Camp Darby wins top European recreation award

CAMP DARBY, Italy- Installation Management Command Europe Family and Morale, Welfare Recreation announced the winners of the Annual European recreation awards competition Sept. 11. U.S. Army Garrison Livorno, in Camp Darby, Italy, was declared as having the "Best Outstanding Installation Recreation Program" for a small garrison, said to Angela Flowers, IMCOM-E FMWR Recreation Awards program manager.

"We looked at a criterion of 10 elements to include new programs and some of the garrisons' successes, in order to determine which regional winners would get to compete by size and activity at the Department of Army level," said Flowers, whose office did the judging.

Camp Darby's Library and Sports and Fitness Center were also winners in their respective categories and will have a chance to represent the region in the Army competition.

"In the past year we programmed several events that involved interaction between our military personnel and different FMWR activities on post involving both children and adults; winning this regional award really recognizes the whole library staff for the great service they provide to our customers at Camp Darby and for the visitors who vacation here," said Ronald Van Gemert, Camp Darby Librarian. "We plan on continuing to develop new and interesting programs partnering with other activities on post that will continue to make the library a viable enterprise on Camp Darby."

Todd Smith, acting Camp Darby Fitness Center manager, added this is the second year in a row that the Sports and Fitness center have placed first at the regional competition.

"These Recreation awards are a good avenue for professional programs to be recognized amongst their peers and also highlights all of the contributions FMWR does in their local community in supporting Quality of Life programs and the Army Family covenant," said Flowers.

Related Links:

USAG Livorno web site