The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA), in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), has announced Allen Parks & Recreation as a finalist for the 2016 National Gold Medal Awards for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management. Musco Lighting LLC has been a proud sponsor of the Gold Medal Awards program for over 10 years.
Founded in 1965, the Gold Medal Awards program 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. Applications are separated into seven classes, with five classes based on population, one class for armed forces recreation and one class for state park systems awarded on odd numbered years.
Allen Parks & Recreation is a finalist in the Class III category. This is the fourth consecutive year the department has received the finalist designation.
Agencies are judged on their ability to address the needs of those they serve through the collective energies of citizens, staff and elected officials. Allen Parks & Recreation joins three other finalists in their class that will compete for grand honors this year.
"NRPA promotes three pillars - conservation, health and wellness, and social equity as a guide for parks and recreation departments," said Tim Dentler, director of Allen Parks & Recreation. "We strive to serve Allen based on those essential pillars, so it is an honor being named a finalist for the Gold Medal Award by NRPA, reinforcing that we are offering the highest quality services and programs to our community."
A panel of five park and recreation professionals reviews and judges all application materials. Judges are chosen for their considerable experience and knowledge in parks and recreation on both the local and national levels.
This year’s finalists will compete for Grand Plaque Award honors this summer, and the six Grand Plaque recipients will be announced live during the NRPA General Session at the 2016 NRPA Annual Conference in St. Louis, MO, Oct 5-8, 2016.
For more information on the Gold Medal Awards, visit www.nrpa.org/goldmedal or www.aapra.org.