GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY & 'CAMPOSTABLE' PROGRAM RECEIVE AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE
California Parks and Recreation Society honors City of Los Angeles


Los Angeles - The City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks will receive two 2007 Awards of Excellence from the California Parks and Recreation Society (CPRS) it was announced this week. The Department Awards are for the Griffith Observatory and an environmental “Campostable” program at residential camps.

Griffith Observatory, which won in the Facility Design and Park Planning Category, undertook a unique and challenging renovation which preserved the historical components of this Los Angeles icon while doubling the space. According to Jon Kirk Mukri, the Department General Manager, “The Observatory needed more space, but adding to the classic lines would destroy the look and the only option was to go underground. The $93-million project met the extraordinary architecture and engineering challenges of the endeavor and we’re gratified to have this acknowledgement.”

The ‘Campostable program,’ winning in the Maintenance Management and Operations Category, began with a commitment to providing a cleaner environment and helping to raise ecological awareness. Both the Griffith Park Boys Camp and Camp Hollywood Girls Camp provided meals served on biodegradable paper products. All camp meals during the summer months were served with biodegradable paper products, including plates, bowls and napkins. According to Mukri, “This initial effort at two City resident camps is in keeping with the Department's mission of educating young people on the importance of being good stewards of the environment through conservation and the understanding of ecosystems and wildlife.”

The CPRS Awards Program recognizes excellence of those agencies and individuals that develop and manage programs, parks, and facilities that embody the core values of the recreation profession and align with the mission of parks and recreation to promote participation in recreation, safety and health, and to protect environmental resources. The Awards will be presented at the CPRS Conference in Long Beach in late February.



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