Volunteer Recognition
Volunteers are vital to our mission to promote environmental stewardship through recreation and education in a natural resources-based park system. Each year, there are on average 800 ongoing volunteers who dedicate 40,000 hours to programs and services within the Park District.
Each year, we acknowledge a select group of volunteers for their exceptional contributions to the Park District with the Distinguished Volunteer Service Award and Volunteer Tree Award programs.
Distinguished Volunteer Service Awards
The Distinguished Volunteer Service Award (DVSA) acknowledges outstanding representatives of Three Rivers Park District’s dedicated volunteers.
Each year, up to six volunteers are honored with the award. In addition to a Board of Commissioner’s ceremony, DVSA recipients are recognized on plaques at facilities around the Park District.
Current Recipients
- Margi Ambrose, Monticello
- Natural Resources Monitor (Eastman Nature Center)
- Natural Resources Surveyor (Eastman Nature Center)
- Program Assistant (district-wide events & Eastman Nature Center)
- Project Assistant (district-wide events & prairie seed collection)
- Trevor Chapple, Robbinsdale
- Animal Care Assistant (Lowry Nature Center)
- Program Assistant (Baker Outdoor Learning Center, Gale Woods Farm, Lowry Nature Center & Mississippi Gateway Regional Park)
- Project Assistant (Gale Woods Farm & Lowry Nature Center)
- Henry Finke, Brooklyn Park
- Animal Care Assistant (Mississippi Gateway Regional Park)
- Natural Resources Monitor (Mississippi Gateway Regional Park)
- Program Assistant (Mississippi Gateway Regional Park)
- Project Assistant (Mississippi Gateway Regional Park)
- Mike Kennedy, Bloomington
- Park Patrol (Carver Park Reserve, district-wide events, Elm Creek Park Reserve, Hyland Park Reserve, Outdoor Recreation School & regional trails)
- Program Assistant (district-wide events & Outdoor Recreation School)
- Project Assistant (Research)
- Drew Schwab, St. Paul
- Program Instructor (Hyland Hills)
- Ski Patrol (Elm Creek Park Reserve & Hyland Hills)
- Alisha Walden, Minneapolis
- Animal Care Specialist (Richardson Nature Center)
- Natural Resources Monitor (bluebirds, community science, district-wide events & Lowry Nature Center)
- Natural Resources Surveyor (Lowry Nature Center)
Past Recipients
- Present–2021
2025: Tom Anderson, Laura Feierabend, Dawn Peterson, Anna Garritano, Greg Doss, Jeff Siewert
2024: Paul Arneson, Anthony Pini, Charity Duran, Michael Davis, Randy Hartnett, Barclay Kruse
2023: Rebecca Campbell, Ann Chemin, Kent Holmes, Karen Leistico, Louise Ogden, Rebecca Pewu
2022: Lauren Fiedor, Bill Lundberg, Lisa McIntire, Kyle Toavs
2021: Campbell Botts, Kate Casserly, John Meier, Bruce Moulton, Jake Schramm, Michael Sweet
- 2020–2001
2020: Sea Blake, Anthony van de Ligt, Wendy Andersen, Cheryl Batson, Sara Anderson, Barb Gaasedelen
2019: Kristi Ball, Mark Basiletti, Bill Brechtel, Grace Butzow, Mason Butzow, Jane Ladky
2018: Nettie Andrews, Wrick Dunning , Eli Hamberger, Jonah Hamberger , Patty Kowal, Kevin McKinney
2017: Cyndy Darby, Dan Fortin, Paul Larson, Linda McDermott, Kale'a Pawlak-Kjolhaug, Hannah Wachtler
2016: Rita Baden, Judy Brusseau, Kim Burke Phillipp, Marshall Erickson, Luke Schaffhausen, Vicki Zierden
2015: Judith Anderson, Kathy Glynn, Adam Holm, Tom Lemay, Addison Mommsen, Lauren Otolski
