It’s one of the great pleasures at NRPA’s annual conference to recognize agencies and individuals who stand out as truly excellent in our field. The anticipation and excitement leading up to the various awards ceremonies is palpable, and the joy in the faces of the winners is undeniable. Receptions at this year’s conference were no exception, as hundreds of attendees packed the Westin Charlotte’s grand ballroom to applaud their colleagues whose talent, expertise and innovative spirits secured the following well-deserved awards. 

Gold Medal Awards

Highly coveted and respected throughout the industry, the Gold Medal Award represents the peak national achievement in parks and recreation, recognizing excellence in planning, resource management and innovation. The 2014 Gold Medal Award Grand Plaque recipients include: 

Class I (population 250,000 and over): Chicago Park District, Chicago, Illinois

Class II (population 100,001-250,000): City of Henderson Public Works, Parks and Recreation Department, Henderson, Nevada

Class III (population 50,001-100,000): Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation, Carmel, Indiana

Class IV (population 25,001-50,000): City of Kettering Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department, Kettering, Ohio

Class V (population less than 25,000): City of Lafayette, Colorado

Armed Forces Recreation: Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR), Naval Submarine Base, Kings Bay, Georgia

National Awards

At the Best of the Best ceremony held October 15, NRPA recognized 10 outstanding members and agencies: Dr. Tony Zeiss of Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, North Carolina; Tyler Nicholas Tapps of Northwest Missouri State University; Geoffrey Godbey of Pennsylvania State University; Jerry J. Vaske of Colorado State University; Fairfax County Park Authority of Fairfax, Virginia; DeSoto Parks and Recreation of DeSoto, Texas; Highland Recreation of Largo, Florida; Three Rivers Park District of Plymouth, Minnesota; and the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks of Los Angeles, California. Awards specifically targeted excellence in citizen advocacy, youth leadership, programming, facility and park design, marketing, environmental stewardship, partnerships and research.

Scholarships and Fellowships

NRPA offers one fellowship and two scholarship programs annually, and the 2014 recipients began their programs while still at this year’s conference. They include: Diversity Scholarship winners Tori Spaugh of Raleigh, North Carolina, and James Worsley of Columbus, Georgia; Student Scholarship winners Rebecca Lackey of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Kendrick Mayes of Garner, North Carolina; and Young Professional Fellows Brandon Barrow of Las Vegas, Nevada, Gabe Huffington of Columbia, Missouri, Errin Koon of Parker, Colorado, and Kayode Lewis of Medfield, Massachusetts.

Robert W. Crawford Hall of Fame

Individuals inducted into this hallowed hall have demonstrated their lifelong commitment to the advancement of parks and recreation in America, and serve as examples to future generations. This year, NRPA was honored to welcome Thomas Hines.

Pugsley Awards

The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration was also pleased to grant three Honorable Cornelius Amory Pugsley Medals, recognizing outstanding contributions to the promotion and development of public parks in the United States. This year’s winners were Eric O’Brien of Medfield, Massachusetts; James Peterson of Bloomington, Indiana; and Kathryn Porter of Mendham Township, New Jersey.

Samantha Bartram is the Associate Editor of Parks & Recreation Magazine.