NEW PHILADELPHIA – Boris Slogar, chief engineer of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD), was recently named by the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association (OPRA) the 2021 OPRA Professional of the Year. This award recognizes an OPRA member who has exemplified outstanding leadership and has enhanced parks, recreation and quality of life in the community or the state of Ohio.
“As chief engineer, Boris has worked side-by-side with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to build a very positive working relationship overseeing millions of dollars of investment to ensure the flood control structures – many of which are approaching 70 years in age – are sound and ready to protect the region,” said Craig Butler, MWCD executive director. “Boris has also been instrumental in the renovations and construction within the parks. Beyond this, perhaps more importantly, he is known by directors and engineers in park districts throughout Ohio to lend a hand and to assist other districts with projects impacting water quality and flood control.”
Slogar has been chief engineer for MWCD for 14 years. He has a 30-plus-year career as an Ohio public servant with significant roles at Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Ohio Department of Taxation. He has developed a professional program of technical staff to work hand in hand with the Army Corps of Engineers to ensure the 14 dams and reservoirs within MWCD are sound and safe and meet MWCD’s mission of providing flood control for the region.
“I am honored and humbled to be recognized by OPRA and the Parks and Recreation community with this award,” said Slogar. “The value that parks and recreation provide to our communities is immeasurable, especially now more than ever. To be recognized as making a difference in our part of the state is extremely rewarding.”
Nominations for the award were submitted by OPRA members and voted upon by the OPRA board of directors.
“Boris is consummate professional who exudes humility,” said Woody Woodward, OPRA executive director. “Not only has he been a leader in the work at MWCD, but he has gone above and beyond to assist park districts and other conservancy districts around Eastern Ohio. He really is what parks and recreation is all about.”
Boris will be formally recognized at the OPRA annual conference in February 2022 in Sandusky.
OPRA currently has more than 2,100 members, and the association is guided by a nine-member board of directors and managed by a professional staff. Headquartered in Westerville, OPRA represents parks and recreation professionals and citizen board members in cities, townships, park districts and state parks around Ohio who are striving to provide quality park and recreational facilities and opportunities for all Ohioans while protecting and preserving Ohio's natural resources.
OPRA was initially organized in 1934 as the Ohio Recreation Association, with a separate organization, the Ohio Parks Association, formed in 1942. In 1963, ORA and OPA Incorporated to become OPRA.
