Terry Coleman, director of Indiana State Parks, was presented with the Great Lakes Park Training Institute’s (GLPTI) highest honor last week, the Lawson Award.

Named for Richard Lawson, a longtime GLPTI chair, the award is presented annually to individuals who have exemplified continued and significant contributions in the park and recreation profession/community for an extended time.

A long-term GLPTI attendee, Coleman has dedicated his career to serving the public through parks in the Great Lakes region. His career with state parks began humbly in 1980, cleaning vault toilets at Pokagon State Park. During the next 40 years, he served in many other roles in Indiana State Parks, from maintenance worker, to assistant property manager, to property manager, to north region manager.

Coleman also served the Great Lakes region from 2012 to 2014 at Ohio State Parks before returning to the Hoosier state to serve as deputy director of Indiana State Parks. In 2020, he was named director.

Indiana State Parks have thrived during his tenure as director, posting record visitation and revenue, as well as receiving critical, multi-million dollar investments from the state to address deferred maintenance needs and fund capital improvements.

“We have such an important mission in caring for the most special and treasured natural, cultural and recreational resources of our state,” Coleman said.

GLPTI, which began in 1947, is coordinated by the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands at Indiana University. It is an annual conference that explores current issues and techniques in parks, provides networking opportunities, and recognizes outstanding projects and individuals at its annual awards dinner.