The quest for gold begins in January, now that entry applications for the prestigious National Gold Medal Awards are available for 2013. If you believe your agency deserves recognition for excellence, apply now—all application materials are due March 31. Visit www.nrpa.org/awards for application information.

The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA), in partnership with NRPA and sponsor Musco Lighting, administers the Gold Medal Awards program that recognizes outstanding park and recreation management.

Due to excellent comments and agency feedback, a study was undertaken at the direction of the AAPRA Board in 2012 to review the Gold Medal Awards process. An in-depth study was conducted to evaluate the process and develop recommendations for continued improvements. That completed, the AAPRA Board approved an enhanced application and process, which will no doubt make the experience more meaningful to all types and sizes of agencies that participate in the Gold Medal Awards program.

Founded in 1965, the Gold Medal Awards program honors communities throughout the U.S. that demonstrate excellence in parks and recreation through long-range planning, resource management, and agency recognition. Agencies are also evaluated on their ability to address the needs of those they serve through the collective energies of citizens, staff, and elected officials, demonstrating community leadership.

Gold Medals are awarded annually in five classes that are structured by population. In 2012, an additional class was introduced to the program to honor armed forces recreation. Every odd year, an additional category is added for state park and recreation agencies.

The inaugural year for the Armed Forces Recreation Gold Medal Award was very successful and generated numerous applications. The judges were pleased with the depth and scope of the military programs. Retired Army General Tommy Franks attended the Gold Medal Reception for finalists and presented the Gold Medal Grand Award during the NRPA Congress Opening General Session to the first recipient—the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) Department, Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois. Visit www.nrpa.org/awards for all of the 2012 recipients.

Moving Forward

The 2013 Gold Medal Awards program will include seven classes. Each class will have four finalists determined in April, each of which will be presented with a finalist plaque during the Gold Medal Reception at the annual NRPA Congress and Exposition in October. From these four finalists, the Grand Award is selected for each class. The Grand Award recipients will not be announced until the 2013 Congress and Exposition Opening General Session in Houston, Texas. The awards program is open to all municipal/local community park and recreation districts in the United States, all armed forces recreation programs, and all 50 state park systems (in odd-numbered years).

How It Works

Each applicant is responsible for preparing an application with the deadline date of March 31. Entry material must be based on activities included in the agency’s past year’s program. Long-range planning programs will be judged on the basis of whether work is progressing according to the overall schedule. The organization’s staff must be active in all projects submitted.

Applications are judged by a panel of five judges. Four judges serve a term of four years, staggered to insure continuity, and a guest judge serves a one-year term that may progress to a four-year term. Selection criteria for judges are designed to be as comprehensive as possible. Considerations include geographic location, experience as a previous Gold Medal winner, population class, previous experience with a state or national organization, educational background, professional experience, and of course, availability to put in the necessary time.

Program administrators look forward to growing the Gold Medal program. For information on the Gold Medal Awards program, visit www.nrpa.org/awards or email awards@nrpa.org. The website includes application information, helpful hints for applying, and a list of previous winners.