Bina Receives National Award for Parks and Recreation

Randy Bina, executive director of Bismarck Parks and Recreation District, was recently selected to receive a National Distinguished Professional Award by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). The award will be presented during the 2021 NRPA Annual Conference in September.

Each year, NRPA National Awards are presented to individuals and agencies across the U.S. to honor their efforts — both professional and personal — in the field of parks and recreation. This year, there are 12 categories in the NRPA National Awards program. Recipients are selected from a pool of applicants by NRPA’s National Awards and Scholarship Committee and are chosen for excellence in a variety of topics.

The National Distinguished Professional Award is presented to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the field through their leadership, research, advocacy, community outreach and program development.

Throughout his more than 40-year career, Bina has been a leader in public parks and recreation, engaged locally, regionally and nationally in numerous professional and sports organizations. Among the many recognitions he has received are induction into the North Dakota Recreation and Park Association Hall of Fame and election as a fellow of the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration.

“This is a fitting capstone to Randy’s exemplary career in parks and recreation,” says Julie Jeske, Board of Park Commissioners president. “His passion for providing affordable and accessible public parks and recreation opportunities for Bismarck residents and visitors is well known, and we are pleased that his efforts are also being recognized nationally with this award.”

 “The NRPA National Awards and Scholarship Committee is pleased to honor the 2021 NRPA recipients of the Innovation and Spotlight Awards,” says Jennifer Basham, chair of NRPA’s National Awards and Scholarship Committee and parks and recreation department director for The City of Burleson Texas. “The committee was honored and excited to review qualified applications of initiatives and individuals who have made significant contributions to their communities through the field of parks and recreation.”

For more information about NRPA National Awards programs, visit www.nrpa.org/our-work/awards/.