ALLEN, TX, May 27, 2014 – The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA), in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), has announced that the City of Allen’s Parks and Recreation Department is a finalist for the second year consecutive year for the National Gold Medal Award 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. It is the most prestigious honor in the park and recreation industry.
Allen Parks and Recreation is a finalist again in the Class III category (population 75,001 to 150,000) where they join three others: Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation (Indiana), Roswell Recreation, Parks, Historic and Cultural Affairs Department (Georgia) and St. George Leisure Services Department (Utah). A panel of five park and recreation professionals will judge the merits of each based on their ability to address the needs of those they serve through the collective energies of citizens, staff and elected officials. Allen Parks and Recreation will learn whether they have earned the top honor at the NRPA Congress in Charlotte, NC, Oct. 14-16.
For more information on the Gold Medal Awards, visit nrpa.org/goldmedal or aapra.org. To learn more about Allen Parks and Recreation, visit AllenParks.org.