November 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 40

2019
NFERENCE
A N N U A L C O BALTIMORE, MD
|
SEPTEM BER 24-26

NRPA's Dolesh Receives 2019 Pugsley Medal
By Lindsay Collins

ithin minutes of meeting Richard J. Dolesh, NRPA's vice president of strategic initiatives, his unwavering dedication to and
passion for parks and recreation and conservation become apparent. His achievements in these areas are numerous - from
involvement with the acquisition and management of 54,000 acres of forest,
wetlands and swamps in the Chesapeake Forest Lands to being published in the
Washington Post and National Geographic, to name a few - spanning nearly five
decades, during which time he has been an advocate, educator, mentor, author
and leader.
" Through the years, I have seen
Rich as a leader at the national level,
working to solve challenges in natural
resources management and public
lands conservation, " says Larry Selzer, president and CEO of the Conservation Fund. " He has been a cutting-edge thinker and writer on such
topics as the impact of private funds
in public parks, restoring landscapes
for pollinator conservation and the
vital role of parks in fostering partnerships with water utilities and other
public- and private-sector institutions
in providing solutions for clean water
and sustainable landscapes. "
It comes as no surprise then, that
Dolesh recently was awarded an
Honorable Cornelius Amory Pugsley Medal (http://www.aapra.org/
pugsley-award), which he received at
the American Academy for Park and
Recreation Administration (AAPRA)
annual awards reception and banquet
held during the 2019 NRPA Annual
Conference. The Pugsley Medals are
the most prestigious awards that recognize outstanding contributions by
an individual to the promotion and
development of public parks and conservation in the United States.
" Rich's varied career, his com-

Parks & Recreation

mitment to education of NRPA
members through presenting conference sessions, training webinars,
podcasts and his published articles
have enabled many current and future park leaders to understand the
challenges we face in conservation
and to value our natural world, "
says Joe Turner, former director of
the Houston Parks and Recreation
Department. " From the outset of
his career in parks, recreation and
conservation, Rich has been a leader, an innovator and a tireless advocate for the importance of parks in
protecting the environment and preserving our natural resources and
open spaces for future generations. "
While Dolesh's contributions and
achievements are many, it is his authenticity and passion that set him
apart. He is always on the cutting
edge of what's happening in the field
- his annual prognostications about
top trends in the field are never off the
mark and his sessions at conference
on this topic are always well-attended.
He is frequently consulted as a leading authority in the fields of parks
and conservation, and never hesitates
to share his wisdom with anyone and
everyone who is interested to learn.

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Not only does he share his wealth
of knowledge, but encourages and
inspires others to be inquisitive and
forward-thinking. " Simply put, to me
Rich is the soul and conscience of
the national urban parks movement, "
says Adrian Benepe, senior vice president and director of national programs for the Trust for Public Land.
" No one knows more than he does
about the trends, policies, financing
and philosophical issues that surround parks in America. "
Dolesh's Pugsley Medal is well-deserved and is an honor that we here at
NRPA headquarters are proud to say
our admired colleague has undoubtedly earned. " On behalf of the entire
NRPA Board of Directors and staff, I
want to congratulate Rich on this outstanding achievement, " says Kristine
Stratton, NRPA president and CEO.
" Rich's commitment to parks and
recreation, specifically conservation,
is unparalleled, and the impact of his
contributions will make a difference
for generations to come. "
Lindsay Collins is the Associate Editor for
Parks & Recreation magazine (lcollins@
nrpa.org).

November 2019 - Parks & Recreation

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