The Macon-Bibb County Recreation Department was recently awarded the 2025 GRPA State Special Olympics Program Award for its outstanding Special Olympics program.

“This honor recognizes our department’s continued commitment to inclusion, community engagement, and excellence in recreational programming,” said Recreation Assistant Director Armand Burnett. “It reflects the hard work, passion, and teamwork that each of you brings to our mission every day.”

“Without my great staff and awesome volunteers who make up the Macon-Bibb Special Olympics of Georgia, this would not be possible,” said Thomas “TJ” Hudson, who leads the Special Olympics program for the Recreation Department. “This award is only possible because we work with the best group of special athletes and people who make our program the success it is.”

The Delores A. Brooks Recreation Center offers an adaptive program and has participated in the Special Olympics for many years. Most recently, the Special Olympics team traveled to Valdosta, Georgia, where they competed in the 2025 Special Olympics Fall State Games, hosted by Special Olympics Georgia. With a 5-1 record, they successfully defended their 2024 title.