Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt Award for Excellence in Recreation and Park Research

Check back for more details about the 2026 NRPA Awards.
Get A Reminder about the 2025 Nomination Period

The Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt Award for Excellence in Recreation and Park Research is presented to an individual whose contributions to parks and recreation through research have significantly advanced the cause of the parks and recreation movement and whose dedication to the field parallels the same dedication and zeal toward parks, recreation, and conservation that was exhibited by the presidents after whom the award is named.

This is awarded on a 3-year cycle -- next in 2027.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Nominee must be an NRPA member
• Nominee must have made significant contribution to parks and recreation through research which has advanced the cause of the parks and recreation movement
• The nominee's basic and applied research contributions must have been of the highest quality, as judged by academic and professional peers, and the individual's research contribution must represent productivity sustained over a period of not less than five years.

Application Materials:

• Answers to the questions provided in the application form 
• Short essay responses (no more than 250 words for each) to the following questions:
  • Describe how the nominee made a major contribution in basic research toward solving problems, perfecting a technique or methodology, or rethinking or reorienting a concept of theory in the leisure field AND/OR how the recipient made a significant contribution toward solving an applied program in the field of recreation, parks, or leisure that demonstrates innovative and practical orientation and conservation to the profession in terms of management or training.
  • Describe how the nominee's research applies on a national level. Provide an example of how it demonstrates awareness of national problems, issues, or philosophies.
• Curriculum Vita of nominee
• Two letters of recommendation

Nomination Instructions:

• All nominations must be received by NRPA no later than 11:59 p.m. EST on nomination deadline.
• Nominator may only nominate using this official nomination form.
• Applicants must have or create an NRPA login account to complete an application.
• All materials must be submitted electronically using this survey format. Supplemental materials must be submitted in either Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format and included with the application.
• Supplemental material file types include .pdf, .doc or .docx as noted on form.
• Nomination is automatically disqualified if it does not meet criteria, submission instructions of if the responses are over the word limit.
• This format has a save and continue feature that is located at the bottom of the question pages.
• Awarded on a 3-year cycle. Nominations will be accepted in 2024, then 2027.

Terms and Conditions:

• NRPA reserves the right to disqualify an application if in NRPA’s sole discretion it determines that the application does not contain truthful information, is contrary to the standards or policies of NRPA, or violates applicable laws, or if the nominee acted contrary to the standards or policies of NRPA, or violated applicable law or could reflect negatively on NRPA.
• NRPA reserves the right to revoke any award or prize if in NRPA’s sole discretion it determines that the awardee acted contrary to the standards or policies of NRPA or acted in violation of applicable laws or could reflect negatively on NRPA.

For more information, contact the NRPA Awards Program at awards@nrpa.org.

Apply Next in 2027