Commerce City's local recreation staff have found themselves in the spotlight, hauling in a couple of top honors at this year's Colorado Parks and Recreation Association (CPRA) Annual Conference. The accolades not only point to individual excellence but also to a team's shared commitment to the community's wellbeing. Specifically, a Columbine Award for Programming has been bestowed upon the city's Mini-Con event, alongside the acknowledgment of Megan Krabbe as the PLAaY Professional of the Year.
The CPRA takes an occasion like this to shine a light on extraordinary park and recreation initiatives across Colorado, with Commerce City's Mini-Con, a comic book and popular culture celebration, clearly standing out. The Columbine Award highlights the event’s steady growth and impact under the guidance of Zach Venn and Kylie Whitmore, a couple of resourceful staffers whose sights are now aimed at an even more impressive affair come March 2025. It's her team effort, extending the arms of popular culture into the fabric of community engagement, that makes the affair an anticipated calendar hallmark.
When it comes to youthful upliftment, Megan Krabbe plays in a league of her own. Awarded the PLAaY Professional of the Year, and high praise in the youth services arena, Krabbe's nine-year tenure beams with innovative staff training and voluntary duties that extend well beyond the call. Programs like CPR and park safety aren’t just boxes to check, they're lifelines her team can draw on. And it’s not lost on her what such recognition means. "I am truly honored to receive the PLAaY Professional of the Year award,” Krabbe said, according to Commerce City. “This recognition reflects my passion for working with youth and my commitment to helping them thrive. It inspires me to continue fostering a culture of appreciation and excellence in everything I do."
The CPRA's role stretches beyond these annual accolades, assuming the mantle as a resource and advocate for the parks and recreation profession. Hence, their awards program isn’t merely a pat on the back, it’s a spotlight on the indispensable value and diverse contributions that individuals and organizations bring to communities all across the state. Their mission encapsulated through this celebration of achievement, chisels out a vision of what it means to be invested in the landscape of play, leisure, and community wellbeing.
