ASTM International Committee F08 on Sports Equipment and Facilities has honored Monty Christiansen, professor emeritus of recreation and park management at the Pennsylvania State University in University Park, Pa., with the William F. Hulse Memorial Award.  Christiansen was recognized for his outstanding contributions to maintain and support the establishment of voluntary full-consensus standards to enhance the safety of organized and individual sport. 

An ASTM International member since 1988, Christiansen serves on Committees F08, F15 on Consumer Products and F24 on Amusement Rides and Devices. 

A graduate of Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, where he received both his bachelor's and master's degrees in landscape architecture, Christiansen joined the faculty of Penn State in 1969.  In his more than 35 years in the recreation and parks industry, Christiansen's work has focused mainly on playground safety.  In 1991, he co-founded the National Playground Safety Institute (NPSI) where he serves on the executive board, and has since traveled to more than a dozen countries to speak about playground safety. 

As executive director of the International Playground Safety Institute, Christiansen has provided playground safety training in Asia for the past ten years.  He was team leader of a task force of experts from the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) who traveled to Sri Lanka after the 2004 tsunami to plan 85 new playgrounds in the devastated areas.  In 2002, the NRPA honored him with their Outstanding Professional Award. 

In addition to ASTM International, Christiansen is a member of the American Academy for Park and Recreation Professionals, and he was named the first life director of the National Society for Park Resources as well as the first NPSI fellow. 

Release #7850