Carolyn Nagle and Jason Posluszny from the Fox Valley Special Recreation Association recently received top honors for outstanding professional achievement in the field of parks and recreation from the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association.

FVSRA is currently celebrating 40 years of providing recreation services to individuals with disabilities to area residents through collaboration with seven park and recreation agencies.

“IPRA congratulates FVSRA on their two major awards this year at the state conference,” said IPRA Executive Debbie Trueblood. “Carolyn received the highest honor IPRA has, the prestigious IPRA Robert Artz Lifetime Achievement Award, and Jason received the IPRA Young Professional Award. These two professionals are to be commended for their dedication to the field, their commitment to going far above and beyond in their work, and the leadership they show in their agencies, communities, and the state of Illinois which earned them this recognition by their peers.”

Nagle has been an active leader in the field of parks and recreation for nearly 40 years, serving as the executive director of FVSRA for the past 23 years. She has cultivated the growth of the agency from serving four member agencies to seven during this period of time.

“I am so honored to have received the Robert Artz Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Nagle. “To be recognized for a career that I have loved since I graduated from college, is humbling. I am a firm believer that if you love what you do, you will never work a day. I have truly been blessed with the opportunity to work with very special individuals throughout my entire career.”

In addition to her work with FVSRA, Nagle has served in leadership positions on numerous national, state and local boards, committees and task forces.

She is a recent Illinois State University of Applied Sciences Hall of Fame inductee and currently serves on the Chicago State District Golf Association’s Sunshine Through Golf Foundation Board.

“Carolyn has made immeasurable contributions to the parks and recreation industry and has made a positive impact on countless lives through therapeutic recreation,” said Allison Niemela, executive director of the Batavia Park District and chair of the FVSRA Board of Directors. “She is incredibly smart, strategic, creative and thoughtful. She also works hard to build genuine and trustworthy relationships with the participants of the association.”

Posluszny joined the team at FVSRA as operations manager in February 2015 after serving as recreation supervisor at Bloomingdale Park District since 2012.

According to FVSRA Assistant Director Mike Selep, “Jason hit the ground running as he has utilized his energy and passion for FVSRA staff, participants, families and community members to arrange program facilities, oversee transportation services and help out with a variety of FVSRA programs and Fox Valley Special Recreation Foundation fundraisers.”

“Jason is a tremendous asset to the FVSRA team,” said Niemela. “He has a clear understanding of the vision, mission and strategy of the association and plays a key role in translating that into realistic action.”

“It was such a great honor to be recognized at the IPRA Conference Luncheon in front of my family and colleagues, many of whom have guided and influenced my development in the field of parks and recreation,” said Posluszny. “I am very lucky to have belonged and belong to such amazing agencies that align with my personal and professional goals.”

FVSRA offers year-round recreation programming throughout their member park districts – St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia, Fox Valley, Oswegoland, Sugar Grove as well as South Elgin Parks and Recreation Department.

Visit fvsra.org for additional information on programs and volunteer opportunities.