Parks unit gets award from state

AIKEN --- Hard work has paid off for the city of Aiken's Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department, which was named a 2008 Agency of the Year.

The annual award came from the South Carolina Recreation and Parks Association, which recognizes four agencies statewide based on population.

Glenn Parker, director of the department, said the award reflects the professionalism and dedication of the staff. Aiken has won the recognition 16 times since 1975. The last was in 2004.

On the entry form, Mr. Parker outlined the progress his department has made since last applying for the award four years ago.

"Since last submitting for the Agency of the Year award in 2004, (the department) has taken a drastic change in how we operate, how we deliver our services and what services we strive to provide," he said. "While others have experienced program cutbacks and reduction in staff, Aiken PRT, based on a focused tactical foundation, has continued to flourish with new staff, new facility development and new creative methods for presenting traditional recreation."

The department has partnerships with the Aiken Community Playhouse and the Aiken Performing Arts Group to provide professional theatrical entertainment in Aiken. It hired a theater operations coordinator to oversee the day-to-day business of the Washington Center for the Performing Arts.

The department is also involved in the Aiken Railroad Depot. When completed, it will house the city's tourism offices and its welcome center.

The Washington Center and the Aiken Railroad Depot are just two of the partnerships the department maintains, and they are part of the quality-of-life issues the city council asked the department to focus on two years ago.