National Friend of Recreation Award for Peaceful Playgrounds

American Association for Leisure and Recreation

For Immediate Release: May 2, 2002
Contact: Steve Forest (703) 476-3472

Peaceful Playgrounds was awarded the American Association for Leisure and Recreation Friend of Recreation Award last month during the organization’s national convention and exposition in San Diego, CA.

Peaceful Playgrounds founder Melinda Bossenmeyer accepted the award on behalf of Peaceful Playgrounds. Bossenmeyer has a Masters’ in Physical Education with an emphasis on children’s motor development and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from UCLA. She is a nationally recognized speaker, consultant, and designer of school playgrounds.

“I am delighted that Peaceful Playgrounds was selected for this prestigious National Award,” Friend of Recreation Award recipient Melinda Bossenmeyer said.

National Friend of Recreation Award

The American Association for Leisure and Recreation Friend of Recreation Award is presented to an individual, group, or organization that has demonstrated meritorious contribution benefiting AALR or its programs.

Peaceful Playgrounds was developed in 1978 by Dr. Melinda Bossenmeyer. Peaceful Playgrounds’ objective to provide a playground experience that children find peaceful and adult supervisors enjoy has not changed in twenty years.

Since its inception, the Peaceful Playgrounds Program has been implemented in over 8,000 schools nationwide. It has earned praise by School Safety Magazine, Family Circle Editor Susan Ungaro, and school administrators nationwide.

American Association for Leisure and Recreation

The AALR’s mission is to promote and support education, leisure, and recreation by developing quality programming and professional training, providing leadership opportunities, disseminating guidelines and standards, and enhancing public understanding of the importance of leisure and recreation in maintaining a creative and healthy lifestyle.

The American Association for Leisure and Recreation is an association of AAHPERD.

For more information, please visit:

American Association for Leisure and Recreation
1900 Association Drive
Reston, VA 20191
1-800-213-7193

Website: www.aahperd.org/aalr/