Kennesaw awarded for recreation programs, private funding

The Kennesaw Parks & Recreation Department has been named 2011 Agency of the Year for cities with a population of 20,000 to 30,000.

The Georgia Recreation and Parks Association picked Kennesaw to receive the award because of the city's efforts to encourage healthy lifestyles and weight loss and its success in obtaining private funding. Three quarters of the agency's special events budget was paid with business sponsorships.

City officials accepted the award at a banquet at the Macon Centreplex on Aug. 18.