2014: Deb Endly, Larry Greenstein, Marion Mc Nurlen, Martha Pakan, Amanda van de Ligt, Claire White
2013: Natalie Joscher, Richard Kobussen, Ron Seekamp, Ann Werner, Brenda Williams, Scott Young
2012: Bev Anderson, Betty Magnuson, Sarah Reinke, Jim Rogne, Kathy Smith, Terry Spohn
2011: Teresa Bergdale, Vince Bergdale, Michelle Cook, Mark Lex, Tom McConville, David Tetley
2010: Lynn Barton, Brad Pierson, John Pivec, Mary Pritchett, Charlie Radke
2009: Jim Andrews, Tim Graf, Jessi Henderson, Susie Henderson, Don Myron, Cyndi Olson
2008: Diane Bushyager, Duane Hepokoski, Nancy Hepokoski, Louise Holden, Frank Thomas
2007: Frank Jones, Doug Mason, Mark McDonough, Dan Meyer, Tom Schieber, Mary Vorhes
2006: Bob Dykoski, Arne Frederickson, Sue Hulbert, Julie Jorgenson, Les Kowal, Sylvia Winkleman
2005: Holly Erickson, Carol Klitzke, Randy Lane, Larry Macht, Nancy Porte, Vicki Young
2004: Nance Bingaman, Patty Feeney, Jo Martinson, David Olson, Ron Refsnider
2003: Ginny Gryniewski, Sue Leizinger, Tana Pulles, Jim Scanlon
2002: Barbara Lance Alldaffer, Renee Johnson, Dave Jorgenson, Sue Keeler, Keith Pulles, Lila Werner
2001: Dale Eggert, Vanessa Greene, Jeannine Mogan, Jerry Mortensen, Judy Peterson, VanDell Richardson
- 2000–1989
2000: Bob Eue, Paul Fusco, Ray Johnson, Robbie Kress, Jean Liudahl, Mike Peters
1999: Arden Aanestad, Tom Callaghan, Jim Chandler, Maurice Gale, Sheila Lawrence, Marshall Staples
1998: Cal Dinham, Robert Iverson, Laura Mae Johnson, Deborah Wold Lewis, Lloyd Moen, Bob Nichols
1997: Carol Anderson, Connie Dinham, Ron Johnson, Bill Long, Denny Martin, Ken Paul
1996: Barbara Andersen, Joel Blanchfield, Joel Claus, Roger Everhart, Audrey Friedman, Wayne Olson
1995: Dave Baden, Clara Bleak, Harry Friedman, Joanne Husby, Dee Kanten, Nick Snavely
1994: Sue Gormley, Joanne Magnusson, Candice McElroy, Rosanne Pankonin, Paul Schlick, Linda Zimmerman,
1993: Burton Deane, Cliff Gonyer, Doug Lindberg, Heather McElroy, Ed Rapacz, Louise Smith
1992: Deb Grotenhuis, Tiffany Janiak, Joan Knutson, Jill Michael, C. Perry Schenk, Don Wenner
1991: Judi Janiak, Gene Lau, John Proudfit, Jeanine Refsnider, Jo Ward, Joe White
1990: Don Hardacker, Gunnar Nesse, Mark Newstrom, Chuck Purdham, Jean Segerstrom, Jennifer Ullmer
1989: Tom Crum, Jim Gilbert, Jenny Gooden, Darold Heschke, Roger Johnson, Mike Kiefer
Volunteer Forest
Volunteers who reach 4,250 service hours with the Park District — and at every 250-hour milestone thereafter — are awarded a tree in their name to be planted in the Volunteer Forest, which is located near Sumac Knoll group camp in Hyland Lake Park Reserve.
Each year, there is a special planting event at the Volunteer Forest, where special remarks are shared about each recipient from their volunteer supervisors and the recipients help plant one of these award trees.
Locate a tribute tree using our online map.
- 10,250+ hours
Gene Lau: 10,750 hours
- 8,250–10,000 hours
No volunteers are currently at this level.
- 6,250–8,000 hours
Audrey Friedman: 7,250 hours
Paul Schlick: 7,250 hours
Deb Lewis: 6,500 hours
- 4,250–6,000 hours
Bob Iverson: 6,000 hours
Brad Pierson: 5,750 hours
Deb Endly: 5,750 hours
Louise Holden: 5,750 hours
Cheryl Batson: 5,500 hours
John Proudfit: 5,500 hours
Kathy Glynn: 5,000 hours
Sue Leizinger: 5,000 hours
Roger Johnson: 4,750 hours
Renee Johnson: 4,250 hours
Sue Gormley: 4,250 hours
Tom LeMay: 4,250 hours
Wrick Dunning: 4,250 hours
