BEING LEGENDARY, EVERY DAY WHERE LEGENDS RISE was the theme of the 2022 Virginia Recreation & Parks Society (VRPS) Annual Conference, held in Virginia Beach. VBPR picked up five awards, including Most Creative Marketing Strategy, Most Creative Marketing Piece, Best Health & Wellness Initiative, Best New Facility and the Distinguished Volunteer Service Award. To aid recruitment efforts for the city, two Parks & Rec staff members appeared in ‘Best Job Yet’ commercials - Lifeguard Myla Gorges and Activity Center Leader Coral Mapp.
To better manage resources and make data-driven decisions, VBPR created a dedicated strategic initiative unit in 2022. The team utilizes business intelligence software to analyze data, identify trends and report on performance. Our Summer Youth Employment Program provided 104 youth with the opportunity to work in over 13 City agencies/ departments and Virginia Beach private companies.
In May, American Red Cross Lifesaving Awards were presented to Lifeguard Sarah Staud, Lifeguard Nate Keenan, Recreation Specialist II Kaitlyn Childs, and P&R Supervisor Jeff Bass.
SYEP graduation awards (top) Hanging SITW banners at the oceanfront (Center) Myla Gorges, featured in “best job yet’ campaign (bottom right) Award winners at VRPS conference (bottom left) Landscaping at the oceanfront (left)
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