Four local parks advocates have been selected as winners of the 2016 Florence B. Wager Awards by the Parks Foundation of Clark County.
The winners will be honored at the foundation’s annual luncheon, scheduled for Tuesday, May 10 at the Hilton Vancouver Washington.
The honorees:
• John and Debra Bauman of Bauman Chiropractic have been named as recipients of the Leading Eagle Award. This award recognizes a community leader who has made contributions that have significantly influenced the life, health, and direction of parks, trails, and recreation programs. The Baumans support swim programs at the Marshall Community Center by offering swimming lesson scholarships to needy children and sponsoring the weekly free family swim. Since 2009, the Baumans have made significant annual donations, and will have given more than $90,000 by the end of this year.
“John and Debra’s commitment to the health and wellness of children and families is not limited to their financial contributions,” said Andy Meade, Marshall Center director. “John, Debra, and their children are avid participants in our programs and have volunteered as coaches in some of the youth sport leagues. They embody the characteristics of this award.”
• Marie Bouvier, chair of the Ridgefield Parks Board, has won the V-Formation Flyer Award in honor of her years of service and leadership on behalf of parks, trails and recreation in Ridgefield. This award recognizes a spirited volunteer, whose dedication goes above and beyond the norm, unhesitatingly giving of time and resources to organize, develop, or enhance the parks, trails, and recreation programs in our community.
Bouvier has served on the parks board for 11 years, and has overseen many developments that in 2015 included writing a strategic plan, adding a disc golf facility in Abrams Park, and building Ridgefield’s first off-leash dog area.
“I rely on the help of great volunteers to get things done in our amazing, fast-growing city,” said Mayor Ron Onslow. “Marie is one of the best we have, and I know we wouldn’t have the parks we do, and will have in the future, without her help and leadership.”
• Bill Bjerke, county parks manager, has been named the recipient of the Tributary Award in recognition of his work leading the county’s parks division. This award recognizes a parks and recreation professional who has developed or enhanced programs that connect the public to parks and recreation in new ways, create new efficiencies to ease cost burdens, or secure/develop new grant sources or revenue concepts.
Bjerke’s leadership, dedication to service, and collaborative, positive attitude were cited in the letters of support accompanying his nomination. “With the county’s 2014 split from Vancouver Parks and Recreation, the full responsibility of parks was placed in Bill’s very capable hands,” said Barbara Anderson, chair of the Clark County Parks Advisory Board. “The situation presented challenges at every turn. He hit the ground running and I was amazed at both his fortitude and perseverance. I don’t believe the word enthusiasm can even begin to describe him; it just seems so inadequate.”
The award’s namesake, Florence B. Wager, was a well-known advocate for local parks, trails, and greenways for many years before her death in 2012.
