The National Recreation and Park Association’s awards program consists of the National Gold Medal Award (presented by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration in partnership with NRPA), and the NRPA Awards which include the Innovation Awards, Spotlight Awards, Scholarships and Fellowships, and the Robert W. Crawford Hall of Fame.

NRPA Awards recipients are selected by the NRPA Awards and Scholarship Committee, except for the NRPA Best in Innovation Award where the winner is determined by public vote. Each award has specific eligibility criteria. All applicants must be current NRPA members.

Applications for the 2020 awards will open on January 6, 2020.

Robert M. Artz Advocacy Award 
Chris Riley, park board commissioner, Decatur Park District, Decatur, IL

Robert W. Crawford Young Professional Award
Gerry Logan, executive director, Starkville Parks & Recreation, Starkville, MS

RWJF-NRPA Award for Health Equity 
Tina Fleming, community services director, and Lindsay Jorstad, outreach manager, Gwinnett County Government, Lawrenceville, GA

National Distinguished Professional Award 
Dirk Richwine, CPRE, Parker, CO 

Innovation Awards

Innovation in Health Award
City of Port St. Lucie Parks and Recreation, Port St. Lucie, FL

Innovation in Conservation Award 
Metroparks Toledo for Howard Marsh Metropark, Toledo, OH

Innovation in Social Equity Award
City of Santa Clarita, Santa Clarita, CA

Innovation in Park Design Award 
Three Rivers Park District, Plymouth, MN

NRPA Best in Innovation Award 
City of Port St. Lucie Parks and Recreation, Port St. Lucie, FL
 

 

2019 Best of the Best Awards Ceremony Video

You can turn on sound via the video player controls.

 

The NRPA Awards are presented at the annual Best of the Best ceremony during the NRPA Annual Conference.