Every great parks & recreation department knows that fresh, exciting programs are at the core of an engaged community. Whether it’s sports, arts, or unique cultural experiences, creative programs keep residents coming back for more.
Here at Rec Technologies, we've seen firsthand (and are insanely impressed by) the focus, care, and diligence put into the programs our partners offer.
With the end of the school year having come and gone, it is the season of superlatives. We know it can feel difficult to think out of the box for new program offerings, so, we decided to roll out the red carpet and celebrate the best in rec programming so you can get some inspiration to best serve your community, too.
Why Keeping Programming Fresh Matters
A diverse range of programs not only engages your community, but also encourages active lifestyles, builds social connections, and fosters lifelong learning. Keeping programming fresh means constantly evolving, adapting, and ensuring you’re meeting your community where they are, with what they’re looking for.
Now, onto the awards!
Rec Best Winners of 2025:
🏆 Champion of Active Aging Award
Apex Parks + Rec of Arvada, CO won this by a landslide, for their exceptional senior programs like Active Adult Coffee Talk, Passport to Aging Well, GrEighties, and more.
Apex offers an impressive range of programs focused on all age ranges, across all activities. Hosting interesting excursions like a Denver Mob Tour, dozens of sports leagues, resources for learning technology, and more, Apex invests heavily in their programming.
What stands out to us is their unique focus on the senior population, not only for the individuals themselves, but also for their caretaker team.
Kudos to Apex for their diverse programming. We can’t wait to see what you think of next!
🏆 Cultural Excellence Award
The City of Emeryville takes home this award for their vibrant and engaging Taiko Drumming classes that promote cultural appreciation and community energy.
Emeryville offers three distinct programs that offer the community ways to immerse themselves in a new culture while learning a new skill. In addition to Taiko, the art of Japanese drumming, Emeryville also offers Akido (Japanese martial arts) and IAIDO, the classical sword art of Japan.
What an incredible programming theme! We hope to see the trend of cultural immersion grow in parks and rec programming.
🏆 The Life Skills Award
Madison, IN wins this for their impactful Junior Lifeguard program, cultivating water safety awareness and essential lifeguarding skills in young community members.
Madison, IN is a shining star when it comes to youth sports — especially aquatics. One thing we found unique is that they don’t just offer swim lessons or swim teams, but they are also focused on helping residents develop water skills that can save their (and their community’s) lives.
What an impactful program offering, Madison! We’re excited to see what other impactful programs cities launch.
🏆 Delightfully Descriptive Award
Jeffersonville, IN cinches this award for their program descriptions that are bound to put a smile on anyone' s face — and keep the sign-ups rolling in.
The descriptions for Jefferson’s programs are anything but boring, take this for example: their Tots P.E. program is described as “the perfect program to help your tots shake out their sillies!”. Their program creativity serves as a good reminder that residents are humans, too — you can cut the stuffy talk and keep it light and fun.
We can’t wait to see what other fun, silly, and descriptive programs you launch next!
🏆 Take a Bow Award
The City of Torrance takes this home for their standout theater programs, including Audition Workshops, the creatively immersive "Around the World in 5 Days" Drama Camp, and other fun programs like Fractured Fairytales
Torrance has dozens and dozens of programs to fit all interests, all ages, and all residents, but one thing that struck us was their wide variety of theater-specific programs — not only does this stand out among other cities, but it pays homage to their close proximity to Hollywood!
While many other cities focus on sports or physical arts, Torrance has carved a niche for itself by investing in theater programs and camps. These programs are aimed at helping children learn to best express themselves, tap into their creativity, and build confidence. We love them!
Take a bow, Torrance! You deserve it.
🏆 Dance Like No One’s Watching Award
The City of Sebastapol clinches this award, recognizing their diverse and engaging dance programs such as Afro-Brazilian Dance, Danceypants, and Ecstatic Dance Sebastopol, fostering joy through movement.
Alongside programs like Skatecamp and a Fashion Design & Branding Workshop lives many, many eclectic dance programs. Sebastopol is a great example of knowing their community and offering themed programs they know they’ll enjoy.
Kudos, Sebastopol! What dance program is coming next?
🏆 Stand-Out Name Award
The Town of Clarksville takes the cake thanks to their program, Tico’s Tidal Tots, combining memorable naming with essential early swimming and water safety education.
Many people overlook how important branding is in parks and rec. You can have the best program out there…but if no one wants to enroll in it, it might be a flop. Clarksville did a standout job of naming all of their swim programs with eyecatching names, ensuring parents don’t skip past yet another “Youth Swim 3-4Y” title.
Amazing job, Clarksville! We hope other cities take your fun names as inspiration.
How Rec Helps You Be a Best-in-Class Programming City
We love celebrating the creativity and dedication our partners put into their programming, but we know it can feel cumbersome to invest in the uniqueness of programs when you’re bogged down with the day-to-day.
We're proud to support parks and recreation organizations with intuitive recreation software, helping them streamline registration, manage programs effortlessly, and free up more time so they can focus on what matters: creating engaging programs that service their community.
Ready to ditch the admin and bring your programming ideas to life? Let’s talk.