Arlington Named Finalist for 2016 National Gold Medal Awards in Parks and Recreation

By Parks And Recreation

Posted on May 18, 2016, May 18, 2016

The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association, recently announced Arlington Parks and Recreation as a finalist for the 2016 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, one class for armed forces recreation and one class for state park systems awarded on odd numbered years.

Arlington Parks and Recreation is a finalist in the Class II category (population 150,001 . 400,000). The department was also named a finalist for the prestigious honor in 2014.

Agencies are judged on their ability to address the needs of those they serve through the collective energies of citizens, staff and elected officials. Arlington Parks and Recreation joins three other finalists in their class that will compete for grand honors this year.

"I am proud of the entire parks and recreation staff, park board, numerous advisory and volunteer groups, city management and the City Council for their tremendous support for the provision of parks and recreation services in our city", said Lemuel Randolph, Director of Parks and Recreation. "The almost 400,000 citizens of Arlington directly benefit from the department's mission to provide quality facilities and services that are responsive to a diverse community and sustained with a focus on partnerships, innovation and environmental leadership. This NRPA Gold Medal Finalist designation is a true reflection of the critical alliance between City Council, department staff and our citizens."

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.

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 NRPA General Session at the 2016 NRPA Annual Conference in St. Louis, MO, Oct 5-8, 2016.

For more information on the Gold Medal Awards, visit www.nrpa.org/goldmedal or www.aapra.org.

The Arlington Parks and Recreation Department is dedicated to its mission of providing quality facilities and services that are responsive to a diverse community and sustained with a focus on partnerships, innovation and environmental leadership. The Parks and Recreation Department oversees a diverse range of programs, projects and services with one thing in common: people. We work with the community to create and operate beautiful, accessible public spaces and facilities for all to enjoy. We also produce programs and events that enrich the lives of community members . culturally, socially, and physically. For more information on our #NaturallyFun department, visit www.naturallyfun.org.