News & Announcements

In announcing the 2025 National Gold Medal Finalists, AAPRA Executive Director Jane H. Adams shared, “Each agency is commended for submitting a 2025 application for the prestigious National Gold Medal Award. The Academy congratulates the 20 local park and recreation agencies, three state parks, and four armed forces installations on receiving the Finalist award. We look forward to presenting these awards at the Gold Medal Gala Reception in Orlando, Florida, as part of the National Recreation and Park Association’s annual conference.” The 2025 National Gold Medal finalists are: 

Individuals must be nominated for AAPRA membership by a current member, and they must secure two letters of support from additional Academy members. Requirements for membership include minimum of 15 years of experience at a high level of administration and a BS or BA degree. High level positions may be general manager, executive director, director, deputy director, superintendent with significant experience and oversight in parks, recreation, personnel, training, budgeting, planning, capital improvements, and marketing. Educator nominee must have attained the rank of full professor or served in a high level of academic administration. Practitioner and educator nominees must also be recognized as a leader through professional involvement, publications, major presentations, and honors and awards. Visit the Member Information page to learn more. See Professional (Practitioner) Nomination Form and Urban Director Nomination Form  and Educator Nomination Form to apply. 

2025 nominations opened March 27 will close May 16, 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time with the medal presented in the fall. The Pugsley Medal purpose is to honor outstanding contributions in parks and conservation. The Pugsley Medal is awarded to citizens, political leaders, park and conservation professionals who have dedicated their efforts to the advancement of parks and conservation at the local, regional, state, or national levels. Medal recipients inspire us as they have accomplished great things in furthering the parks and conservation agenda in the United States in their community in their region or state or nationally. 

The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA), Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society (PRPS), and National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) are proud to announce a career development video has been produced and financed by PRPS and is now available to introduce high school and college students to parks and recreation as a viable career choice.

Housed at nrpa.org/ChoiceCareer, the video is associated with complementary career development materials available to agencies and professionals nationwide. It is designed to be an integral component of seasonal staff orientations, new employee trainings, introductions to public recreation programs like family movie nights and teen programs, high school and public event presentations, and many other local opportunities that engage with the video’s prime audience.

A Choice Career: Parks and Recreation offers an interview-driven, “real people, real stories,” approach to create a compelling, emotional appeal that expands viewers’ awareness and understanding of the diversity and viability of a meaningful and fulfilling career in parks and recreation—along with an invitation to connect interest with action.

In support of its research mission, the American Academy for Park & Recreation Administration (AAPRA) hosts an annual research paper competition that alternates between best doctoral dissertation (even numbered years) and best master’s thesis/special project paper (odd numbered years). The following three awards will be given in 2025: One (1) Masters/Special Project Paper $750 and up to $500 in travel funds to attend the NRPA 2025 Annual Conference in Orlando, FL, September 16-18, 2025, and a Award Certificate of Merit. Two (2) Certificate of Merit awards to two Masters/Special Project Paper finalists.