-Agency is vying for its sixth medal –the most of any agency in the history of the Gold Medal Awards-
SILVER SPRING, MD—The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) has been named as a finalist for the prestigious 2013 National Gold Medal Award for excellence in Parks and Recreation management. The Gold Medal is one of the highest professional recognition awards available to parks and recreation agencies throughout the country and involves a stringent qualification and judging process. The Gold Medal Award is presented annually by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA) in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA).
M-NCPPC has a long history of Gold Medal successes, bringing home the prize in 1973, 1977, 1984 and 2003. In addition, M-NCPPC won a fifth Gold Medal in 1983 for leadership in special recreation and outstanding community achievement in serving people with disabilities. A win this year would be the agency’s sixth Gold Medal. No other agency in the country has won six.
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 and professional development, and agency recognition. Gold Medal Award winners are selected from finalists in five population classes. Finalists will compete for Grand Plaque honors this summer, and Grand Plaque recipients will be announced during NRPA’s Annual Congress & Exposition in October. Besides M-NCPPC, 2013 Class I (communities with 250,000+ population) finalists include the Parks and Recreation Departments for Henderson, Nevada; Long Beach, California; and Plano, Texas.
“The selection of the Commission for this honor is truly a testament to the high standards of excellence we strive for in preserving and maintaining park land and providing top-notch recreation programs, facilities, and services for the citizens of Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties,” said M-NCPPC Chairman Elizabeth M. Hewlett. “It is truly an exceptional achievement to be recognized throughout the United States as tops in our field.”
“This prestigious national recognition also reflects the true dedication of our talented, skilled and creative staff, as well as thousands of selfless community volunteers who support our outstanding programs and facilities,” added Montgomery Department of Parks Director Mary Bradford.
Established in 1927 by State law to acquire, develop and maintain park land and open space, and to plan for the orderly development of Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties, M-NCPPC has grown and evolved to keep pace with the growth and diversity of the bi-county area it serves. Under direction of its Montgomery County Department of Parks and Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation, the Commission today maintains more than 57,000 acres of parkland and open space, operates more than 200 recreational facilities, and attracts more than 25 million visitors each year.
For more information on M-NCPPC programs and services, log on to www.mncppc.org, For more information on the Gold Medal Awards, visit www.nrpa.org/awards or www.aapra.org.