The City of Roanoke’s Department of Parks and Recreation is an award-winning and nationally accredited agency.
Here are a some of the most recent awards that the department has received:
2023
- The 2023 Roanoker Magazine Platinum Award for Roanoke River Greenway (Favorite Place to Take Fido for a Walk)
- The 2023 Roanoker Magazine Silver Award for Elmwood Park Amphitheater (Best Live Music Venue)
- The 2023 Roanoker Magazine Gold Award for Mill Mountain Star (Favorite Spot for a Day Date)
- The 2023 Roanoker Magazine Platinum Award for Mill Mountain Star (Favorite Local Attraction)
- The 2023 Roanoker Magazine Gold Award for Mill Mountain Star (Attraction to Feel Like a Kid Again)
- The 2023 Roanoker Magazine Platinum Award for Mill Mountain Star (You’re Not a Real Roanoker Until You Visit…)
- The 2023 Roanoker Magazine Platinum Award for the Anthem Go Outside Festival (Favorite Local Festival)
- The 2023 Roanoker Magazine Gold Award (TIE) for Roanoke GO Outside Festival (Best Thing to Happen in Roanoke, 2022)
- The 2023 Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine Best of the Blue Ridge runner up for Carvins Cove (Best Bike Trail)
- The 2023 Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine Best of the Blue Ridge runner up for Roanoke GO Outside Festival (Best Family Friendly Festival)
2022
- The Pioneer Athletics 2022 Fields of Excellence Award for River’s Edge Park
- The Virginia Sports Turf Managers Association “Field of the Year” Award for River’s Edge Park North in Category 4: Parks and Recreation
- The 2022 Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine Best of the Blue Ridge Award for Roanoke River Greenway (Best Urban Park/Greenway)
- The 2022 Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine Best of the Blue Ridge Award for Roanoke GO Outside Festival (Favorite Family-Friendly Festival)
- The 2022 Roanoker Magazine Platinum Award for Roanoke River Greenway (Favorite Place to Take Fido for a Walk)
- The 2022 Roanoker Magazine Silver Award for Elmwood Park Amphitheater (Best Live Music Venue)
- The 2022 Roanoker Magazine Platinum Award for Mill Mountain Star (Favorite Local Attraction)
- The 2022 Roanoker Magazine Platinum Award for Mill Mountain Star (You’re Not a Real Roanoker Until You Visit…)
- The 2022 Roanoker Magazine Platinum Award for the Anthem Go Outside Festival (Favorite Local Festival)
2021
- The 2021 Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine Best of the Blue Ridge runner up for Roanoke Greenway (Best Urban Park/Greenway)
- The 2021 Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine Best of the Blue Ridge runner up for Carvins Cove (Best Biking Trail)
- Virginia Recreation and Park Society “Best New Program” for the Junior Ranger Program
- Virginia Recreation and Park Society “Best New Special Event” for Timeless Twenties
- Virginia Recreation and Park Society “Distinguished Private Sector Partner” with Starr Hill Roanoke
- The 2021 Roanoker Magazine Platinum Award for the Anthem Go Outside Festival (Favorite Local Festival
- The 2021 Roanoker Magazine Platinum Award for The Greenway (Favorite Place to Take Fido for a Walk)
- The 2021 Roanoker Magazine Silver Award for Highland Park (Favorite Place to Take Fido for a Walk)
- The 2021 Roanoker Magazine Platinum Award for Mill Mountain Star (Favorite Local Attraction)
- The 2021 Roanoker Magazine Silver Award for Carvins Cove (Best Local Hiking Trail)
- The 2021 Roanoker Magazine Platinum Award for Mill Mountain Star (You’re Not a Real Roanoker Until You Visit…)
2020
- The 2020 Virginia Living Magazine Best of Award for Highland Park (Best Dog Park)
- The 2020 Virginia Living Magazine Best of Award for Mill Mountain Star
- The 2020 Roanoker Magazine Platinum Award for Mill Mountain Star (You’re not a Roanoker until you visit…)
- The 2020 Roanoker Magazine Platinum Award for the Anthem Go Outside Festival (Best Local Festival)
- The 2020 Roanoker Magazine Platinum Award for Elmwood Park (Best Live Music Venue)
- The 2020 Roanoker Magazine Platinum Award for Mill Mountain Star (Favorite Local Attraction)
- The 2020 Roanoker Magazine Gold Award for Mill Mountain Star (Favorite Spot for a Day Date)
- The 2020 Roanoker Magazine Silver Award for Highland Park (Favorite Place to Take a Fido for a Walk)
2019
- VRPS Most Innovative Marketing Strategy for “Do You Gnome Our Parks”
- The 2019 Roanoker Magazine Platinum Award for Mill Mountain Star (You’re not a Roanoker until you visit…)
- The 2019 Roanoker Magazine Platinum Award for the Anthem Go Outside Festival (Best Local Festival)
- The 2019 Roanoker Magazine Platinum Award for Elmwood Park (Best Live Music Venue)
- The 2019 Roanoker Magazine Platinum Award for Mill Mountain Star (Favorite Local Attraction)
- The 2019 Roanoker Magazine Platinum Award for the Greenways (Favorite Place to Take a Fido for a Walk)
- The 2019 Roanoker Magazine Gold Award for Mill Mountain Star (Favorite Spot for a Day Date)
- The 2019 Roanoker Magazine Silver Award for Highland Park (Favorite Place to Take a Fido for a Walk)
- The 2019 Roanoker Magazine Silver Award for Carvins Cove (Best Place for Water Sports)
- The 2019 Roanoker Magazine Silver Award for the Greenways (Favorite Spot for a Day Date)
2018
- 2018 Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award for Implementation of the Virginia Outdoors Plan
- 2018 Virginia Living- Best Dog Park, Highland Park
- VRPS Elmwood Park Historic Sycamore Tree Conservation
2017
- 2017 Public Relations Society of America Gold Summit Award for Best Website
- 2017 Public Relations Society of America Silver Award for the April Fool’s Social Media Campaign
- 2017 VRPS Award “Best Promotional Effort – Traditional” for PLAY Magazine
