Bismarck Parks and Recreation District Named Gold Medal Finalist

The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA), in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), is pleased to announce Bismarck Parks and Recreation District (BPRD) as a finalist for the 2017 National Gold Medal Awards for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management. Musco Lighting LLC has been a proud sponsor of the Gold Medal Awards program for more than 10 years.

For the second year in a row, BPRD is one of four finalists for this prestigious award.

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 and one class for state park systems awarded on odd numbered years.

BPRD is a finalist in the Class IV (population 30,001 – 75,000) category and will compete for grand honors this year with three other agencies; City of Alpharetta Recreation and Parks, Alpharetta, Ga., Lombard Park District, Lombard, Ill. and City of Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation, Wheat Ridge, Colo. BPRD is a past recipient of the award, receiving the NRPA Gold Medal Award in 1993, and being a finalist in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1999 and 2016.

“This is our profession’s highest honor, but this is a community award. It’s a testament to the support BPRD receives from the community, the Board of Park Commissioners, our staff and the many, many partner organizations we work with every day. Our district stands out because of all the diverse offerings, properties, facilities, parks and programs. We’re so honored to be a finalist for this award,” said BPRD Executive Director Randy Bina.

BPRD Board of Park Commissioners President Wayne Munson said, “This award is about excellence and being responsive to a community’s needs. Bismarck has beautiful parks. Our recreation programs and facilities draw our community together in fun and exciting ways. These are hallmarks of an award-winning park system and why Bismarck continues to be recognized as one of the best.”

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 finalists will compete for Grand Plaque Award honors this summer, and the seven Grand Plaque recipients will be announced live during the NRPA General Session at the 2017 NRPA Annual Conference in New Orleans, Sept. 26-28, 2017.

For more information on the Gold Medal Awards, visit www.nrpa.org/goldmedal or www.aapra.org.

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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 ensuring that all Americans have access to parks and recreation for health, conservation and social equity. Through its network of nearly 60,000 recreation and park professionals and advocates, 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.