Welcome to the Digital Badge page for the National Gold Medal Award! The Gold Medal Awards for Excellence in Parks and Recreation are presented by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association. To verify this achievement, please click on the button below and search by name. If you have any questions regarding verification, please email customerservice@nrpa.org.
Verify This Achievement
The National Gold Medal Award honors communities throughout the United States that demonstrate excellence in long-range planning, resource management and innovative approaches to delivering superb park and recreation services with fiscally sound business practices.
The National Gold Medal Award Program includes seven classes: five classes based upon population, one class for armed forces recreation and one class for state park systems in odd numbered years. At the beginning of each calendar year, agencies are invited to submit applications for consideration, with a deadline of mid-March. Finalists are announced at the end of April, and the Grand Award recipients are announced at the NRPA Annual Conference in the fall.
Requirements
Applicants are required to apply electronically by the prescribed, posted deadline and Gold Medal Finalists are required to submit a short video after receiving their notification.
Term
Gold Medal Grand Award recipients must wait 5 years to re-apply for the award.
Resources
Learn more about the National Gold Medal Awards.
Learn more about the National Recreation and Park Association.
Learn more about the American Academy for Parks & Recreation Administration.
Learn more about the National Recreation and Park Association Digital Badges and how to receive recognition for your achievements.
