Forest Park Forever Earns 2015 Citation Award from the Missouri Park and Recreation Association

Forest Park Forever Park Operations Manager Bill Reininger (left) accepts this award from former St. Louis City Director of Parks, Recreation and Forestry Gary Bess

ST. LOUIS, MO, MARCH 13, 2015 – At its recent Annual Meeting & Expo in Springfield, Mo., the Missouri Park and Recreation Association (MPRA) bestowed a 2015 Citation Award to Forest Park Forever. The organization was singled out for its “outstanding contributions” to the state’s recreation and park efforts. Forest Park Forever Park Operations Manager Bill Reininger (pictured above) was on hand to receive the award and deliver remarks. 

“We are thrilled that MPRA has bestowed this honor on Forest Park Forever,” said Reininger. "We are grateful to our fantastic partners with the City of St. Louis for nominating us. Our partnership is a national model for a reason — it works incredibly well, for the benefit of 13 million visitors each year. Our entire team — from the Land Management staff to educators and fundraisers — shows up to work every day to ensure that Forest Park just keeps getting better and that it will be a treasure for all of the generations that follow. We know from talking to visitors every day how important Forest Park is to their lives, and to St. Louis. We also know how important all parks are — and we extend our congratulations to everyone here for the important work being done in your own parts of the state."

he Missouri Park and Recreation Association (MPRA) is an independent, not-for-profit educational organization that provides opportunities for all the state’s citizens to enjoy quality leisure activities, is dedicated to promoting public support for parks and recreation and public awareness of the contribution of recreation to a balanced life. MPRA works to ensure the growth and improve the quality and accessibility of urban and rural parks, open spaces and recreational lands, facilities and programs for all Missourians. It promotes research and information dissemination on park, conservation, recreation and leisure issues. For more information, visit mopark.org

Forest Park Forever, a private, nonprofit organization, was founded in 1986 to restore, maintain and sustain Forest Park, as one of America's great urban public parks, for the enjoyment of all — now and forever.

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