Department Named Gold Medal Finalist for Second Consecutive Year
For the second consecutive year, the City of Allen’s Parks and Recreation Department was among the top four finalists for the Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management awarded by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA), in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). This nomination and award honors communities in the U.S. that demonstrate excellence in parks and recreation through long-range planning, resource management, volunteerism, environmental stewardship, program development, professional development and agency recognition. Only three Parks and Recreation agencies in the state of Texas have gone on to win the Gold Medal Award for Class III since 1966. It is the most prestigious honor in the park and recreation industry.
Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation (Indiana) was presented with the National Gold Medal award (for populations 75,001 to 150,000) at the NRPA Congress awards on October 14. The remaining finalists in this population category sharing the top four spots with Carmel Clay and Allen are Roswell Recreation, Parks, Historic and Cultural Affairs Department (Georgia) and St. George Leisure Services Department (Utah). A panel of five park and recreation professionals judged the final results based on the ability to address the needs of those the organizations serve through the collective energies of citizens, staff and elected officials.
Congratulations go out to our entire community on the continued excellence of Allen’s parks and recreation!