Warren County Parks and Recreation Department receives award

The Virginia Recreation and Park Society (VRPS) is pleased to announce that the Warren County Parks and Recreation Department was selected to receive the 2016 Best Renovation/Addition (Bricks and Mortar) Award in the category for locality populations between 25,001 and 50,000. This award is part of a state-wide program that honors individuals, departments, and organizations throughout Virginia, with over 100 applications received this year vying for awards in 14 different categories.

The 2016 Best Renovation/Addition (Bricks and Mortar) Award was presented to the Parks and Recreation Department for its work on the recently renovated Soft Play Room, which opened to the public on September 13, 2016. The room is located in the Warren County Health and Human Services Complex, home to the former Warren County Middle School on 15^th Street, and required extensive renovation from its prior use as a science room.

The Soft Play Room is home to the Tiny Tykes Open Gym program, which is available to children ages 2 through 5, and the Infant Play Day program, which is open to children under the age of 2. The room has a combination of carpet tiles and soft play squares as flooring and was a labor of love to create, drawing in monetary and item donations from local organizations and individuals.

Parks and Recreation Director Dan Lenz expressed his gratitude to VRPS by stating, “On behalf of the Warren County Parks and Recreation Department, staff and I are truly honored to receive the Virginia Recreation and Parks Society’s 2016 Best New Renovation/Addition (Bricks and Mortar) Award for the new ‘Soft Play Room’ in the Warren County Health and Human Services Complex. I would also like to extend my appreciation to Robin A. Richardson, Deputy Director, for her tireless efforts in coordinating this special project. Robin and her staff volunteers have provided safe and clean recreational areas for the youth in Front Royal/Warren County and throughout the area, which make it a rewarding experience.”

Deputy Director Robin Richardson added, “I was extremely excited to have received this award from the VRPS.  This room was a vision in which I was totally invested, from painting the walls to laying the floor.  I spent many weekends and nights seeing this through till the end.  It meant just a little bit more knowing that I truly made it happen.”

County Administrator Doug Stanley also voiced his congratulations to the Department stating, “We are extremely proud of the Department for its effort to create addition recreation opportunities for the youth of our community.”