About the Gold Medal Award

Administered by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), 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.

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.
 



2014 Gold Medal Award Recipient

On October 14, 2014, the Chicago Park District received the 2014 National Gold Medal Award. 

 



2021 Gold Medal Award Finalist

The Chicago Park District was a finalist for the 2021 National Recreation and Parks Association Gold Medal Award. Applications were separated into seven classes, and the Chicago Park District was a finalist for the Class I Category, having a population of 400,001 or more residents.

We are proud to share with our community the agency-wide collaboration put forth in developing the Chicago Park District application. Efforts overlapped different departments, and the application is an excellent way to see how our programs and initiatives align with our Strategic Plan.

Below you will find our application that highlights many of the exceptional things happening in your neighborhood parks. You will also find supporting documents and links to the NRPA Gold Medal website.