The National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management opened 2025 nominations November 4, 2024. Nominations close March 7, 2025. Why go for a Gold Medal? Increase confidence in your agency’s capacity. Boost agency’s reputation and credibility. Add to your agency’s legacy. National recognition for your agency. Learn More

Lacey, Washington, October 11, 2024– The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA), in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), is pleased to announce the Grand Plaque recipients in the 2024 National Gold Medal Awards for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management. Musco Lighting, LLC is proud to continue sponsoring the Gold Medal Awards program as it has for more than 20 years. 

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 National Gold Medal finalists are: