Brookhaven Parks Department Wins Two State Awards
The Georgia Recreation and Park Association honored the city's parks agency and its Holidays in the Haven event.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Civic
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The Brookhaven Parks and Recreation Department received Agency of the Year from the Georgia Recreation and Park Association District 6. Its Holidays in the Haven event also earned Special Event of the Year from the same association.
Why it matters
The awards recognize the department's work in the 40,001-80,000 population category for agencies of its size. They also highlight the city's seasonal programming as a model for local recreation offerings.
The department earned two Georgia Recreation and Park Association District 6 awards, with the agency honor competing in the 40,001-80,000 population category. The source does not provide attendance or revenue figures for Holidays in the Haven, and the scoring rubric used by the association was not disclosed.
The players
Georgia Recreation and Park Association
A state association that promotes parks and recreation services and honors agencies and programs through its district awards program.
Brookhaven Parks and Recreation Department
The municipal department that operates parks, recreation programs, and seasonal events for the City of Brookhaven, Georgia.
The details
Brookhaven City Council celebrated the two awards at its October 27 meeting. Holidays in the Haven, which introduced an ice-skating rink at Brookhaven Park in 2024, was recognized alongside the department's agency award.
Timeline
2024: Holidays in the Haven began with the introduction of an ice-skating rink at Brookhaven Park.
October 27, 2026: Brookhaven City Council celebrated the two Georgia Recreation and Park Association awards.
December 19, 2026: Holidays in the Haven returns for this year's season.
Industry Dynamics
The awards place Brookhaven within the Georgia Recreation and Park Association's District 6 awards program, which recognizes municipal agencies across population tiers. The recognition follows the pattern of local governments earning state association honors for seasonal public events that draw residents to shared spaces.
Residents can attend Holidays in the Haven when it returns on December 19, 2026, at Brookhaven Park. The event's ice-skating rink, introduced in 2024, offers a public winter activity at the park.
The takeaway
Recognition from a state association can highlight a city's ongoing public programming. Residents planning seasonal outings can note the December 19 return date for Holidays in the Haven.
What happens next
Holidays in the Haven returns on December 19, 2026, with the ice-skating rink at Brookhaven Park.
Further reading
Explore more local civic coverage for Brookhaven residents.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Rough Draft Atlanta.
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