2026 Finalists Announced for the National Gold Medal Award Program for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management

Ashburn, VA (May 1, 2026)

The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA), in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2026 National Gold Medal Awards for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management. Musco Lighting, LLC continues its more than 20 years as the program’s proud sponsor.

Established in 1965, the National Gold Medal Award program recognizes communities across the United States that demonstrate excellence in parks and recreation through long-range planning, resource management, volunteerism, environmental stewardship, program innovation, professional development and organizational excellence. Applications are separated into seven classes, with five classes based on population, one class for armed forces recreation and one class, awarded on odd numbered years, for state park systems.

Agencies are evaluated on their ability to meet community needs through the combined efforts of staff, community members, and elected officials. Finalists are selected across seven classes – five based on population, one representing armed forces recreation, and one for state park systems (awarded in odd-numbered years). Finalists advance to compete for the Grand Plaque honor.

In announcing the 2026 National Gold Medal Finalists, AAPRA Executive Director Jane H. Adams shared, “Each agency is to be commended for pursuing the prestigious National Gold Medal Award. The Academy proudly recognizes the 20 local park and recreation agencies and the four armed forces recreation programs on receiving a Finalist award. We look forward to presenting these awards at the National Gold Medal Gala Reception in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as part of the 2026 NRPA Annual Conference. 

The 2026 Gold Medal finalists are:

Class I (population 400,001 and over)

  • Baltimore City Recreation and Parks, Baltimore, MD
  • Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation, Tampa, FL
  • Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation, Lake Worth, FL
  • The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Riverdale, MD

Class II (population 150,001 – 400,000)

  • City of Henderson Parks and Recreation, Henderson, NV
  • Gilbert Parks and Recreation, Gilbert, AZ
  • Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Division of Parks and Recreation, Lexington, KY
  • Roseville Parks, Recreation & Libraries, Roseville, CA

Class III (population 75,001 – 150,000)

  • Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation, Carmel, IN
  • City of Allen Parks and Recreation, Allen, TX
  • Lee's Summit Parks and Recreation, Lee's Summit, MO
  • Mansfield Parks and Recreation, Mansfield, TX

Class IV (population 30,001 – 75,000)

  • City of Kettering Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts, Kettering, OH
  • City of Rockville Department of Recreation and Parks, Rockville, MD
  • Glenview Park District, Glenview, IL
  • Willamalane Park and Recreation District, Springfield, OR

Class V (population less than 30,000)

  • Glencoe Park District, Glencoe, IL
  • Itasca Park District, Itasca, IL
  • Los Alamos County Community Services Department, Los Alamos, NM
  • Valley City Parks and Recreation District, Valley City, ND

Armed Forces Recreation (Worldwide)

  • MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa, FL
  • USAG Fort Bragg, Fort Bragg, NC
  • USAG Fort Campbell, Fort Campbell, KY
  • USAG Fort Knox, Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare, and Recreation, Fort Knox, KY

A panel of five park and recreation distinguished professionals’ review and evaluate all applications. Judges are selected for their depth of experience and national perspective on excellence in the field. Finalists compete for Grand Plaque Award, with recipients announced at the 2026 NRPA Annual Conference in Philadelphia, PA, September 30th.

For information on the National Gold Medal Awards, visit AAPRA or NRPA.

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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 advocates, practitioners, and educators that 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 information, visit www.aapra.org.

The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is the leading not-for-profit organization dedicated to building strong, vibrant and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation. With more than 68,000 members, NRPA advances this mission by investing in and championing the work of park and recreation professionals and supporters — the catalysts for positive change in service of parks for all, climate-readiness, and overall health and well-being. For more information, visit nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit parksandrecreation.org.

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