November 2010 - Parks & Recreation - 15

recipient. In the past five years the agency has received more
than 20 national, midwest region, and state association excellence awards.
Challenges & Issues: The city encompasses 15 square
miles and is completely landlocked due to ownership around
the city's border by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM),
Union Pacific Railroad, and private entities. Dependency on
the local mining, gas, and oil industry makes the community
a boom and bust area. Succession planning in the next fiveyears is key, in order to keep institutional knowledge in place
in the agency. Fiscal issues over the next three to five years
(due to the national recession and economy) will have an impact on agency services.

Facilities: The city operates 28 parks and 20 playgrounds
(i.e., one within a half-mile of every resident). Green River's
signature park is FMC Park-a 640-acre park with trails, nature area, indoor archery shooting range, outdoor archery
shooting range, outdoor gun/rifle shooting range, parking areas, and river access. FMC Park is also home to the Scotts
Bottom Nature Area and Loop. Green River Recreation Center, a 54,000 square-foot award-winning community center
located next to Green River High School, boasts a 25-meter
indoor pool, hot tub, sauna, steam room, fitness facilities, meeting space, nursery, arts and crafts room, a double gymnasium,
showers, and lockers.
Approximately 12 miles of linked trails wind along the
greenbelt pathway system and within the community. Green
River Parks and Recreation also oversees the 22-acre Riverview Cemetery, the Pavilion on Expedition Island Park (listed
on the national registry for historic sites), and the starting point
for the John Wesley Powell expedition.

Key to Success: The agency has been guided over the past
five years by an American Academy for Park and Recreation
Administration (AAPRA) fellow and is involved heavily with
NRPA, APRS, the Midwest Region of NRPA, and its state association. Strong support by the mayor, city council members,
and a 17-year tenured city administrator has resulted in a focus on quality parks and recreation programs and facilities.
The parks and recreation department has the largest operating
budget in the municipality and has completed more than $17
million in capital improvements in the past five years.

Green River Parks and Recreation

Programs: Classes are organized under aquatics, youth and
adult sports, personal training, health/wellness and fitness, and
recreation (e.g., summer day camps, after-school programs,
Zumba, silver sneakers, group fitness, youth, teens, and holiday and special events). The signature program event is the
Annual Art on the Green celebration, in its 7th year.
Mission/Vision Statement: Creating recreational opportunities through people, parks, and programs. Green River Parks
and Recreation... Ahead of the Curve.
Awards & Citations: 2010 Gold Medal Award Finalist (first
time in the history of the program an agency from Wyoming
was named as a finalist), CAPRA accredited since 2008 (only
agency to achieve accreditation in the state of Wyoming),
2009 NRPA national excellence awards (KUDOS Marketing,
Communications & Media Award, and the Dorothy Mullen
Arts & Humanities Award), three-time Playful City USA award

Future Plans: An active five-year phased development capital
improvement projects plan includes an addition to the Green
River Recreation Center, a 10-year comprehensive master
plan (based on CAPR A standards), completion of the 50acre Killdeer Wetlands Rehabilitation Project, pathways/trails
sustainability, and ongoing staff professional development.
Reaccreditation is slated for 2013 at the NRPA Congress in
Houston.
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www.NRPA .ORG

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November 2010 - Parks & Recreation

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