Michigan parks and conservation leader receives national honor

Public Radio 90, WNMU | By Hans Ahlström

Published September 26, 2025 at 11:43 AM EDT

Undated – Recently retired chief of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Parks and Recreation Division has been recognized for his contributions to the promotion and development of public parks and conservation in the United States.
Ron Olson has been awarded the prestigious Pugsley Medal by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration. The medal recognizes contributions to the promotion and development of public parks and conservation in the United States. The inaugural Pugsley Medals were awarded in 1928.
Olson, who is from Ann Arbor, spent the bulk of his career leading park systems in Maryland and Michigan, including 20 years as Michigan DNR parks and recreation chief.

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Hans Ahlström

Hans Ahlström is the host of several programs, including the daily musical variety show Weekday, the mostly straight ahead jazz show Night Studio, the self-explanatory Blues Today, and the eclectic Sound Spectrum. You can also hear Hans as the local host of NPR's All Things Considered news magazine. He also helps manage Public Radio 90's web content, interviews local and visiting writers and artists, works with NMU student interns, and writes the occasional news story.

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