City of Garland Parks & Recreation and Emergency Management staff win awards.
Parks & Recreation employee earns state honors
Garland Parks & Recreation Department employee Heather Lambert earned two recognitions at the 2024 Texas Recreation and Park Society annual Institute & Expo in Galveston from Feb. 26 to March 1.
Lambert, supervisor at Holford Recreation Center, received the Presidential Award of Honor and the Presidential Coin.
The Presidential Award of Honor is presented by the outgoing TRAPS President to individuals who have supported them during their tenure with the organization and beyond. Lambert has been an active member of the TRAPS North planning committee for more than 20 years and is currently completing her second term as the North Region Director.
Lambert also received one of the first Presidential Coins for her work with the National Recreation and Park Agency’s National Conference Local Host Committee.
The NRPA Conference was in Dallas in October 2023. Lambert served as the committee chair for Off-Site Education Institutes and Leisure Tours. She helped create and implement an accessibility survey that was completed at every conference activity site. This survey allowed the committee to identify barriers that individuals with disabilities may encounter while participating and create accommodations to ensure a successful experience for everyone.
Emergency Management staff earn recognition, board appointment
A regional public education program led by Brad Kavanaugh, the city of Garland’s Community Preparedness & Resiliency Coordinator, has received an Outstanding Public Information Award from the Emergency Management Association of Texas.
KnoWhat2Do received the award from EMAT for exemplary efforts to increase information and awareness of emergency management issues with the public in Texas. The group’s leadership has placed a focus on enhancing social media sharing and developing uniform preparedness messages for the region. KnoWhat2Do has led campaigns for National Preparedness Month, Fire Safety, Family Preparedness, Weather Safety and See Something Say Something.
EMAT recently appointed Mariah Phipps-Jack, Garland’s Director of Emergency Management, to its Board of Directors. In this capacity, Phipps-Jack will help set the strategic oversight and direction of the association. She previously served on the EMAT Board of Directors from 2009 to 2013.
Information and photos provided by city of Garland.