Hoffman Estates Park District receives prestigious National Gold Medal Award

The Hoffman Estates Park District has received the most prestigious national award within the parks and recreation industry - becoming the Grand Plaque recipient of the National Gold Medal Award among agencies serving a population between 35,001 and 75,000.

The management excellence award was presented by the American Academy of Parks and Recreation Administration at this month's National Recreation and Parks Association conference in Dallas.

The park district previously won the award in 2009.

"We are honored in being recognized with the Gold Medal Award; it truly exemplifies all the hard work of our commissioners, volunteers and terrific staff in providing first class parks, facilities and recreational programming for our residents," Executive Director Craig Talsma said in a statement. "We will continue to strive in offering the very best we can for our community."

The Hoffman Estates Park District also received its third accreditation from the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies. Only nine Illinois park districts have received this accreditation, which Hoffman Estates has continuously maintained for the past decade.

Officials say the park district has received more state and national accreditations, along with its Gold Medal recognitions, than any other park district in Illinois.

"We are thrilled for our community, and everyone involved with our great park district," park board President Raj Chhatwani said in a statement. "This Gold Medal Award is the absolute best a park district can achieve."