The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA), in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), recently announced the Centerville-Washington Park District as a finalist for the 2018 National Gold Medal Awards for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management.
Founded in 1965, the Gold Medal Awards program honors communities in the U.S. that demonstrate excellence in parks and recreation through long-range planning, resource management, volunteerism, environmental stewardship, program development, professional development and agency recognition. Applications are separated into seven classes, with five classes based on population. The Centerville-Washington Park District is a finalist in the Class IV (population 30,001-75,000) category.
Agencies are judged on their ability to address the needs of those they serve through the collective energies of community members and staff. The Centerville-Washington Park District joins three other finalists in their class that will compete for grand honors this year.
Dan Monahan, Park Board President, praised the community, the volunteers, staff and partners. “We enjoy a terrific park system and hundreds of activities because so many residents are involved. We couldn’t get this national recognition if it weren’t for the contributions of so many people and organizations in our community.”
A panel of five park and recreation professionals reviews and judges all application materials. Judges are chosen for their considerable experience and knowledge in parks and recreation on both the local and national levels.
Park District Director Arnie Biondo said, “This recognition is an affirmation of the Park Board’s willingness to ask and listen. The dozens of park improvements and new programs all stem from resident feedback. Being a Gold Medal finalist affirms the importance of engaging residents in their park services.”
This year’s finalists will compete for Grand Plaque Award honors this summer, and the six Grand Plaque recipients will be announced live during the General Session at the 2018 NRPA Annual Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana, Sept. 25–27, 2018.
For more information on the Gold Medal Awards, visit www.nrpa.org/goldmedal or www.aapra.org.
Watch the CWPD Gold Medal Video >