By JOSEPH FITZGERALD

BURRILLVILLE — The Burrillville Parks and Recreation Department Wednesday was recognized by the Town Council for being named the 2008 most distinguished parks and recreation department by the Rhode Island Recreation and Park Association.

“We appreciate RIRPA’s recognition of the accomplishments our department has achieved over the past year,” Burrillville Parks and Recreation Director Cheri R. Hall said last night. “It especially means a lot to receive an award like this from your peers in the field of parks and recreation.”
The Burrillville parks and recreation department won the same award in 2005 and is the only parks and recreation department in the state to be honored twice by the Newport-based Rhode Island Recreation and Park Association, which presents awards to individuals and communities in Rhode Island for their outstanding contributions to the field of parks and recreation.
Hall and her staff will be officially presented with the award at an awards luncheon to be hosted by Burrillville March 11 at the Crystal Lake Golf Club in Mapleville.
Brian Ahern, a loss prevention manager for Rhode Island Interlocal Risk Management Trust, will be given the association’s Step up to the Plate award at the banquet. The award is given annually to an individual or organization who is recognized for their support of parks and recreation.
To win the most distinguished parks and recreation department award, Hall and her staff had to highlight five or more accomplishments over the past year that have shown exemplary examples of an outstanding department.
In Burrillville’s case, the association recognized the department’s ability to connect with other organizations, businesses and volunteers and he success of its programs utilizing only a small staff.  The department consists of Hall, administrative aide Carol L. Conway and one part-time administrative aide. Together, they oversee two recreation centers, before- and after-school programs at two elementary schools, a beach facility, playgrounds, and the scheduling of all fields, parks and private rental functions.
The department was also recognized for a number of special events and fundraisers that are held throughout the year, including the annual 5k road Race, Adopt a Duck, Victorian Holiday; Santa Calling, Santa on the Town Common, Concerts on the Town Common, Earth Day, Spring Egg Hunt, and Family Fair.
The association also lauded the department for its ability to network with other parks and recreation departments and its grant funding research. The department has received more than $1 million in state and federal grant funds for facility improvements and the development of new facilities.
The association also acknowledged some of the new programs developed and implemented by Hall and her staff last year, including Math Moves, and the Above and Beyond 50’s and Wunderkind Theatrical workshops.
“Many of our accomplishment this past year were the result of the insight, inspiration and motivation of our staff, our volunteers, other town departments, and the residents in the community.”
It will be a busy year for Hall this year. She recently received a $2,000 scholarship to attend the National Legislative Forum for National Parks & Recreation in Washington D.C. March 17-20, and is also the recipient of the RIRIPA Coppa Scholarship to attend the National Recreation and Park Association in Salt Lake City in October.