2024 Gold Medal Finalist
Dickinson Parks & Recreation is extremely excited and honored to be named a 2024 National Gold Medal Award Finalist for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management.
Why do we celebrate Parks & Recreation Month?
- Since 1985, people in the United States have celebrated Park and Recreation Month in July to promote building strong, vibrant and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation and to recognize the more than 160,000 full-time park and recreation professionals — along with hundreds of thousands of part-time and seasonal workers and volunteers — that maintain our country’s local, state and community parks.
- Through efforts by NRPA, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an official resolution for Park and Recreation Month in 2009, and introduced the resolution in 2017 and 2018.
- Park and recreation agencies across the nation are recognizing the month with summer programs, events, contests, commemorations and celebrations.
- The services that park and recreation professionals provide are vital for our communities — from protecting open spaces and natural resources to helping fight obesity and providing activities and resources for all people.
- Park and Recreation Month encourages everyone to reflect on the exponential value park and recreation professionals bring to communities.
- It’s time to share why local parks and recreation is Where Community Grows! NRPA encourages everyone who supports parks and recreation to share how it has improved their community on social media using #WhereCommunityGrows.
- For more information, visit nrpa.org/july.
GOLD MEDAL SUBMISSION DOCUMENTS
2024 Finalists Announced for the National Gold Medal Awards in Parks and Recreation Management
Lacey, WA. (May 2, 2024) – The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA)
AAPRA, in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2024 National Gold Medal Awards for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management. Musco Lighting, LLC continues its 20+ years as the proud sponsor of the National Gold Medal Awards program.
Founded in 1965, the Gold Medal Awards program honors communities in the United States 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, awarded on odd numbered years, for state park systems.
Agencies are judged on their ability to address the needs of those they serve through the collective energies of community members, staff and elected officials. Four finalists in each class are chosen to compete for grand honors each year.
In announcing the 2024 National Gold Medal Finalists, AAPRA Executive Director Jane H. Adams shared, “Each agency is commended for submitting a 2024 application for the prestigious National Gold Medal Award. The Academy congratulates the 20 local park and recreation agencies and the four-armed forces installations on receiving the Finalist award. We look forward to presenting these awards at the Gold Medal Gala Reception in Atlanta, Georgia, as part of the National Recreation and Park Association’s annual conference.”
The 2024 Gold Medal finalists in our population category are:
Class V (population less than 30,000)
- City of Macedonia Parks & Recreation, Macedonia, OH
- Dickinson Parks and Recreation District, Dickinson, ND
- Oak Brook Park District, Oak Brook, IL
- Valley City Parks and Recreation District, Valley City, ND
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 both locally and nationally.
This year’s Finalists awardees will compete for Grand Plaque Award honor, and the Grand Plaque recipients will be announced at the 2024 NRPA Annual Conference in Atlanta, GA.
For information on the National Gold Medal Awards, visit AAPRA or NRPA.
# # #
The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA) is a non-profit organization founded to advance knowledge related to the administration of recreation and parks; to encourage scholarly efforts by both practitioners and educators that would enhance the practice of park and recreation administration; to promote broader public understanding of the importance of parks and recreation to the public good; and, to conduct research, publish scholarly papers and sponsor seminars related to the advancement of park and recreation administration. For information, visit www.aapra.org.
The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is the leading not-for-profit organization dedicated to building strong, vibrant and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation. With more than 60,000 members, NRPA advances this mission by investing in and championing the work of park and recreation professionals and advocates — the catalysts for positive change in service of equity, climate-readiness, and overall health and well-being. For more information, visit nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit parksandrecreation.org.
Musco Lighting, LLC is a company that has specialized in lighting systems for sports and large areas for more than 30 years. Musco has pioneered dramatic improvements in energy efficiency and affordable ways to control wasted spill light and glare. Permanent and temporary lighting services range from neighborhood fields to NASCAR super speedways. For more information, visit www.musco.com.