Seattle Parks and Recreation is seeking nominations for the Denny Awards, which honor volunteer service to the city’s parks system. The deadline for nominations is Oct. 18, 2011.

The Denny Awards acknowledge and honor the crucial role volunteers play in neighborhood parks, community centers, and recreation programs throughout the city. In 2010, more than 43,000 volunteers donated over 360,000 hours of service to Seattle Parks and Recreation.

They do everything from pulling invasive ivy and planting native trees in our parks to coaching kids’ sports to working as docents at selected parks to serving on various advisory councils and boards.

“Volunteers are one of our most important resources,” said Acting Superintendent Christopher Williams. “Without the help of the community, we could not run the first rate park and recreation system that Seattle-ites depend on.”

Lillian Riley was honored at the 2009 Denny Awards ceremony with a Lifetime Achievements Award for outstanding volunteer stewardship.

The name of the awards reflects the early commitment by the Denny family to the preservation of parkland and open space for public use and enjoyment. David Denny donated land that became the first Seattle park, Denny Park, in 1864.

Denny Awards nominees should meet the following minimum qualifications. The nominee must have:

· Demonstrated exceptional stewardship to parks and/or recreation;
· Provided stellar leadership related to enhancing and preserving parks and/or recreation programs;
· Demonstrated a significant personal commitment of time and effort to assist Seattle Parks and Recreation, and
· Gained respect of community peers for efforts to help Seattle Parks and Recreation.

The awards will be presented at the seventh annual recognition ceremony, which will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 29 2011 at the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience, 719 S King St.

The nomination form for the award, specific criteria and related information are available by contacting Adrienne Caver-Hall, Seattle Parks and Recreation, 206-684-7710, or Adrienne.caver-hall@seattle.gov.

To download an electronic version of the nomination form, visit: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/denny_awards or download the attached document.