VALLEY CITY, N.D. (VCPR) – Valley City Parks and Recreation District has been announced as one of the finalists for the prestigious 2024 National Gold Medal Award. Presented by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA) in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), this recognition honors communities across the United States that demonstrate exceptional commitment and innovation in parks and recreation.
Founded in 1965, the Gold Medal Awards program honors communities in the United States 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 and one class, awarded on odd numbered years, for state park systems. Agencies are judged on their ability to address the needs of those they serve through the collective energies of community members, staff, and elected officials. Four finalists in each class are chosen to compete for grand honors each year.
Valley City Parks and Recreation has been recognized in the Class V category, which encompasses communities with populations of less than 30,000. This nomination highlights Valley City’s achievements in providing quality parks and recreation services to its residents, setting a standard of excellence for small communities nationwide.
“We are excited to be recognized as a finalist for the Gold Medal Award,” said Tyler Jacobson, Executive Director of Valley City Parks and Recreation District. “We were a finalist for the Gold Medal in 2020, and we’ve only continued to grow and expand our offerings since then. With capital projects like two new sand volleyball courts, the completion of the $1.3 million tennis courts, a handful of other projects, new programs and leagues, social activities like our card club, and larger scale events like RiverFest and Parktober Festival, it’s rewarding to see the efforts of our staff, community, and partners being acknowledged on a national level.”
Winners of the National Gold Medal Award will be announced in October following a second round of judging through AAPRA and NRPA.