The City of Roseville received two Awards of Excellence from the Minnesota Recreation and Park Association (MRPA).
Each year, the Minnesota Recreation and Park Association (MRPA) recognizes the work of parks and recreation departments throughout the state. This year, the association recognized the City in the Partnership and Programs and Events categories for their 2021 awards.
Partnership Category
Central Park Victoria West - Inclusive Playground
The Inclusive Playground project at Central Park- Victoria West is a unique example of many partners coming together in a variety of ways to create something special for a community. The goals of the park were to create Roseville’s first fully inclusive playground. Specifically, it was identified that the final project should be “one of a kind” and “top of the line."
Several community partners made this project possible, including the City of Roseville, the Roseville Central Park Foundation, the Friends of Roseville Parks and two private donors. The 2021 project more than doubled the size of the original playset and was funded entirely through an anonymous private donation that was facilitated through the Friends of Roseville Parks.
These partners provided support every step of the way. They helped with inception of the idea, fundraising, site selection and planning. In 2022, the City also installed new fitness pods on the site to even further expand the “play for everyone” concept.
Programs and Events Category
Kite Day in the Park
Kite Day in the Park was a new event created in 2021 to provide a recreational experience for the Roseville community, at a time when many events were being modified or canceled due to COVID restrictions. Roseville Parks and Recreation, North Suburban Kiwanis, and Do Good Roseville worked together to offer this free event where people could enjoy an outdoor activity while socially distancing..
More than 120 youth and families registered to receive and fly kites at the Central Park Victoria Ballfields, and many more came with their own kites to show their kite flying skills and offer advice for new kite flyers. The event has since become an annual event to be hosted each spring in the City.