Awards and Accolades

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:

Agency Re-Accreditation through the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA), completed June 2023.

Roanoke Parks and Recreation first earned Accreditation in 2008, and successfully completed the accreditation process for the fourth time in 2023. Learn More.

• 2023 Virginia Recreation and Parks Association Most Creative Marketing Piece for “Value of a Tree” Tags
• Outside Magazine “Best Places to Work” Honorable Mention 
• 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)
• The 2023 Virginia Living Magazine 3rd Place for Elmwood Park (Best Music Venue – Southwest Virginia)

• 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 Virginia Recreation and Park Society “Outstanding New Professional” awarded to Samantha Matson, Urban Forestry Program Supervisor
• The 2022 Virginia Recreation and Park Society “Most Creative Marketing Strategy” with “For the Love of Parks” campaign
• The 2022 Virginia Recreation and Park Society “Best Health and Wellness Initiative” with Mini Miler
• 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)

• 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)
• 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…)
• The 2021 Virginia Living Magazine 2nd Place for Highland Park (Best Dog Park – Southwest Virginia)
• The 2021 Virginia Living Magazine 3rd Place for Elmwood Park (Best Music Venue – Southwest Virginia)
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• The 2020 Virginia Recreation and Park Society “Best New Program” for the Junior Ranger Program
• The 2020 Virginia Recreation and Park Society “Best New Special Event” for Timeless Twenties
• The 2020 Virginia Recreation and Park Society “Distinguished Private Sector Partner” with Starr Hill Roanoke
• 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)

• The 2019 Virginia Recreation and Park Society “Best New Special Event” with Human Foosball Tournament
• 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)

• The 2018Virginia Recreation and Park Society “Most Innovative Marketing Strategy” with “Do You Gnome Our Parks”
• 2018 Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award for Implementation of the Virginia Outdoors Plan
• 2018 Virginia Living- Best Dog Park, Highland Park

• 2017 Public Relations Society of America Gold Summit Award for Best Website
• The 2017 Virginia Recreation and Park Society “Best New Environmental Sustainability” with Elmwood Park Historic Sycamore Tree Conservation
• 2017 Public Relations Society of America Silver Award for the April Fool’s Social Media Campaign
• 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

• The 2016 Virginia Recreation and Park Society “Best Promotional Effort – Traditional” for PLAY Magazine
• The 2016 Virginia Recreation and Park Society “Best New Special Event” for The Haunting Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre
• 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

• The 2015 Virginia Recreation and Park Society “Best Promotional Effort – Traditional” for A Christmas Past at the Fishburn Mansion Brochure
• The 2015 Virginia Recreation and Park Society “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 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

• The 2013 Virginia Recreation and Park Society “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

• The 2012 Virginia Recreation and Park Society “Best New Renovation/Addition Parks, Playgrounds, Blueways, Greenways and Trails” for Roanoke River/Tinker Creek Greenway Extension
• 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