The Whitaker Museum and Centerville Parks and Recreation Department were recently recognized for a program they ran at the museum last summer.

On May 2, Scott McDonald, Utah Recreation & Parks Association president, presented Museum Director Lisa Summers and Recreation Coordinator Bryce King with the organization’s Outstanding Event for 2023 award. 

“I appreciate the mayor and the city council for giving us some time to speak to you today and recognize some of the amazing facilities and staff you have in your parks and rec. and community services department,” McDonald said. “What your community services, museums, parks and rec. departments do is so important to your community from the youngest to the oldest and your commitment to them shows. We honor just some of the best people, departments and agencies in the state, and it is my honor to be able to present one of those awards today.” 

The Whitaker was chosen by a group of URPA past presidents from among 14 nominations for the award. This is the first award a Centerville City entity has received from the organization.

Flash Back Fun, a five-week miniseries, took place in July, August and September and was focused on providing different historical activities, recreation and social activities from different decades of Utah history. Each week the theme was focused on a different decade of Utah history. Activities included horseshoeing demonstrations, panning for gold, a petting zoo and learning about Utah agriculture and farming activities. 

“This award was an immediate favorite of many of the immediate past presidents. I think what they really liked about it is it is a mix and fusion of multiple ways of learning about Utah history in a fun and unique way,” McDonald said. “Many of them commented on the partnership — that was one of the standouts — between the museum and the Parks and Recreation department. That partnership created just amazing opportunities for families young and old to enjoy activities together with participants ranging from 150 to 300 people each week for several weeks at the museum which is just impressive.

In an overview of the mini-series, that evening Summers credited King with coming up with the idea for the museum and his department to collaborate. 

“Bryce came to us with this idea of making July not only parks and rec but also including the museum,” she said. “Each Thursday we had an activity in the museum yard that invited people who grew up in Centerville to participate.”

Both local residents and businesses helped make Flash Back Fun a success, she said. “It’s really what a city is — a community— and I think it was a wonderful event.”