Milton Parks Department Wins Prestigious Awards

MILTON, GA — The city of Milton closed out 2017 with three awards from the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association. Milton Director of Parks and Recreation Jim Cregge was honored with the District 7 Distinguished Professional Administrator of the Year award and the New Found Life Youth Football League, which operates the Milton Steelers, was awarded the district and state-level Volunteer of the Year awards through the GRPA.

Cregge, a long-time North Fulton resident and Milton's parks and recreation director for more than five years, was nominated for the District 7 GRPA award by Mike Perry, his parks and recreation peer with the city of Sandy Springs. Perry's nomination noted Cregge's extensive work with North Fulton youth sports, dating back more than 20 years.

During this time, Cregge coached 65 youth sports teams in baseball, softball, basketball and soccer; served as the Hopewell Youth Association president; and prior to joining Milton, Cregge served as a citizen appointee to the Alpharetta Recreation Commission where he played a role in securing a 10-year national accreditation award for the Alpharetta Recreation and Parks Department.

During Cregge's tenure with Milton, he has expanded sports programming, increased the number of annual program participants, and oversaw the $10 million dollar expansion and renovation of Bell Memorial Park.

"Jim has a passion for parks and recreation and the families he serves," said Perry. "His joy in serving his community is evident to all who know him."

It's a similar passion and love of football that resulted in Tim and Natalie Lester of the NFL-YFL receiving both the district and state Volunteer of the Year award from GRPA. The Lesters along with the NFL-YFL board members were honored for their dedication and commitment to the community, and for their innovative efforts during the 2017 football season.

Following a decline in tackle football registrations for the 2016 season amid parental concerns over concussion safety and reported costs of participation, Tim Lester, a former college and professional football player, developed a business plan that engaged sponsors to not only provide the highest quality pads and helmets, but also provided free registration for all tackle participants.

"Their impact on the community was tremendous," said Director of Parks and Recreation Jim Cregge. "We saw a 400-percent increase in tackle football registrations and we had a tackle team representing all ages between six and 14 years."

According to city officials, the Milton Steelers' new programming expanded and increased opportunities for the area's lower and moderate income families that might not otherwise be able to participate due to overall costs or the costs associated with multiple children participating.

Photo 1: From left to right are Sandy Springs Parks and Recreation Director Michael Perry, Katie Cregge, Jim Cregge, Kathleen Cregge, Milton Recreation Program Manager Tom McKlveen, and GRPA District 7 Commissioner Wayne Maddox.

Photo 2: Pictured L to R: Milton Parks & Recreation Director Jim Cregge, NFL-YFL Board Member Allan Brock, Natalie Lester, and GRPA District 7 Commissioner 2017 Wayne Maddox.

Images via city of Milton