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Cathie Parrott honored with the FDOT’s Garry Balogh award

For Clay Today
Posted 10/13/21

PENNEY FARMS – Cathie Parrott, the driving force in the byway community serving many roles including secretary, grants coordinator and most recently byway administrator, was given the Garry Balogh …

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Cathie Parrott honored with the FDOT’s Garry Balogh award


Posted

PENNEY FARMS – Cathie Parrott, the driving force in the byway community serving many roles including secretary, grants coordinator and most recently byway administrator, was given the Garry Balogh Award from the Florida Department of Transportation Tuesday.

The award recognizes leadership, innovation, stewardship and achievements that have made a significant and lasting impact on a scenic highway, scenic highway community or the statewide program. The award was established in 2015 to honor the late Garry Balogh, a popular Department of Transportation employee responsible for the designation and successful implementation of many Florida Scenic Highways.

Parrott is just the sixth recipient of this coveted award. She is a long-time resident of the Town of Penney Farms and the Penney Retirement Community. She was the original representative from the community that reached out to the FDOT seeking designation for a three-mile stretch of State Road 16 and several adjoining roads throughout the Town of Penney Farms.

Working with other community volunteers, Cathie led the efforts to complete all required documentation necessary for consideration in the program. FDOT approved the inclusion of the J. C. Penney Memorial Scenic Highway into its collection of byways around the state in 2010. To date, this designation has only been bestowed on 27 other roadways in Florida.

Since the designation, Parrott has been the driving force in the roadway community serving many roles including secretary, grants coordinator and most recently byway administrator. In her current role, Cathie is responsible for day-to-day operations of the byway organization ensuring that it runs smoothly and complies with program requirements.

Parrott has a long resume of specific improvement projects that she has spearheaded, each focused on community betterment. These projects have benefited the byway traveler, Clay County and the Town of Penney Farms and reflect the organization's mission of preserving the areas of beauty and cultural heritage for residents, visitors and future generations while helping to stimulate economic opportunity in the region.

The Florida District Scenic Highways Coordinator recently noted that “Cathie epitomizes Garry Balogh's passion and energy for the Florida Scenic Highways Program.”