Ohio Parks and Recreation Association (OPRA) has announced its 2025 Annual Awards of Excellence winners and a number of local agencies have been recognized.
Locally, Greene County Parks & Trails won a 3rd place award in the Adaptive category for Camp Weebalong.
Designed to address a critical gap in accessible programming, Camp Weebalong offered flexible, ability-inclusive activities that allowed every participant to engage at their own pace, including adapted experiences like solar-powered s’mores, sensory-based creek exploration, and modified shelter-building. Developed with input from parents and caregivers, the program used creative adaptations to ensure meaningful participation for every camper, while also fostering social connection, confidence, and emotional well-being. Caregivers attended alongside campers to provide support and build community with one another, creating a welcoming environment for the entire family. Camp Weebalong was an exciting way to offer inclusive outdoor recreation, rooted in the belief that nature is for everyone!
The OPRA Annual Awards of Excellence will be presented at a banquet hosted by the association on February 3, 2026 at the Kalahari Convention Center in Sandusky, Ohio. One first place award winner will be presented with the 2025 Governor’s Award for Parks and Recreation, a “best-in-show” award which includes a $500 contribution to the parks and recreation foundation of the agency winner.
“Parks and recreation professionals throughout Ohio work every day to improve the quality of life of the people they serve,” said OPRA Executive Director Woody Woodward. “This effort is a shining example of that kind of work, and we are pleased to be able to present this award.”
The awards are judged by a panel of parks and recreation professionals from around Ohio.
Incorporated in 1963, OPRA is a non-profit, public interest organization representing over 2,600 professionals and citizen board members striving to provide quality parks and recreation facilities and opportunities for all Ohioans while protecting and preserving Ohio’s natural resources, positively impacting local economies and health and wellness of its citizens.
