The Tullahoma Parks and Recreation Department was recognized for multiple milestones at the 2024 Tennessee Recreation and Parks Association (TRPA) Conference held in Murfreesboro from November 4th through 7th. Representing Tullahoma at the conference were Parks Director J.P. Kraft, Deputy Director Jeff Damron, Aquatics and Facilities Manager Joshua Cole, Recreation and Facilities Coordinator Aminah Davis, and Community Engagement Officer Lyle Russell.
At the TRPA Awards Banquet finale, Jeff Damron received the 2024 Dennis Rainier Award for Excellence in Athletic Planning and Programming. This award is named for Dennis Rainier, director of Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation for 28 years and a huge supporter and innovator of youth athletics. Upon his passing in 2011, the TRPA created this annual award to recognize parks professionals who embody his vision and enthusiasm for athletic planning and programming in parks systems. Jeff is the 2nd Tullahoma Parks and Rec staff recipient (Lyle was awarded this also in 2021). Immediately after the conference, Jeff also passed his exam to become a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional (CPRP) from the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA), joining Parks Director J.P. Kraft, who has also earned this certification.
In his two years at the department, Jeff has excelled in organizing, promoting, and running athletic programs for the Tullahoma Recreation Department, including the Adult Baseball League, Jr. NBA youth basketball, Adult Basketball League, Tullahoma Wildcats and Friends Baseball Clinic, Tullahoma Girls Softball league, as well as being the liaison for the department with Frank Mullins Youth Football, Tullahoma Cal Ripken Baseball (formerly Tullahoma Little League), Tullahoma Soccer, and multiple baseball and softball tournaments. He also played an integral role in converting the Waggoner Park field lighting to the new Musco field lighting while working with local contractors and TUA.
Joshua Cole was a finalist nominee for the 2024 Commodore Longfellow Award for Excellence in Aquatic Planning and Programming. The Longfellow Award is given to individuals for excellence in aquatics operations and programming. The award is named for Commodore Wilbert Longfellow, founder of the Red Cross’s Aquatics safety and lifeguarding program in 1914. A member of the Memphis Aquatics staff was the recipient this year, but Joshua will be eligible again for future nominations.
Joshua manages the indoor and outdoor pools for Tullahoma Parks, aquatics programming, and the lifeguard corps, which equals almost 100 part-time employees during pool season. He also founded a professional group for local public pool operators that meets monthly to discuss current trends in aquatics management and share best practices with other aquatics professionals. In 2023, he earned his Aquatics Facility Operator certification from the NRPA, joining Parks Director J.P. Kraft, who also earned this certification.
Parks Director J.P. Kraft was elected to become chair-elect for the TRPA Central District, an internal branch of the TRPA that serves all parks departments in Middle Tennessee. This is a three-year commitment to serve as chair-elect in 2025, chairman in 2026, and past chairman/advisor in 2027. He will work with the current chair (in McMinnville) to help connect departments in the central district with needs and resources and help plan and execute the 2025 Central District Workshop in McMinnville. As chairman in 2026, he will perform the same duties but bring the 2026 Central District Workshop to Tullahoma, where the city will host departments from across Middle Tennessee for education classes and facility tours, among other planned activities. Plans are already being made for this event, bringing parks professionals to Tullahoma for two days, resulting in some overnight stays and tourism dollars for the city and spotlighting the excellent facilities we have in Tullahoma to other rec departments.
Community Engagement Officer Lyle Russell was recognized for earning his Certified Parks and Recreation Executive accreditation. The Certified Park and Recreation Executive (CPRE) establishes a national standard for managerial, administrative, and executive parks and recreation professionals. This mastery-level credential focuses on the practical knowledge and current real-world skills necessary in today’s changing park and recreation environment. Lyle passed his CPRE exam in August and is one of only eight active CPREs in Tennessee. (Alderman Kurt Glick was the first CPRE in Tennessee). Lyle also taught three education sessions at the conference: Wildlife in Parks, Urban Forestry in a Recreation Department, and a leadership session on How to get the Most and the Best from your Team.
For more information on Tullahoma Parks programs and facilities, contact the department at 931-455-1121, visit www.tullahomaparks.com, or follow us on multiple social media platforms.
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