- 2017 VRPS Award “Best New Special Event” for The Haunting Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre
- 2017 The Roanoker Magazine Gold Award for Mill Mountain Star Trail, Best Short Hike (Under 5 Miles)
- 2017 The Roanoker Magazine Platinum Award for Mill Mountain Star, Best Place to Take a Selfie
- 2017 Best of the Blue Ridge’s Best Festival awarded to the Roanoke GO Outside Festival
- 2017 Best of the Blue Ridge’s Best Adventure Race second place awarded to the Roanoke GO Outside Festival Wild Gear Chase
- 2017 Roanoke recognized as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation
2016
- 2016 Best of the Blue Ridge’s Best Festival awarded to the Roanoke GO Outside Festival
- 2016 Best of the Blue Ridge’s Best Adventure Race awarded to the Roanoke GO Outside Festival Wild Gear Chase
- 2016 Best of the Blue Ridge’s Best Biking Trail awarded to Carvins Cove Trails
- 2016 Best of the Blue Ridge’s Best Triathlon second place awarded to Off the Rails Triathlon
- 2016 Roanoke recognized as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation
2015
- 2015 Virginia Recreation and Parks Society’s Best Promotional Effort for A Christmas Past at the Fishburn Mansion Brochure
- 2015 Virginia Recreation and Parks Society’s Best New Special Event for A Christmas Past at the Fishburn Mansion Open House
- 2015 American Society of Landscape Architects Honor Award for General Design for Elmwood Park
- 2015 Best of the Blue Ridge’s Best Triathlon second place awarded to Off the Rails Triathlon
- 2015 Best of the Blue Ridge’s Best Sports Festival second place awarded to the Roanoke GO Outside Festival
- 2015 Roanoke recognized as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation
2014
- 2014 Gold Leaf Award presented to the Roanoke Tree Stewards for Outstanding Landscape Beautification from the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the International Society of Abroriculture
- 2014 Roanoke recognized as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation
2013
- 2013 Best New Renovation/Addition Parks, Playgrounds, Blueways, Greenways and Trails for Elmwood Park
- 2013 Roanoke recognized as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation
Earlier:
- 2011 American Society of Landscape Architects Honor Award for Roanoke’s Parks and Greenway Sign Plan
- 2011 Roanoke recognized as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation
- 2010 Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation Restoration Award for the Mill Mountain Toll Booth
- 2010 Roanoke recognized as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation
- 2009 Public Relations Society of America, Blue Ridge Chapter’s Gold Summit Award – Print Publications for Play Magazine
- 2009 Roanoke recognized as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation
- 2009 Virginia Recreation and Park Society Distinguished Volunteer Service awarded to Brian Batteiger
- 2009 Virginia Recreation and Park Society Best New Greenway, Blueway or Trail awarded to Lick Run Greenway
- 2009 Governor’s Office, Commonwealth of Virginia’s Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award awarded to Carvins Cove Natural Reserve Conservation Easement
- 2008 Roanoke recognized as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation
- 2008 Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies – National Accreditation awarded
- 2007 Public Relations Society of America, Blue Ridge Chapter’s Silver Summit Award – Recreation Catalog for Play Magazine
- 2007 3CMD Silver Circle Award – Recreation Catalog for Play Magazine
- 2007 MarCom Gold Award – Direct Mail/Other for Play Magazine
- 2007 Virginia Recreation and Park Society Best Promotional Effort for Fall Waterways Cleanup
- 2007 Roanoke recognized as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation
- 2007 Virginia Recreation and Park Society Best New Special Event for US Challenge
- 2006 Statewide Neighborhood Conference Neighborhood Group Effort of the Year for Youth Commission
- 2006 Roanoke recognized as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation
- 2006 Public Relations Society of America, Blue Ridge Chapter Summit Award – External Communications for Play Magazine
- 2006 Virginia Recreation and Park Society Best New Program for Mobile Mountain
- 2006 Virginia Recreation and Park Society for Distinguished Volunteer Service for Frank Barratta
- Virginia Recreation and Park Society Honorable Mention – Marketing for Play Magazine
- 2005 The Communicator Awards Award of Excellence – Recreation Catalog for Play Magazine
- 2005 Roanoke recognized as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation
- 2005 Virginia Recreation and Park Society Best New Program for Plastic Bat and Ball
- 2004 Public Relations Society of America, Blue Ridge Chapter Honorable Mention – External Communications for Play Magazine
- 2004 Roanoke recognized as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation
- 2003 Virginia Recreation and Park Society Best Promotional Effort for Parks and Recreation Web Page
- 2003 Roanoke recognized as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation
- 2001 Virginia Recreation and Park Society’s Best New Facility for Discovery Center
- 2201 Roanoke recognized as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation
- 1999 Virginia Recreation and Park Society’s Best New Renovation for Rocwood Indoor Adventure Center
- 1999 Roanoke recognized as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation
- 1998 Virginia Recreation and Park Society’s Best New Program for Playing for Keeps – The Adult Role in Youth Sports
- 1998 Roanoke recognized as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation
- 1996 – Virginia Recreation and Park Society’s Presidential Award for Annual Conference Host