Douglas County community services director recognized with prestigious state award

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - Community Services Director Scott Morgan was recently honored with a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award by the Nevada Recreation and Parks Society (NRPS). For only the second time in its 77-year history, NRPS awarded him the Dundee Award which was named after Dundee Jones who was a pillar of professionalism in the industry and the first Parks and Recreation Director for the City of Henderson.

The Dundee Award requires a long-lasting career along with significant service contributions nationally, regionally, locally, and to the State of Nevada, the Nevada Recreation and Park Society, and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA).

During the award ceremony, Morgan was recognized as Douglas County’s father of Community Services and Parks and Recreation. The award was presented to Director Morgan by Sally Jones, the widow of the award’s namesake.

Morgan stated, “I am honored to be nominated and receive this prestigious award, and having it presented by Sally made it all the more special.”

Some of the highlights and awards of Morgan’s career recognized through this award include:

California Parks and Recreation Society-Inland Valleys Don Allen Outstanding Professional Award in 1993
Cashman Good Governance Nevada Taxpayers Association Finalist Award in 1998 and 2023
Multiple NRPS Elmer H. Anderson Parks Excellence Awards, NRPS Citation Award, and a President’s Award from Gene Trombetti in 2005
Carson Valley Medical Center Health Provider of the Year in 2018
Douglas County Business Council Lifetime Achievement Award - Leaders and Legends in 2022

Morgan’s contributions to Douglas County were also highlighted including the completion of four major award-winning community parks, two nationally recognized Community/Multi-Generational Centers, and four world-class special use facilities including a nationally recognized skate park, disc-golf course, historic working ranch, and shooting facility.

Morgan has worked with the National Parks Service on the Historic Pony Express Trail and was a founding planning member of the country’s most beautiful bike path—the Lake Tahoe Stateline to Stateline Bike Path. Morgan has completed more than $100 million worth of public works and park projects including special event venues, trails, trailheads, and park additions.

Morgan’s legislative efforts were recognized for successfully modifying NRS 278.497 (Residential Construction Tax for Parks) to allow for Equipment Replacement in existing parks and broadening the definition of Community and Neighborhood Parks to include amateur athletic facilities for the betterment of municipalities in the State of Nevada.

Morgan and Douglas County also led the charge to amend NRS 455B.400, which provided liability immunity and tort liability caps for municipalities that operate skateboard parks and immunity for private property owners who own property next to a trail or trailhead. Both of these legislative acts significantly and positively affected governmental entities’ ability to develop trails, trailheads, and skateboard parks.

Morgan has served as the NRPS President and was a committee chair for the NRPA.

Morgan is a Nevada outdoor adventure enthusiast, and he is certainly proud of his professional accomplishments which pale in comparison to the pride he feels for his family. Kristi, Scott’s wife of 38 years and with who he gives most of the credit for his accomplishments, has supported him throughout his career. Scott has two sons: Jordan, a missionary in Thailand, and Hunter who works for a private college in Sterling, Kansas. Scott and his wife relish the time spent with their three grandchildren.

Scott Morgan is currently the Community Services Director for Douglas County and has served in that role for more than 29 years. Scott oversees Douglas County’s Parks, Recreation, Senior Services, DART Transportation, Animal Care and Services, Social Services, the Public Health Clinic, and Noxious Weed Control.