Recent Gold Medal Recipients

        

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


 

2020 Gold Medal Grand Plaque Award Recipients

Class I (population 400,001 and over)
Metroparks Toledo — Toledo, Ohio

Class II (population 150,001 to 400,000)
Greensboro Parks and Recreation — Greensboro, North Carolina

Class III (population 75,001 to 150,000)
Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation — Carmel, Indiana

Class IV (population 30,001 to 75,000)
Decatur Park District — Decatur, Illinois

Class V (population less than 30,000)   
Green River Parks and Recreation — Green River, Wyoming

Armed Forces Recreation
U.S. Army Garrison Fort Riley — Fort Riley, Kansas

2020 Gold Medal Award Finalists

Class I (population 400,001 and over)

  • Dallas Park and Recreation — Dallas, Texas
  • East Baton Rouge Recreation & Park Commission — Baton Rouge, Louisiana
  • Metroparks Toledo — Toledo, Ohio
  • Mesa Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities — Mesa, Arizona

Class II (population 150,001 to 400,000)

  • Greensboro Parks and Recreation — Greensboro, North Carolina
  • City of Tampa Parks and Recreation Department — Tampa, Florida
  • City of Henderson Parks and Recreation — Henderson, Nevada
  • Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department — Des Moines, Iowa

Class III (population 75,001 to 150,000)

  • Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation — Carmel, Indiana
  • City of New Braunfels Parks and Recreation Department — New Braunfels, Texas
  • Thornton Parks, Recreation & Community Programs — Thornton, Colorado
  • Arlington Heights Park District — Arlington Heights, Illinois

Class IV (population 30,001 to 75,000)

  • Decatur Park District — Decatur, Illinois
  • Coppell Parks and Recreation — Coppell, Texas
  • Centerville-Washington Park District — Centerville, Ohio
  • Evanston Parks, Recreation and Community Services — Evanston, Illinois

Class V (population less than 30,000)    

  • Green River Parks and Recreation — Green River, Wyoming
  • East Goshen Township Parks and Recreation — West Chester, Pennsylvania
  • Vernon Hills Park District — Vernon Hills, Illinois
  • Valley City Parks and Recreation — Valley City, North Dakota

Armed Forces Recreation

  • U.S. Army Garrison Fort Riley — Fort Riley, Kansas
  • U.S. Army Garrison RP Kaiserslautern — Kaiserslautern, Germany
  • U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria — Grafenwoehr, Germany
  • U.S. Army Garrison Fort Knox — Fort Knox, Kentucky

2019 Gold Medal Grand Plaque Award Recipients

Class I (population 400,001 and over)
Fairfax County Park Authority – Fairfax, Virginia

Class II (population 150,001 – 400,000)
Metro Parks Tacoma – Tacoma, Washington

Class III (population 75,001 – 150,000)
The Woodlands Township – Texas

Class IV (population 30,001 – 75,000)
City of Westerville – Westerville, Ohio

Class V (population less than 30,000)
Glencoe Park District – Glencoe, Illinois

State Parks
Department of Environmental Protection – Florida State Parks

Armed Forces Recreation Award
Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler – Okinawa, Japan

2019 Gold Medal Award Finalists

Class I (population 400,001 and over)

  • Chicago Park District – Chicago, Illinois
  • East Baton Rouge Recreation & Park Commission (BREC) – Baton Rouge, Louisiana
  • Fairfax County Park Authority – Fairfax, Virginia
  • Mesa Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities – Mesa, Arizona

Class II (population 150,001 – 400,000)

  • City of Norfolk Recreation, Parks & Open Space – Norfolk, Virginia
  • City of Tampa Parks and Recreation Department – Tampa, Florida
  • Greensboro Parks and Recreation – Greensboro, North Carolina
  • Metro Parks Tacoma – Tacoma, Washington

Class III (population 75,001 – 150,000)

  • City of Greeley Culture, Parks and Recreation – Greeley, Colorado
  • City of Thornton Community Services – Thornton, Colorado
  • The Woodlands Township – Texas
  • Waukegan Park District – Waukegan, Illinois

Class IV (population 30,001 – 75,000)

  • City of Westerville – Westerville, Ohio
  • Coppell Parks and Recreation – Coppell, Texas
  • Glenview Park District – Glenview, Illinois
  • Lombard Park District – Lombard, Illinois

Class V (population less than 30,000)

  • East Goshen Township Parks and Recreation – West Chester, Pennsylvania
  • Glencoe Park District – Glencoe, Illinois
  • Rolling Meadows Park District – Rolling Meadows, Illinois
  • Vernon Hills Park District – Vernon Hills, Illinois

State Parks

  • Department of Environmental Protection – Florida State Parks
  • Maryland Park Service
  • Department of Environment and Conservation – Tennessee State Parks
  • Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission

Armed Forces Recreation Award

  • Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler – Okinawa, Japan
  • Naval Air Station Whiting Field – Milton, Florida
  • United States Army Garrison Bavaria – Grafenwoehr, Germany
  • USAG Rheinland-Pfalz – Kaiserslautern, Germany

2018 Gold Medal Grand Plaque Award Recipients

Class I (population 400,001 and over)
Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation — Lake Worth, Florida

Class II (population 150,001 – 400,000)
City of Arlington Parks and Recreation — Arlington, Texas

Class III (population 75,001 – 150,000)
Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department — Bloomington, Indiana

Class IV (population 30,001 – 75,000)
Town of Castle Rock Parks and Recreation — Castle Rock, Colorado

Class V (population less than 30,000)
Homewood-Flossmoor Park District — Flossmoor, Illinois

Armed Forces Recreation Award
Naval Air Station Pensacola — Pensacola, Florida