Good Award! Press Release: Dave Katz
Good Award Press Release - Dave Katz
The Good Job Award Honors an Individual Whose Contributions have Directly Influenced the Health and Vitality of their Community.
STATE COLLEGE, PA – (July 18, 2025) – What began as mentoring teens in a run-down skatepark has become one of Pennsylvania’s most inspiring community transformations. This year, that journey is being honored statewide. On Friday, July 18, Dave Kratz, Executive Director of Free Fall Action Sports in Quakertown, will be named the 2025 GOOD Job! Award recipient by the Pennsylvania Recreation & Park Society (PRPS).
Presented annually, the GOOD Job! Award recognizes individuals whose work in recreation and community building has made a meaningful and lasting impact. Kratz’s story is a powerful example of what happens when someone sees potential where others may see nothing at all.
Kratz embodies the very spirit of this award. What began in 2008 as an effort to support youth at a crumbling skatepark has grown into a movement for community connection and empowerment. His leadership spans nearly two decades, as a local pastor, he started mentoring teens who gathered at an aging skatepark. His vision led to the creation of Free Fall Action Park, the first skatepark in Bucks County that features a traditional pool, street section, and a 100-foot bowl with lights.
Ashton Miller, Director of Parks and Recreation for the Borough of Quakertown, nominated Kratz for the GOOD Job! Award after witnessing the deep and lasting impact he’s had on the community. “Dave’s impact lives in concrete and conversation, in every student who found belonging at the park and left with a deeper sense of self-worth.” she said. “His influence helped young people stay in school, resist addiction, discover talents, and believe they mattered. Former students describe Free Fall as their grounding force. One said it’s a “silent reminder to be a good person.”
The GOOD Job! Award aims to spotlight the positive influence parks and recreation professionals have on their communities. Kratz is well loved and respected by all of his peers and students, standing out as a true hero to the Quakertown community. He demonstrates the power of stepping up when a community needs it most and how far people can go when they feel supported by those around them.
Aaron Brezner, a longtime Free Fall student and intern since 2015, shares in the documentary Pipe Dream: The Story of Free Fall how transformative the space and Kratz’s leadership has been. “We were watching that place become a home, one that had been neglected and ignored for years,” he says. Like many others, Brezner found more than just a skatepark at Free Fall; he found a mentor and father figure in Dave Kratz.
Past recipients of the GOOD Job! Award have been:
2024 - Dave Burger, Doylestown Borough Parks & Facilities Foreman, Assistant Director of Public Works
2023 - Stephanie Robinson, Environmental Education Program Specialist, Philadelphia Parks &
Recreation
2022: Mitchell Kulp, Parks Superintendent, Lower Gwynedd Township
2021 - Emily Croke, Director of Parks & Recreation, Springfield Township
2019 - Tom Richino, Richland Township Parks & Recreation
2018 - Centre Region Parks & Recreation
2017 - East Goshen Township
About Pennsylvania’s Parks and Park & Recreation Professionals Day
Pennsylvania is home to more than 6,500 local and state parks. The typical park and recreation agency in the Commonwealth manages more than 19 parks and offers 175+ recreational programs. Together these agencies employ more than 8,000 people and engage more than 2,000 volunteers each year. Park and Recreation Professionals Day honors the people who work tirelessly behind the scenes to provide the high-quality programs and facilities communities desire. This year, Park & Recreation Professional Day falls on July 19.
GoodForPA July Blog
GoodForPA July Blog post
The Magic of the Moment
There’s something magical about a summer night sky lit up with fireworks. As this summer begins, people will be flocking to our local parks and recreation spots to enjoy the show because it’s the perfect place to celebrate under the stars! But have you ever stopped to wonder how those bursts of color and sound actually work?
It’s not just fire and sparkle, there’s some serious science behind the magic of the show. Each firework shell is packed with a mix of chemicals and tiny pellets called “stars” (the sparkles). When launched, a timed fuse ignites the shell mid-air, setting off a choreographed explosion of light, color, and sound.
Rhythm and Rockets
Each firework takes its own unique shape as it explodes into the sky. Inside each shell are pyrotechnic stars that are carefully arranged to form different designs. Pyrotechnicians are able to curate their own patterns for their fireworks show, carefully constructing the perfect display from start to finish, making sure each firework has its special moment! This is especially fun for the big finale when a bunch of different types of fireworks go off all at once creating an epic end to the night.
Some of the most familiar types of fireworks include:
Peonies – the classic spherical burst that blooms and fades in the sky.
Willows – long, trailing sparks that drift down like glowing tree branches. Chrysanthemums – similar to peonies but with more defined, spiky edges. Comets – bright, single trails that shoot across the sky like a meteor.
Crossettes – fireworks that split mid-air into smaller bursts.
Salutes – all about the boom, these are loud, bright flashes with minimal color.
What’s even cooler is that these fireworks can be synched to music, exploding along to each beat. This helps create a full musical experience, almost like a concert! Pyrotechnicians are able to do this just off of their computers using a digital firing system. Every firework is programmed to go off at just the right moment. These guys are seriously talented.
Where to Watch in Pennsylvania
Of course, fireworks aren’t just about chemistry, they’re about community. Every year, parks and recreation teams across Pennsylvania work behind the scenes to make these events safe and unforgettable. There’s something extra special about watching fireworks light up the night sky in a park by the sides of your friends and family. It’s all about enjoying the beauty and the spectacle of the moment. So grab a blanket, pack your favorite snacks, and get ready to enjoy a magical evening under the stars!
If you’re looking for a great place to catch a show this 4th of July, check out: Benjamin Franklin Parkway (Philadelphia)
Presque Isle State Park (Erie)
Lake Wallenpaupack (Poconos)
Clifton Field, Clifton Heights (Delaware County)
Lititz Springs Park (Lancaster)
Memorial Park, Pottstown (Montgomery County)
And while you’re there, share these new fun facts you’ve learned and impress your friends. Be safe and happy 4th of July!
Park and Recreation Professionals day
Park and Recreation Professionals Day Article
This article was written for GoodForPA.com.
Attached is a link to the writing.