County Parks & Recreation Department Honored As One Of The Top Agencies In The Nation

JUPITER, FL – November 27, 2017 – The Palm Beach County Parks & Recreation Department accepted the National Gold Medal Finalist Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management for agencies serving a population over 400,000 during the National Park and Recreation Association’s (NRPA) Annual Conference in New Orleans.

“I’m very proud of this significant accomplishment”, said Eric Call, Director, Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department. “To be a Finalist for the National Gold Medal Award is a reflection of the great work we do as a team and our dedication to the citizens of Palm Beach County.”

Founded in 1965, the Gold Medal Awards honor communities in the U.S. which demonstrate excellence in parks and recreation through long-range planning, resource management, volunteerism, environmental stewardship, program development, professional development, and agency recognition. 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.

The National Gold Medal Awards for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management are presented by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, in partnership with the NRPA. The award’s Class I, which is for agencies serving a population over 400,000, is thelargest of the five population-based categories. Palm Beach County was previously a finalist in 1978, 1979, 1980 and 1981. The departmentpreviously won the Gold Medal Award in 1982. In 1993 and 1994, the department won the award for the Special Populations category.

For the Gold Medal Awards, agencies are selected on their ability to address the needs of those they serve through the collective energies of citizens, staff, and elected officials. While Johnson County Park & Recreation District in Shawnee Mission, Kansas received top honors, Palm Beach County respectably shares the designation as 2017 finalists for Class I with: BREC, Baton Rouge, La. and Minneapolis Park and RecreationBoard, Minneapolis, Minn.

A panel of five park and recreation professionals reviewed and judged the application materials, including five-minute videos from each ofthe finalist organizations. Judges are chosen for their considerable experience and knowledge in parks and recreation on both the local and national levels.

The Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department operates more than 110 parks and recreational facilities and manages more than 8,000 acres of parkland. The department’s mission is to make the quality of life for Palm Beach County residents and visitors better by providing diverse, safe and affordable recreation services, welcoming parks, and enriching social and cultural experiences. We achieve this by promoting wellness, fostering environmental stewardship, contributing economic value, and by improving our community every day for this and future generations.