Oak Brook Park District Wins National Gold Medal Award in Parks and Recreation
Oak Brook Park District awarded prestigious Grand Plaque during NRPA Annual Conference
Oak Brook, IL, Sept. 15, 2015 - Months of preparation and a commitment to the highest level of service in parks and recreation has paid off for the Oak Brook Park District. They have been awarded the 2015 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management. The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA), in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), awarded this honor to Oak Brook Park District live during the Opening Session of the NRPA Annual Conference on September 15 in Nevada.
"To be recognized by our peers on a national level indicates that we are accomplishing the right things in order to best meet the needs of our residents and that we are operating at the highest level of efficiency in the United States" said Park District Commissioner Tom Truedson, on receiving the award.
The Oak Brook Park District has won the Grand Plaque in the Class V category. The Oak Brook Park District was one of four finalists in the Class V Category, having a population of less than 30,000 residents. Agencies are judged on their ability to address the needs of those they serve through the collective energies of citizens, staff and elected officials.
Executive Director Laure Kosey said "This award is a culmination of the efforts of staff and the commitment of our residents to make the very best in park and recreational opportunities available to the greater Oak Brook community."
Founded in 1965, 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. Applications are separated into seven classes, with five classes based on population, one class for armed forces recreation communities and the State Park System Class awarded every other year.
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.
This year's proud sponsor of the Gold Medal Awards program is Musco Lighting LLC. For more information on the Gold Medal Awards, visit www.nrpa.org/awards or www.aapra.org.
Oak Brook Park District strives to provide the very best in park and recreational opportunities, facilities, and open lands for our community. For information on programming, parks, and facilities, visit www.obparks.org.
The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration is a non-profit organization founded to advance knowledge related to the administration of recreation and parks; to encourage scholarly efforts by both practitioners and educators that would enhance the practice of park and recreation administration; to promote broader public understanding of the importance of parks and recreation to the public good; and, to conduct research, publish scholarly papers and sponsor seminars related to the advancement of park and recreation administration. For more information, visit www.aapra.org.
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 50,000 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. For digital access to NRPA's flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.
Musco Lighting, LLC is a company that has specialized in lighting systems for sports and large areas for more than 30 years. Musco has pioneered dramatic improvements in energy efficiency and affordable ways to control wasted spill light and glare. Permanent and temporary lighting services range from neighborhood fields to NASCAR super speedways. For more information, visit www.musco.com.
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