Award Nomination Instructions
California Trails & Greenways 2024
April 30 – May 3, 2024
Awards Committee's
Nomination Instructions
Nominations must be received by February 2, 2024
- Complete the Awards Nomination Cover Form.
- Provide a narrative no more than two pages using single-spaced 12-point, Arial font. The first paragraph should be a concise summary (max. 60 words) of the person or project. If the nominee is selected for an award, the paragraph will be used to develop the award caption and program description.
- Include no more than six attachments in support of the nomination. Attachments may include brochures, maps, photographs, articles, letters of support, or similar materials.
- The total nomination package (form, narrative, and attachments) should not exceed ten pages.
- Do not send letters of support separately. If letters of support are included, they will be considered "attachments," limited as described above.
- Completed nomination packages must arrive via email (trails@parks.ca.gov) by February 2, 2024, to be considered. Award recipients will be notified by March 8th, and will be recognized at the awards event on May 1st (exact date TBD).
Each award recipient will receive a complimentary ticket to the awards event on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 (exact date to be determined). If space is available, award recipients will also receive a shared exhibit table.
Nominations within each category will be ranked by the judges from lowest to highest based on the responses to the questions on pages 5-6. The nominee with the highest ranking within each category will be that category's award recipient. NOTE, the "award year" is the full calendar year prior to California Trails & Greenways 2024. Decisions by the Awards Committee are considered final.
For questions regarding the awards program email trails@parks.ca.gov.
California Trails & Greenways 2024
April 30 – May 3, 2024
Call for Award Nominations
Application Narrative
Nominations due February 2, 2024
All nominees must exemplify integrity, and social and environmental responsibility. Nominees must meet the criteria of the award. Failure to demonstrate that the nominee meets these criteria will automatically disqualify the nomination.
Lifetime Volunteer Achievement Award
- Document nominee’s 25+ years of volunteer work on behalf of trails.
- Describe nominee's involvement in planning, developing and/or promoting trails.
- Describe how nominee’s leadership, achievements and influence have impacted trails locally and statewide.
- Describe how nominee's contributions to trails has been exceptional and important.
Lifetime Professional Achievement Award
- Document nominee’s 25+ years of working as a trails or greenways’ professional on behalf of trails.
- Describe nominee's involvement in planning, developing, and/or promoting trails.
- Describe how nominee's contributions to trails has been exceptional and important.
- Document nominee's contribution of personal (volunteer) time over the past 25+ years on behalf of trails.
- Describe how the nominee’s leadership, achievements and influence have impacted trails locally and statewide.
Trail Champion Award
- The nominee must be a volunteer, elected official, or professional. If the nominee is a trail professional, documentation must be provided demonstrating that the work is above and beyond normal and required duties.
- Document nominee’s 7+ years of public involvement in support of California’s trails and greenways.
- Describe how nominee’s efforts and commitment have led to an expansion of trail/greenways networks and/or programs.
- Describe how the nominee’s actions have involved planning, developing, funding, maintaining and/or promoting trails/greenways. Document the nominee’s accomplishments related to the creation of a specific “product” such as a trail, greenway or related program.
- Describe how nominee’s contribution to trails/greenways has been exceptional and important.
MERIT AWARDS
Nominations within each of the seven award categories will be ranked by the judges from lowest to highest based on responses to the questions below. The nominee with the highest rank within each category will be that category's award recipient. NOTE, achievements and milestones must have occurred during the calendar year 2023.
Project Acquisition, Development or Planning Categories
- What was the date the project was completed or a significant milestone was achieved?
- How is the project successful, special, unusual, creative, innovative, and/or unique?
- How has the project involved community resources such as people or funding?
- How has the project benefited the community?
- How does the project serve as a model or provide guidance or inspiration to others?
Event
- What was the date of the event?
- Describe the targeted community and the extent to which the event engaged that community?
- What measurements were used to determine the event's success and effectiveness?
- How was the event special, unusual, creative, innovative, and/or unique?
- How did the event benefit trails (i.e. raising public awareness, money, or volunteer service)?
- How does the project serve as a model or provide inspiration to others?
Kids & Trails Programs
- What date was this program instituted?
- What innovative approaches were used to stimulate kids’ imagination and promote their interest in and appreciation for the natural environment using trails?
- How were creative interpretive, educational, and/or recreational design components used?
- Was there a component to encourage developing a healthy lifestyle?
- How was the effort successful in engaging children and youth in outdoor experiences?
- How does the project serve as a model or provide inspiration to others?
Program Award
- What date was this program instituted?
- How did the program benefit trails?
- How was the program successful and effective?
- How was the program special, unusual, creative, innovative, and/or unique?
- How did the program raise awareness, funding, partnerships, volunteers, or other benefits for the community?
- How did the program serve as a model or inspiration for others?
Underserved Communities Programs
For the purposes of this award, "underserved communities" are those that have traditionally faced barriers in accessing safe parks, natural open spaces, trail, and greenways.
- What date was this program instituted?
- What innovative approaches were used to stimulate the imagination and promote interest and appreciation for trails and the natural environment?
- How were creative, interpretive, educational, and/or recreational design components used?
- Was there a component to encourage healthy lifestyles?
- How was the program successful in engaging the community, families, and others in outdoor experiences?
- How does the program serve as a model or inspiration for other agencies or organizations?
Social Media, Websites and Technology Award
- What date was the website or technology launched?
- Does the website, technology, or other social media provide trail-related information in a clear, logical, and useful format?
- Is the trail information valuable, relevant and timely as presented to the public?
- How is the website, social media, or technology special, unusual, creative, innovative, and/or unique in presenting trail-related information?
- How is the success of the website, social media, or technology measured, and has success been achieved by these measurements?
- To what extent does the program serve as an important model or inspiration for other agencies or organizations?