The City of Healdsburg was selected as the 2010 California Park and Recreation Society (CPRS) Award of Excellence recipient in the category of Park Planning, for the Giorgi Park Rehabilitation Project in the population category of up to 20,000. Giorgi Park is located eight blocks northeast of downtown Healdsburg at 600 University Street.

In order to make this project happen staff worked with a number of outside user groups including the Healdsburg Future Farmers Country Fair Board, Healdsburg Unified School District, the Boys & Girls Club, the Athletic Boosters of Healdsburg, the Voigt Family Sculpture Foundation, local pre-schools, and park neighbors. The City of Healdsburg Parks and Recreation Commission and Healdsburg City Council were also involved in the Master Planning phase of the park. This is an example of a City delivering a project on time that included multiple funding sources, extensive public input and custom built features.

The project consisted of reconstructing some of the park’s substandard and outdated recreational features as well as construction of a one of a kind interactive play and water feature that celebrates the Russian River. These new features include replacement of the playground structure, relocation and renovation of the bocce court area, enhancement of picnic and bbq areas, improvements to the walking trail facilities, reduced paved parking areas, upgrades to the park’s infrastructure, addition of an interactive water feature, and other significant improvements. The overall renovation and design of the park focused on sustainability, improved pedestrian connectivity between neighborhoods and interactive educational features relating to the environment and agricultural heritage of the area. The project was considered “High Priority” in the City’s Parks and Open Space Master Plan (March 2008).

Since the project's completion, activity at the park has increased tenfold. No longer is it a barren parking lot with outdated play features. It has become a hub for family activity in Healdsburg core. It is important to note the project would not have been possible without significant contributions from the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Healdsburg, Park Impact Fees, and the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District’s matching grant program.