News Flash

Staff and volunteers of the Roswell Parks and Recreation Department were recently recognized with numerous state awards for their commitment and contributions to improving the quality of life for Roswell citizens.

The New Mexico Recreation and Park Association presented these awards – recognizing program quality, volunteerism and service – at the organization’s annual conference in April in Santa Fe. The award winners were honored locally during the May 10 Roswell City Council meeting.

Three types of citations are awarded to each community annually to recognize a person, organization and vendor who have made an outstanding contribution to the recreation and parks efforts for the previous year.

The Individual Citation was awarded to Valley View Elementary School Physical Education Coach Steve Nuñez. He has been instrumental in assisting Parks and Recreation with Roswell’s largest youth track and field meet, the Roswell Games. He serves as the liaison between the school district and the City, helping ensure all area public schools are involved. In addition, for several years, Nuñez has overseen the Jump Rope for Heart activity in which local children raise funds for heart awareness.

The Commercial Citation was awarded to Peter Piper Pizza, which has assisted Parks and Recreation with projects and donated products to multiple activities.

The Group Citation was awarded to the Chaves County Search and Rescue Team, Pecos Valley Amateur Radio Club, and New Mexico Mounted Patrol for their sponsorship and presence at several events held throughout the state. These groups help ensure a safe environment for all who attend.

Other awards:

The KUDOS Award for Audio Visual Media was awarded to the Roswell Sertoma Club’s Mike Satterfield Memorial Fireworks Extravaganza. This event also received a KUDOS Award Honorable Mention for Print Media.

The Sporting Event of the Year was awarded to the Roswell Races Series managed by Recreation Supervisor Sara Hall. Goals of the program are to provide the opportunity for lifetime fitness while spreading the message of the importance of an active lifestyle.

The Special Event of the Year was awarded to the 2017 Cinco de Mayo Festival managed by the Recreation Division and Public Affairs Department with support from the Roswell Chamber of Commerce and the Hispano Chamber of Commerce.

The Facility Design Award Under $2.5 Million was awarded to the Bert Murphy Family Splash Pad managed by Project Manager Kevin Dillon. The award recognizes a project that displays one or all of the following: innovation, functionalism, aesthetics, community benefits, environmental stewardship, and maintenance.

The Youth Program of the Year was awarded to the Father-Daughter Dance managed by Lynn Sanchez and Vicky Stringer. The Father/Daughter Dance is in its second year and the community has embraced this event. In the dance’s first year in 2017, attendance was 75. That number grew to more than 250 in 2018.

The Volunteer of the Year was awarded to Faye Stokes of the Roswell Tennis Association. Stokes has dedicated her life to tennis, helping to grow and promote the sport to new levels in the Roswell area. She has also been an advocate for fitness for many years and encourages youth and adults to lead a healthy and fit lifestyle. 

The Senior Services Program of the Year was awarded to the Roswell Adult and Recreation Center’s Lifelong Scholars program managed by Sara Hall. The center’s goal is to expose citizens, regardless of age, to different types of art, music, crafts, literature, language and fitness opportunities.

The Parks & Ground Maintenance Program of the Year was awarded to the City of Roswell Parks Division managed by Jim Burress, who is the director of Parks and Recreation, and Parks Superintendent Rudy Chavez. The Parks Division manages 27 parks consisting of 627 acres and 11.2 miles of recreational trails. The division is also responsible for the grounds at various city properties, including City Hall, Roswell Museum and Art Center, Roswell Public Library, Roswell Adult and Recreation Center, and Roswell Convention and Civic Center.

The Elected Official - Commissioner of the Year was awarded to Chaves County Commissioner Will Cavin. Commissioner Cavin has a long history of community support and advocacy for parks and recreation at the state level. He is a retired physical education teacher who has assisted the Parks and Recreation Department with the Roswell Games.

The Elected Official - Mayor of the Year was awarded to Mayor Dennis Kintigh. Mayor Kintigh is an active participant of the Roswell Races Series and has been a driving force behind Roswell’s new recreation and aquatic facility scheduled to open in the coming year.