Just the Facts

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The National Gold Medal Awards are governed and managed by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association, and proudly sponsored by Musco Lighting.

Gold Medal Award Resources

Resources

2025 Promo

Applications Open November 4, 2025 - March 13, 2026


Informational Webinar

History

Additional Resources

Just the Facts

Eligibility:

  • The 2026 National Gold Medal Award Program is open to any public park and recreation agency, state parks system and armed forces recreation programs (worldwide).
  • No membership with any organization is required to apply.
  • Finalist Award recipients may re-apply year to year; Grand Plaque Award recipients must wait 5 years to re-apply.

Application Fee:

  • No fee is paid to submit an application for a National Gold Medal Award.

Award Timeline:

The week of November 4, 2025: Applications Open
March 13, 2026: Applications Close
Week of April 27, 2026: Applicants Notified of Judging Status    
Friday May 29, 2026: Video Due Date for Agencies Chosen as a Finalist
Week of September 29-Oct 1, 2026: Presentation of Finalist & Grand Plaques/NRPA Conference, Philadelphia

Gold Medal Award Classes:

  • 5 Public Agency Categories Based on Population:
    • Class I: 400,001 and over
    • Class II: 150,001 to 400,000
    • Class III: 75,001 to 150,000
    • Class IV: 30,001 to 75,000
    • Class V: Less than 30,000
  • Armed Forces Recreation (worldwide)
  • US State Park Systems (odd-numbered years)

Application Requirements:

  1. Completion of the online application Public Agency and Armed Forces Recreation and State Parks
    1. For the 2026 application period, data for the years 2023, 2024, and 2025 should be used.
  2. 3-page Executive Summary PDF of the applicant’s most recent Comprehensive Plan and/or the applicant's Strategic Plan (Note, if the Executive Summaries are in excess of 3-pages, they must be shortened to meet the 3-page requirement.)
  3. Provide links to applicant’s website home page; recent program brochure; Executive Summary of Comprehensive Plan; and Strategic Plan.

NOTE: If the applicant is selected as a Finalist, a 5-minute social media type video must be submitted by May 29, 2026.

Important:

  • Keep a copy of your completed application for your records.
  • If your application is successfully submitted, you will receive a confirmation email.  If you do not receive a confirmation receipt within 24 hours after submitting your application, contact goldmedal@aapra.org.

Questions? Contact goldmedal@aapra.org  

Musco Lighting is the proud sponsor of the National Gold Medal Award Program