Cleveland Metroparks is proud to announce that it is one of four finalists for the prestigious 2015 National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management. This is a national award program recognizing excellence in leadership, facility development, programming and marketing by park and recreation professionals. The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA), in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), are sponsors of the award.
The Gold Medal Award honors park systems throughout the United States that demonstrate excellence in long-range planning, resource management, and agency recognition. Each agency is judged on its ability to address the needs of those it serves through the collective energies of citizens, staff, and elected officials.
Board of Commissioners President Dan Moore is honored that Cleveland Metroparks is a finalist. �This award is about management excellence. I believe Cleveland Metroparks manages the resources we are entrusted with at the highest level, as evidenced by this nomination. It is further validation that we lead with the needs of the community at the forefront of our vision.�
Brian Zimmerman, Cleveland Metroparks Chief Executive Officer is equally proud that the park system is a finalist for this prestigious award. Zimmerman commented �Cleveland Metroparks serves the community daily through conservation, recreation and education. Gold Medal caliber standards are embedded in our organization at every level. We are very proud to be nominated with three other outstanding park districts.�
Cleveland Metroparks is a finalist in Class I along with Kansas City Parks and Recreation, Mesa Parks Recreation and Commercial Facilities in Mesa, Arizona and The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. The award is judged in a two-tiered process, which includes a panel of five parks and recreation professionals chosen for their considerable experience and knowledge in parks and recreation on both local and national levels. Applications are separated into five classes based on population. A full list of finalists is available on the NRPA website: www.nrpa.org.
Cleveland Metroparks is a past recipient of the award, receiving the NRPA Gold Medal Award in 1994, 2001 and 2007. Park Districts must wait five years after winning the award to be eligible to re-apply for the Gold Medal Award.
The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people. Through its network of more than 47,000 recreation and park professionals and citizens, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable access to parks and public space. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org.
The 2015 NRPA Gold Medal Award winners will be announced at the NRPA Annual Conference on September 15, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
For more information, visit clevelandmetroparks.com or call 216-635-3200.
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This information is available on Cleveland Metroparks website: clevelandmetroparks.com.
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