Mell Meredith, chair of the Meredith Corporation Foundation, is a long-time supporter of the Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department, offering significant volunteer and financial contributions to our community. She and the Foundation continue their tradition of revitalizing Des Moines parks through Rebuilding Together. Park improvements have included support of the Jackson Street Bridge, playground replacements, removal of old block walls, new bicycle racks, trees, perennials, trail memorials, volleyball courts, shelters, as well as thousands of volunteer hours on these projects. Further remarkable support was provided for Gray’s Lake Park and the surrounding trail system, and significant donations to both the landmark John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park and the Evelyn K. Davis Park Project. 

Meredith serves on the Gray’s Lake Park and Meredith Trail Advisory Committee. In addition, she serves as President of the Edwin T. Meredith Foundation and is a board member of the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. Meredith Frazier is an Advisory Council member with Rebuilding Together Greater Des Moines and is an honorary trustee of the Science Center of Iowa, Des Moines Art Center, and the Dowling Catholic High School Foundation Board. With over 20 years of service and generosity, we honor Mell Meredith with our 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Lokus Ngo has volunteered with the Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department for only three years, but he has made a big impact in the community, in a short amount of time. Ngo is the President of Watchmen Community, a 501(c)3 organization, started in 2017, with a mission to watch over humanity by supporting, protecting, and preserving life. He is passionate about making our world a better place for everyone and protecting the environment. He and his organization offer free training for youth in self-defense and martial arts, provide meals and a food pantry for students and families with the help of their new community garden, and run after-school programs with tutoring services. In addition to this, Ngo also coordinates volunteers from the community center and neighborhood to maintain Prospect Park. Through the Adopt-a-Park Program in 2021, Ngo led them to donate more than 600 hours picking up litter. His optimism, creativity, and perseverance make him a great community leader. For his dedicated service to improving our communities, we honor Lokus Ngo as our 2021 Volunteer of the Year.

MidAmerican Energy Company encourages employee volunteerism and community involvement because they know that vibrant, growing communities benefit everyone. During the pandemic, they’ve come together to support local events focusing on environmental respect, recycling, and sustainability. In 2021, MidAmerican Energy Company volunteers from the Green Team Committee assisted with four natural resource events. Their work removing invasive plants helped encourage native vegetation regrowth, and improved water quality and wildlife habitat. Volunteers worked in our prairies creating pollinator habitat, hand-harvesting seeds, and improving plant diversity. For their commitment to our community, we honor the MidAmerican Energy Company as our 2021 Corporate Volunteer Group of the Year.

Central Iowa Trails Association, a 501(c)3, was formed in 1993 and has been helping our department maintain trails in an official capacity since 2013. In that time, the group has donated almost 4,000 hours valued at over $110,500. They have donated their time, money, and expertise to help construct and maintain approximately 20 miles of single-track trails in Des Moines’ Greenwood, Ashworth, and Ewing Parks. These trails wind through wooded areas, near ponds and streams, and up and down hills. They are loved by thousands of mountain bicyclists, hikers, birdwatchers, runners, and other adults and children needing a respite from urban life and wanting to immerse themselves in nature. We honor CITA as our 2021 Volunteer Group of the Year for helping make Des Moines and Central Iowa a great place to live by bringing people closer to nature, nurturing a respect for the environment, and providing a fun way to lead healthier lives.

Eric Lohmeier embodies the true spirit of generosity. His selflessness, commitment, and willingness to assist in any situation is remarkable. Lohmeier donates both his time and financial support throughout the year helping at the golf outing, bike rides, hosting booths, and more. He shares his love for the outdoors with his family and is a door opener for both the Friends of Des Moines Parks and Des Moines Parks and Recreation. He is the first to jump at any opportunity to support us, whether it’s subsidizing the growth of our Friends, or buying the first memorial tree for our parks. Lohmeier’s leadership has helped build donor relationships resulting in a recent $100,000 pledge for soccer scholarships. For more than a decade, he has continued to be our resident problem solver, strategist, sounding board, and Friend. For his unwavering support of our mission, we honor Eric Lohmeier as our 2021 Friend of the Year.

Brooke Hockett was an incredible coach this year for our youth flag football league. Time and time again she went out of her way to ensure the kids were having an amazing time while playing. Multiple staff members mentioned the incredible spirit she brought to the team. She practiced with kids, helped them run the ball, gave them high fives after every play, and guided them through the whole game. She even went out of her way to help the kids on other teams. The kids were lucky to have Brooke Hockett as a coach. For her outstanding coaching, patience, care, and providing positive learning experiences, we honor Brooke Hockett as the 2021 Volunteer Coach of the Year. 

Vicki Facto, a lifelong resident of Des Moines acquired her love for City parks and trails in the 1970s when her mother was President of the Des Moines Park Board. Facto has served on the Parks and Recreation Board for nine years, the Trails and Greenway sub-committee, the Fishing Ad-hoc committee, the fundraising committee for the Save the Jackson/Fifth Street Bridge project, and the Urban Conservation sub-committee, where she currently serves as Chair. She spends a considerable amount of time visiting parks and trails and enjoys the connectivity of our green spaces in central Iowa. Her interest in affordable housing and quality of life for all central Iowans is what drives her passion for public park access for all citizens. When traveling, Facto enjoys visiting City parks and trails and bringing her enthusiasm and ideas back to the City of Des Moines. For her volunteer leadership, dedication, and ongoing service to our organization, we honor her with a 2021 Special Volunteer Award. 

Cemetery Supervisor Ganesh Ganpat is the epitome of what a volunteer supervisor should be. Each year, he works hard to foster a culture of volunteer engagement with his staff. Ganpat partners local donations with volunteer support, demonstrates leadership, and takes initiative with many projects. He supports many generations, from Eagle Scouts to retirees, engaging them in protecting our historical and cultural resources. Ganpat led a volunteer team that organized our annual Wreaths Across America event, culminating in 80 volunteers laying more than 1,000 wreaths to honor our veterans. He also led a month-long effort, with 154 volunteers, to save part of the community’s history by restoring Woodland Cemetery monuments. He continues to support monthly volunteers on his cemetery advisory committee, the Adopt-a-Block program, and other various maintenance activities. Since joining our team, Ganesh Ganpat has engaged more than 3,400 volunteers and brought in more than $445,000 worth of in-kind volunteer service. For his organization, leadership, and outstanding volunteer supervision, we honor him with our 2021 Volunteer Supervisor of the Year award.