By John Davis
Community Relations Director

In a year when returning to any level of normalcy was an achievement in itself, the Oxford Park Commission staff was rewarded with special recognition from the Mississippi Recreation and Parks Association.

During the annual MRPA conference held October 10 through 13 at the Golden Nugget Casino in Biloxi, the OPC won three awards in Class II for various achievements during the 2021 calendar year. The first was the Hayward “Bo” Phillips Award of Merit.

The OPC was also first in the Excellence in Special Events Programming and also first in the Arts, Humanities and Programming. This was the fifth consecutive year in which the OPC won 3 or more awards, and it was the fourth time in 5 years that the OPC won the Bo Phillips award, which is given to the top facility or structural project completed by a department.

“We appreciate all the hard work of our staff that helped us win these awards from the MRPA,” said OPC Executive Director Seth Gaines. “We’ve been fortunate enough to win multiple awards over the last several years, and that is a direct reflection of this community, the instructors, the parents and the participants for having the faith in our department to allow these great classes and events to take place. We will continue to work hard for the community, and continue to offer as many programs as we can this coming year. Thank you again to everyone who helped make these awards possible.”