This award is the seventh VRPS Award earned by the Department since 2021. Even more impressive, it is the third consecutive year that Parks & Recreation has received a Best New Renovation/Addition award from VRPS. Previously, the category recognized the Booster Park playground renovation (2023), and the facility repairs and modifications to add pickleball at the Courts at Locust Grove (2024). Made possible by a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Project Funding Grant, the award-winning renovations were undertaken to improve safety at the park and to open new doors to expanded use. Highlights included replacing baseball/softball field fencing - including the addition of new fence protectors along the top of the outfield fences, the installation of two high-quality batting cages, and concession stand improvements that included a new fire suppression system. These renovations will allow user groups to make the most of their seasons at Booster Park. Parks & Recreation Honored with VRPS Award for 2024 Booster Park Renovations We are pleased to announce that Orange County Parks & Recreation (OCPR) was recognized with a Virginia Recreation and Park Society (VRPS) Award at the organization’s recent annual conference in Roanoke, VA. VRPS awards recognize some of the Commonwealth’s best initiatives in the parks and recreation field. In the 25,001 – 50,000 population bracket, the department was honored with a win in the category of Best New Renovation/Addition (Parks, Playgrounds, Blueways, Greenways, Trails) for the Booster Park ballfield and concession stand renovation efforts undertaken in 2024. By: Orange County Communications Department
Improvement Highlights:
Since OCPR assumed authority of Booster Park in 2016, the batting cage area contained only remnants of the old cage and served only as a storage location. Now, there are two new batting cages open for free public use!
The lack of a fire suppression system kept the concession stand unusable since OCPR assumed responsibility for the park. This project made several improvements to the concession stand, including fixing the fire suppression issue.
Fencing and gates were breaking and becoming loose around all baseball/softball fields. This project replaced all ballfield fencing.
Each field’s fencing was completely removed and replaced. New orange fence safety caps were also added along the outfield fences of all four baseball/softball fields.
12
Powered by FlippingBook