National Gold Medal Award

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The National Gold Medal Awards are governed and managed by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association, and proudly sponsored by Musco Lighting.

New!! Connect with the National Gold Medal Award Ambassadors

Discover what it takes to rise to the top. National Gold Medal Grand Plaque recipients are eager to share the strategies and insights that propelled them to parks and recreation highest honor. 

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Gold Medal Award Resources

Applications Open
November 4, 2025 - March 13, 2026

Informational Webinar 12/04/2025

  • Just the Facts
  • NRPA Park Metrics Platform
    Agency Performance Survey
    Questions related to the Park Metrics portion of the application, can be sent to Melissa May, National Recreation and Park Association, 703.858.4742, mmay@nrpa.org. 

History

Additional Resources

The AAPRA commits to promote, nourish, and embody an inclusive and equitable environment, strengthen our commitment to promote justice, equity, diversity and inclusion, combat systemic and structural racism, and promote a culture of equality for all, through our knowledge advancement, research, education, and scholarly efforts. 

2025 Finalist and Grand Plaque Announcement Video

National Gold Medal Award Program

The 2026 National Gold Medal Award Program applications open November 4, 2025 through March 13, 2026, 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time.

The National Gold Medal Award honors public park and recreation agencies and state park systems throughout the United States and armed forces recreation programs worldwide that demonstrate excellence in long-range planning, resource management and innovative approaches to delivering superb park and recreation services with fiscally sound business practices.

"United States Army Garrison-Fort Carson (Colorado) receiving the National Gold Medal Grand Plaque is a true testament to the dedication and passion the entire Directorate of Family and MWR team provides for our community. The contributions the team provides for our front range community are immeasurable and expound on the unwavering support for our Army Soldiers and their families.

Winning the National Gold Medal Grand Plaque equates to our vision statement, an elevated experience where passion meets purpose. Our team are authors, and this is just one chapter in our amazing novel, and we are looking forward to the future story”. Ryan J. Noble, Director Fort Carson DFMWR

The National Gold Medal Award Program is governed and administered by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA) in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). The National Gold Medal Award Program is sponsored by Musco Lighting, LLC.

Each completed application is independently judged by a panel of five (5) park and recreation professionals selected by AAPRA based upon their management experience, size and type of agency, geographic location, and diversity. From the pool of applications, the judges select four (4) agencies in each population category, armed forces, and state parks as a Finalist.

The four (4) Finalists in each category are announced at the end of April. The Finalist and Grand Plaque Awards will be presented at the NRPA Annual Park & Recreation Conference.

Disqualification and Revocation

AAPRA reserves the right to disqualify a National Gold Medal Award application if in AAPRA’s sole discretion it determines that the application does not contain truthful information, is contrary to the standards or policies of AAPRA, or violates applicable laws, or if the agency has acted contrary to the standards or policies of AAPRA, or violated applicable law or could reflect negatively on AAPRA, the National Gold Medal Program, its partner NRPA and the national sponsor, Musco Lighting, LLC.

AAPRA reserves the right to revoke any Finalist or Grand Plaque Gold Medal award if in AAPRA’s sole discretion, it determines that the agency acted contrary to the standards or policies of AAPRA or acted in violation of applicable laws or could reflect negatively on AAPRA.

If you have questions about this award or the application process, please direct them to goldmedal@aapra.org.

The National Gold Medal Award Program is Proudly Sponsored by Musco Lighting.

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