GWINNETT COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION ANNOUNCED AS 2014 NATIONAL GOLD MEDAL AWARDS IN PARKS AND RECREATION FINALIST

Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation to compete for prestigious honor in the park and recreation industry

The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association, is pleased to announce Gwinnett  County Parks and Recreation as a finalists for the 2014 National Gold Medal Awards for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management.  This year’s proud sponsor of the Gold Medal Awards program is Musco Lighting LLC.

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 communities and the State Park System Class awarded on odd numbered years.

Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation, which last won the National Gold Medal Award in 2008, is a finalist in the Class I (population 400,001 and over) category. Gwinnett’s park system operates 46 parks and facilities and provides quality recreation and leisure opportunities that serve all ages, interests and levels of physical ability. Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation offers a wide variety of classes, camps, programs, and sports leagues to satisfy nearly every one of Gwinnett’s 859,000 residents.

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

“We’ve always known that our park system is top-notch, so it is satisfying to receive affirmation that Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation is considered one of the best in the country,” said Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners Chairman Charlotte Nash. “We have a little something for everyone in our system.”

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 2014 NRPA Congress in Charlotte, North Carolina, Oct. 14-16.

Nash said, “I am proud of the staff and volunteers who work so hard to offer great services to receive this well-deserved recognition and am anxious to learn the final results of the awards competition this fall.”

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

 

Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation provides high quality, broad-based parks, facilities, programs and services to create a sense of community, enable a safe and secure environment and enhance Gwinnett’s quality of life.

The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration is a non-profit organization founded to advance knowledge related to the administration of recreation and parks; to encourage scholarly efforts by both practitioners and educators that would enhance the practice of park and recreation administration; to promote broader public understanding of the importance of parks and recreation to the public good; and, to conduct research, publish scholarly papers and sponsor seminars related to the advancement of park and recreation administration.  For more information, visit www.aapra.org.

The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people. Through its network of 40,000 recreation and park professionals and citizens, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable access to parks and public space. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.

Musco Lighting, LLC is a company that has specialized in lighting systems for sports and large areas for more than 30 years.  Musco has pioneered dramatic improvements in energy efficiency and affordable ways to control wasted spill light and glare.   Permanent and temporary lighting services range from neighborhood fields to NASCAR super speedways.  For more information, visit www.musco.com.

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