Medford Parks and Recreation Commission Presents Service Awards

Published on July 19, 2024

During the July 18 City Council meeting, the Medford Parks and Recreation commission honored groups and individuals for their contributions to parks and recreation initiatives.

City Manager Brian Sjothun received the Olsrud Family Lifetime Service Award. Sjothun is retiring this year after 20 years of service to the City of Medford first as Parks and Recreation Director and currently as City Manager. He has four decades of public service and is monumentally influential in making Medford a regional destination for world-class recreation facilities.

Brooke Nuckles received the Individual Award. Nuckles has spearheaded the City’s Bee City USA initiative since its inception in 2019. She is the coordinator of the monthly pollinator garden maintenance events for five park sites, including the Santo Community Center and Lithia & Driveway Fields locations. She is also a volunteer in service to the City’s Public Art Selection Committee.

Harry & David received the Business Award. Harry & David has been the naming-rights sponsor for the City’s baseball stadium since 2005, and this partnership boosts the quality of field maintenance and enhances the viability of the Medford Rogues baseball team. The Medford-based company also donates incredible amounts of food items for distribution at annual department special events.

The Medford Police Livability Team received the Community Service Group Award. The Livability Team was formed in 2019 to improve community livability by reducing criminal behavior along the Greenway and Downtown corridor and coordinating the Chronically Homeless Outreach Partnership. The Parks, Recreation and Facilities department closely partners with the Livability Team to clean up illegal camp sites, and there has been a vast reduction in illegal camp sites over the past year.

Rogue Valley Mentoring received the Youth Group/Organization Award. Rogue Valley Mentoring provides at-risk youth between ages 10 and 24 with trained adult mentors in group and 1-on-1 settings at the Nature Center. Since 2005, RVM has trained over 500 adults and served over 2,000 high-risk youth in the Rogue Valley, and primarily Medford.

Background: Each year since 2005, the Parks and Recreation Commission honors individuals, businesses and other service groups with the “Friends of Medford Parks and Recreation” awards.