The City of Carrollton Parks & Recreation Department received the 2023 Lone Star Recreation Programming Achievement Award from the Texas Recreation & Park Society (TRAPS) for their work on the 2022 Special Needs Spring Bash.

The inclusive event, held last March, was targeted to community members of all abilities with activities such as giant soccer darts, archery, pedal go-carts, and lawn games. The recognition was awarded at a TRAPS ceremony in Frisco on Thursday, March 2.

“Carrollton’s 2022 Adaptive Spring Bash submission stood out above the rest to exemplify commitment and dedication in the field of recreation,” Awards Committee Chair Lindsay Dobson said. “The TRAPS mission is to advance the quality-of-life industry through Connections, Advocacy, Resources, and Education (C.A.R.E), and Carrollton exemplifies this acronym with tenacity.” 

This particular TRAPS award recognizes innovative and effective recreation programming to any organization that has offered, for the first time, a new program to one of its community groups.

“The 2022 Adaptive Spring Bash was designed to provide children and adults of all abilities with a barrier free and inclusive recreation experience,” Carrollton Recreation Coordinator Shelby Carradine said. “Through the use of unique partnerships and outstanding volunteers, the special needs event provided friends and families a free opportunity to engage in a variety of games and activities in a welcoming and inclusive environment.”

The free outdoor event took place on Carrollton’s fully accessible Adaptive Sports Field #6 at Josey Ranch Sports Complex which provided the perfect setting for a high-quality, adaptive-recreational program that was open to all with ample room to enjoy fun in the sun. By strategically placing various games and activities around the field, the facility was able to accommodate more than 80 participants and 30 volunteers in a safe, barrier-free environment. Field #6 features a synthetic turf surface for safety, performance, and durability with a reduced distance to the outfield, shorter base paths, wider gate openings, and wheelchair and walker accessibility.

Adaptive activities on the field were provided alongside a public education display of emergency vehicles from Carrolton’s Fire Rescue and Police Departments and a free lunch served by the Carrollton Fire Fighters’ Association in the parking lot. A sensory-friendly break area was also available with noise cancelling headphones, sensory toys, and other calming activities for individuals with sensory sensitivities.

“The City of Carrollton is extremely proud of the success from the Special Needs Spring Bash event,” Carrollton Director of Parks & Recreation Scott Whitaker said. “It is an honor for the Parks & Recreation Department to be awarded the TRAPS 2023 Lone Star Recreation Programming Achievement Award. It was a tremendous opportunity for the whole team, and volunteers were paramount in making the event a success ensuring that each participant received an amazing experience there. This type of effort is what makes Carrollton the community that families and businesses want to call home.”

This is the fifth time in four years Carrollton Parks & Recreation has been honored by the TRAPS organization, a nonprofit educational and professional organization founded in 1937 to advance the profession of parks, recreation, and leisure services in Texas. Carrollton also earned the 2018 Lone Star Recreation Programming Achievement Award for the inaugural Run for Rover 5K fundraiser event as well as the 2018 Excellence in Maintenance Award for using natural resources to irrigate McInnish Sports Complex, the 2021 Gold Medal Award for Excellence for programming, and the 2022 Administration-Management Excellence Award for the City’s Winter Storm Warming Shelter.

The City of Carrollton Parks & Recreation Department employs approximately 87 staff members providing services to more than 135,000 residents and offers programs, events, and recreation facilities for an active community. With more than 1,100 acres of park space, three recreation facilities, a 36-hole golf course, tennis center, 38 sport fields including an adaptive turf field, a nature center, and a homestead museum, in addition to a wide range of recreation classes including arts, education, fitness, sports, adaptive programming, and more than 50 community events each year, Carrollton continually strives to be fiscally responsible and resourceful while providing quality park space and recreation options.

Through the City’s budget process, Parks & Recreation annually formulates a three-year projected business plan as outlined in Carrollton’s Parks & Recreation Master Plan. These business plans serve as a road map for staff to better implement valuable services and amenities for the community.

For anyone interested in attending Carrollton’s 2023 Special Needs Spring Bash on Saturday, April 8 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Josey Ranch Sports Complex on Adaptive Field #6, register today at cityofcarrollton.com/signupnow. Volunteers are also welcome and can call 972-466-9800 to sign up. For more information on the Spring Bash or any other Carrollton Parks & Recreation Department operations, visit cityofcarrollton.com/parksandrec.