Golden Shovel Award: Former Saint Paul City Council President Amy Brendmoen (along with a whole posse of fellow politicos and community members) for the work to bring the North End Community Center to fruition (scheduled to open in Fall 2024). Those sharing the honor with Amy include: Mayor Melvin Carter III, Councilmember Hwa Jeong Kim, former Councilmember Chris Tolbert, Ramsey County Commissioner Trista Martinson Congresswoman Betty McCollum, State Senator Sandy Pappas, State Senator Clare Oumou Verbeten, State Representative Athena Hollins, ThaoMee Xiong, Nancy Haas and Parks staff Andy Rodriguez, Alice Messer, Christopher Stark, David Ronzoni and Gina Stokes.
Changemaker Award: Peggy Lynch, the founder of Friends of the Parks and Trails of St. Paul and Ramsey County. Her advocacy to protect and enhance public lands led to landmark ordinances such as the “no net loss of parkland” at both the city and county level. Now 90, her work over the decades will leave an amazing legacy of public lands for the future.
Right Track Employer of the Year: A new category this year recognizes Children’s Hospital for their work supporting interns through the Saint Paul Parks and Recreations “Right Track” summer youth employment and job skills program.
Colleen FitzPatrick, Mary Thomas, Jan Martland (Natural Resources Volunteers of the Year)
Friends of Upper Landing (Stewardship Group of the Year)
Duluth & Case Boosters (Booster Club of the Year)
Andrea de Pitera, Ramsey Hill Association
(Summit Overlook, Cochran, Boyd, McQuillan, Holly Tot Lot)
Mike Ireland (Como Park)
Larry Hughes (Rec Services Volunteer of the Year)
Kristine Johnston and Amy Mino (Rice Park)
Stuart and Mary Ellen Knappmiller (St. Paul-China Friendship Garden)
Susan Larson (Mears Park)
Deb Robinson (Como Woodland Outdoor Classroom)
Ellen Schnobrich (Upper Landing Park)
Stephanie Stegman (Mattocks Park)
Steve Trimble (Swede Hollow Park)
Allura Vitale (Volunteer Coach of the Year)
Wiliam White (Irvine Park)
Photo credit: Ann Folkman, Dana Bruce, Mayor Melvin Carter III, Anne Simerson at Party for the Parks 2022 (photo by Katie Thering)