St. Charles Park District Receives National Recognition for Excellence

The St. Charles Park District is honored to be recognized as one of four finalists for the 2012 National Recreation and Park Association’s Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management, which recognizes park and recreational agencies throughout the country for excellence in long-range planning, resource management, citizen support systems, environmental stewardship, program development, professional development and agency recognition. 

The District was a finalist in the population category of 25,001 to 50,000 residents. Other finalists included the Town of Castle Rock Parks and Recreation Department in Colorado, the Town of Leesburg Parks and Recreation Department in Virginia, and West Bend Parks, Recreation and Forestry in Wisconsin.

Ray Ochromowicz, Park District Director, stated, “The Park District is honored to be a Gold Medal Award finalist and to be viewed nationally as a leader in the park and recreation field. Our agency won the award in 1998 and we have been a seven-time finalist over the years. Receiving this national recognition and acclaim is a tribute to the Board of Park Commissioners, the entire staff and the residents of our community. This continual recognition as a finalist is a testimony to the hard work and dedication of many.

This honor is presented by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA) in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and Musco Lighting LLC. Agencies are judged on their ability to address the needs of those they serve through the collective energies of citizens, staff and elected officials. Four finalists in each class are chosen to compete for grand honors each 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 finalists will compete for Grand Plaque Award honors this summer, and the six Grand Plaque recipients will be announced live during NRPA’s Annual Congress & Exposition in Anaheim, California, on Oct. 16-18, 2012.

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 five classes based on population. This year, the Gold Medal Award is expanding to include a new category for armed forces recreation communities. This category will recognize the contributions of military recreation providers and the work they do among service members, their families, retirees, reservists, civilian employees and local communities.