The Fulton County Department of Parks and Recreation recently won awards from the National Youth Sports Coaches Association and the Georgia Recreation and Park Association.

Willie Cheatham received the NYSCA 2000 Outstanding Youth Sports Leader Award. Cheatham, a recreation program supervisor who was honored for his personal commitment and contributions to youth sports, was one of eight selected to receive the award from among more than 9,000 NYSCA professionals.

Mel Halfon, recreation program administrator, received a service pin recognizing his 20 years of consecutive membership in GRPA. The award was presented in November at the GRPA Conference at Jekyll Island.

Lynn C. Barr, secretary of the Hopewell Youth Association, received the Volunteer of the Year Award from GRPA for her contributions to the Hopewell Youth Association and the Dizzy Dean Baseball Organization. Barr also received the Fulton County Parks and Recreation Thanks Badge, the highest recognition a volunteer can receive, in May 2000.

The Fulton Department of Parks and Recreation received the GRPA Publication Award in the single event category for its poster promoting the Smoltz-Grissom Wood Bat Classic. The Wood Bat Classic, sponsored by baseball greats John Smoltz and Marquis Grissom, is an annual event for little league teams.

---