California Park & Recreation Society District 8 Selects Mark Capozzoli as the 2022 Champion of the Community Award

ATASCADERO — The City of Atascadero’s Recreation Division is proud to announce that the California Park and Recreation Society (CPRS) District 8 selected Mark Capozzoli as the 2022 Champion of the Community Award and the Colony Park Pickleball Courts for the Excellence in Design: Facility & Park Planning Award.  

The Champion of the Community Award honors and recognizes individuals or organizations who have contributed significant effort to influence and improve the quality of their community through parks and recreation. This award recognizes the contributions of those who volunteer and provide support and services in their community that further the mission and quality delivery of park and recreation services, programs, and facilities in their community.  

Mark has volunteered in Atascadero for dozens of youth sports leagues, programs, and activities for many years. Mark’s volunteer work includes coaching youth sports, serving as a Boy Scout Den Leader, a youth soccer referee administrator, a middle school volunteer, dance committee member, and high school PTSA President. Mark has volunteered for five years as the Little League President, plus over 14 years of coaching with Atascadero Little League baseball, Atascadero Youth Soccer, and the City’s Youth Basketball League. He even stepped in to help with traffic control at an Atascadero Elementary School, when needed, and worked with our local Police Department to improve safety for students around Atascadero Middle School. Mark and his wife Jill are also mentors to new foster families. The City’s Recreation Division and CPRS District 8 would like to thank Mark Capozzoli for all of his support for our community youth sports programs over the years. Congratulations Mark!  

The Excellence in Design: Facility & Park Planning Award recognizes excellence in the design of a completed aquatic, recreation, cultural, and/or park facility intended for public use. The project may be either new construction or rehabilitation and maintenance, quality of aesthetics, usability, accessibility, and versatility. This award further recognizes the design and construction or significant rehabilitation of buildings, structures, and facilities used primarily to support park and recreation purposes. 

The City of Atascadero opened four permanent outdoor courts at the Colony Park Community Center in November 2021 in cooperation with the Atascadero Pickleball Club. The courts have ADA accessibility for inclusive play and were designed to require minimal ongoing maintenance. Pickleball has 48.8 million players nationwide and has increased nearly 40 percent over two years. Popularity has surged because the sport is easy to learn and is something the entire family can enjoy. Pickleball is fun, energetic, great exercise, teaches hand-eye coordination, team play, and generally includes lots of laughter.

The fenced courts are located behind Colony Park Community Center and Joy Playground and are used by the public and Atascadero Pickleball Club every day of the week — sometimes, there’s even a waitlist to get into a game due to popularity.