The Windsor Parks, Recreation & Culture Department has been named a finalist for the prestigious 2017 National Gold Medal Awards for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management.
“Being recognized as a national finalist is very exciting and humbling,” said Eric Lucas, Parks, Recreation & Culture director. “This recognition validates the hard work of our department and town in providing residents and visitors of Windsor access to one of the best parks and recreation systems.”
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.
The awards program is provided by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA), in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA).
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.
Windsor joins three other finalists in the Class V category — population of less than 30,000 — that will compete for grand honors this year.
Agencies are judged on their ability to address the needs of those they serve through the collective energies of citizens, staff and elected officials.
“To reach Gold Medal finalist status was a team effort, not only for our staff and board members, past and present, but also the community,” Lucas said. “This award exemplifies our continued commitment to providing our community diverse, desirable recreation and cultural opportunities.”
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 seven Grand Plaque recipients will be announced live during the NRPA General Session at the 2017 NRPA Annual Conference in New Orleans, Sept. 26-28, 2017.
For more information on the Gold Medal Awards, visit the NRPA or AAPRA websites.