Worcester's Robert Antonelli Honored With Humanitarian Award

WORCESTER, MA— Robert Antonelli of Worcester was honored by the Massachusetts Recreation and Parks Association with the Peter C. O'Brien Humanitarian award. The award is the highest

honor bestowed by the association and recognizes a Park and Recreation professional who has demonstrated the advancement of the park and recreation industry, is a respected member of the community, and maintains a strong dedication and passion to park and recreation in Massachusetts. Antonelli has served as the Deputy Commissioner of the Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Department in Worcester for 21 years.

Antonelli started his career in Springfield as an intern and then as a District Recreation Supervisor from May 1994 until April 1998. He was then hired by the City of Worcester as the Deputy Commissioner of the Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Department in April 1998. Since that time the City has restructured and the once Department is now a Division under the Department of Public Works and Parks.

One of his top priorities is accessibility within all public parks in Worcester. Antonelli has instituted, with other park staff, a new LaunchGuide system around Worcester City Hall that informs individuals with visual impairments verbal information on the accessible route around and into City Hall. It also offers access to and within public parks, and development of the City’s first accessible playground.

Antonelli has completed over 30 Public Park Master Plans or Master Plan revisions and four Open Space & Recreation Plans. He has also supervised over $100 million in Public Park renovations with over $10 million in grants that include renovations to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Green Hill Park, renovations to the Historic Worcester Common and renovations to the Crompton Park aquatic facility and two spray park aquatic facilities.