award. A banner promoting the California Association of Recreation and Park Districts is in the background.
2026 Environmental Excellence: EV Solar, Photovoltaic Panels & Technology - Southgate Recreation and Park District
A woman receives an award from a man at a CARPD event, highlighting leadership in recreation and park districts.
2026 Outstanding District Employee: Charmayne Monday - Arden Manor Recreation and Park District
Two men are posing with an award plaque in front of a banner for the California Association of Recreation and Park Districts.
2026 Outstanding General Manager: Gabriel Lanusse - Greater Vallejo Recreation District
Two men stand together at an event, one holding an award plaque, with a CARPD banner in the background promoting education and advocacy.
2026 Outstanding Board Member: George Galt - Boulder Creek Recreation and Park District
A group poses with an award plaque in front of a banner for the California Association of Recreation and Park Districts (CARPD).
2026 Outstanding Community Organization/Partner: Archives Volunteers - East Bay Recreation and Park District
Two men pose with an award at an event, with a banner promoting the California Association of Recreation and Park Districts behind them.
2026 Outstanding Community Organization/Partner: Elk Grove Lion's Club - Cosumnes Community Services District
Two men pose for a photo, one holding an award, in front of a banner for the California Association of Recreation and Park Districts.
2026 Outstanding Community Organization/Partner: Kiwanis Club - Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District
A group of six people stands together, celebrating an award, with a backdrop from the California Association of Recreation and Park Districts.
2026 Outstanding Community Organization/Partner: Paradise Community Center Board of Directors - Paradise Recreation and Park District
The image shows two men, one holding an award plaque, with a backdrop promoting the California Association of Recreation and Park Districts.
2026 Outstanding Volunteers: Barbara Henderson - Jurupa Area Recreation and Park District
A woman receives an award from a man at a CARPD event, celebrating leadership in California's recreation and park districts.
2026 Outstanding Volunteers: Maggie Clark - East Bay Recreation and Park District
A group of six individuals posing with an award plaque, alongside a banner for the California Association of Recreation and Park Districts.
2026 Outstanding Volunteers: Melinda Michaels - Fulton-El Camino Recreation and Park District
Group photo at a recognition event, presenting an award for Community Leadership related to the Conjo Community Park.
2026 CARPD Community Landmark: Conejo Community Park - Conejo Recreation and Park District
Two men are posing with an award plaque for "Outstanding Community Landmark" at an event related to the California Association of Recreation and Park Districts.
2026 CARPD Community Landmark: North Shore Beach & Yacht Club - Desert Recreation District
A group photo of people posing together, holding an award plaque, with a banner for the California Association of Recreation and Park.
2026 CARPD President's Award: Dan Hughes - Beaumont-Cherry Valley Recreation and Park District
A group of people at a conference event poses with an award. A banner for CARPD is visible in the background.
2026 CARPD Jim Meredith Award: Dennis Waespi - East Bay Regional Park District
A group of people at an event holds a plaque, with a backdrop promoting California's parks and recreation associations.
Three men, one holding an award, pose for a photo in front of a CARPD banner about recreation and park support.
Two men are posing together with an award plaque in front of a backdrop promoting the California Association of Recreation and Park Districts.
Two men are posing together, one holding an award, in front of a backdrop for the California Association of Recreation and Park Districts.
A group of four people poses for a photo, holding a plaque, with a banner for CARPD in the background, celebrating community service.
Two men are posing with an award in front of a banner for the California Association of Recreation and Park Districts (CARPD).
A group of people poses with an award at a CARPD event, promoting education and support for recreation and park districts.
Four people are presenting an award at a CARPD event, with a backdrop highlighting the organization's mission.
The image shows four men at an event, one presenting an award, alongside a banner for the California Association of Recreation and Park Districts.
Three men are posing at an event, with one holding an award. A banner promoting the California Association of Recreation and Park Districts is in the background.
A woman receives an award from a man at a CARPD event, highlighting leadership in recreation and park districts.
Two men are posing with an award plaque in front of a banner for the California Association of Recreation and Park Districts.
Two men stand together at an event, one holding an award plaque, with a CARPD banner in the background promoting education and advocacy.
A group poses with an award plaque in front of a banner for the California Association of Recreation and Park Districts (CARPD).
Two men pose with an award at an event, with a banner promoting the California Association of Recreation and Park Districts behind them.
Two men pose for a photo, one holding an award, in front of a banner for the California Association of Recreation and Park Districts.
A group of six people stands together, celebrating an award, with a backdrop from the California Association of Recreation and Park Districts.
The image shows two men, one holding an award plaque, with a backdrop promoting the California Association of Recreation and Park Districts.
A woman receives an award from a man at a CARPD event, celebrating leadership in California's recreation and park districts.
A group of six individuals posing with an award plaque, alongside a banner for the California Association of Recreation and Park Districts.
Group photo at a recognition event, presenting an award for Community Leadership related to the Conjo Community Park.
Two men are posing with an award plaque for "Outstanding Community Landmark" at an event related to the California Association of Recreation and Park Districts.
A group photo of people posing together, holding an award plaque, with a banner for the California Association of Recreation and Park.
A group of people at a conference event poses with an award. A banner for CARPD is visible in the background.

 

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