Nine Individuals Have Received Statewide Recognition

Ohio Parks and Recreation Association has announced the winners of its 2025 Annual Awards of Excellence.

DENIS FRANKLIN of Metroparks Toledo will be inducted into the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association Hall of Fame. Franklin’s career highlights include work to support a state and national resurgence of the bald eagle population and managing three key natural areas unique to northwest Ohio: the Lake Erie coastal wetlands, Great Black Swamp remnants, and the Maumee River corridor.

DEBBIE MCLAUGHLIN of Upper Arlington Parks and Recreation is OPRA’s 2025 Professional of the Year. She led the city through the redevelopment of Northam Park and the construction of the Bob Crane Community Center, both of which were completed this year. Her distinguished career in parks and recreation includes service as OPRA Board Treasurer.

AMY BOWMAN MOORE, the retired Director of Erie MetroParks is the winner of the Harvey Woods Lifetime Achievement Award. After beginning her parks career building a popular trail network at O.O. McIntyre Park District in Gallia County she moved to Erie County, where she regained public trust and built new facilities. She is also a past OPRA Board President.

NEIL SMALLEY, who spent more than 40 years as Chair of the Kettering Parks Foundation, is the OPRA 2025 Citizen of the Year. During his tenure, the Foundation raised more than six million dollars and completed more than seven major projects to benefit the Kettering community through parks, recreation, and cultural arts.

STEVE STUDENMUND, of Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks is the 2025 Jack Hanna Resource Conservation Award winner. During his 27-year career, he has been a leader in efforts to expand the region's public land holdings by over 16,000 acres and has facilitated the acquisition and distribution of $80 million in grant funding for conservation initiatives.

OFFICER LEAH NAIRNS, of Ohio State Parks and Watercraft is the 2025 Ranger of the Year. Assigned to Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve, she founded a deeply personal and transformative initiative titled “Redemption Through the Lens”, using photography and interviews to share stories of individuals recovering from substance use disorders.

CLAIRE WEAVER is the winner of the Outstanding Youth Leadership Award. Working with the Granville Recreation District as a high school freshman, Claire led the efforts to reinstate a “Safety Town” program for elementary school children in the village after being injured in an accident with a school transportation vehicle.

MILLARD MORGAN, I of Columbus Recreation and Parks is the 2025 OPRA Youth Sports Coach of the Year. Millard served the department as a volunteer, facilitator, and now as a full-time Assistant Manager. He currently oversees more than 750 athlete participants each year, directly coaching 195 athletes at Driving Park Community Center and managing multiple sports programs.

LINDA BAILIFF, of the Ohio Public Works Commission, is OPRA’s Public Official of the Year. For nearly two decades, Linda has provided unwavering support of the Clean Ohio Greenspace Conservation Program. The program has administered 1,655 total projects throughout our state over the past quarter century, awarding more than $347 million.

“These people are setting the bar in terms of improving the quality of life around the state,” Woodward said. “They are the shining stars of parks and recreation in Ohio.”

The OPRA Awards of Excellence will be presented on February 3, 2026 at the Annual Awards Dinner at the Kalahari Convention Center in Sandusky.