POTTSTOWN PA – The borough is being recognized across the state by the Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society, which has named Pottstown’s Parks and Recreation Department as its “2026 Agency of the Year.”
Pottstown officials and department representatives are scheduled to be presented with the honor during the society’s upcoming annual conference, department Director Michael Lenhart reports. The conference will be held March 24-27 at the Spooky Nook Expo Center in Manheim PA.
The award, offered annually, recognizes parks and recreation staffs for what it calls “exemplary accomplishments in positioning parks and recreation as an essential public service with meaningful community impact.”
Winning agencies are selected primarily for providing “a fresh perspective on significant parks and recreation issues,” the society says. They also “show innovation and collaboration,” and demonstrate high levels of resourcefulness, the society says. That’s particularly important, it adds, given financial and other stresses of recent years.
“This recognition is a tremendous honor for our community, and a testament to the dedication, creativity, and hard work of our Parks and Recreation staff,” Borough Manager Justin Keller notes. Its members “work every day to make our parks, programs, and facilities among the very best of any municipality in the Commonwealth,” Keller says.
Top photo by Travels With The Post
Partnerships, Planning, Commitment
What makes the department outstanding? Keller believes the department and staff over several years “has demonstrated what can be achieved through strong partnerships, thoughtful planning,” and a commitment to residents. “From major park improvements to innovative community programming, their work has helped strengthen community pride and improve quality of life throughout Pottstown.”
Lenhart credited the award to a strong collaboration between staff, community partners, and volunteers. It “reflects the collective effort of so many people who care deeply about our parks and our community,” he says.
“Our staff works incredibly hard, but the real strength of our programs comes from the partnerships we’ve built with local organizations, volunteers, and regional partners.”
All share a “vision of making Pottstown’s park system welcoming and vibrant,” according to Lenhart. “This award is an achievement for the whole Pottstown community, and we can all be proud!”
Contributors to Success
For its part, the borough specifically credited four individuals as “dedicated staff members whose leadership and service” contributed to the honor. All still work for the department. They are Lenhart, who has served as its director since 2014; Andie Graham, Parks and Programs Supervisor, also since 2014; and park maintenance workers Anthony Rhoads and Timothy Landis, both of whom have been with the department since 2005.
The borough also acknowledges the support of all municipal departments that have contributed to the continued success of Pottstown Parks and Recreation; and the trust and support of Borough Council, residents, and taxpayers.
It also offered thanks to a list of more the 20 organizations and individuals who helped make department initiatives possible.
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