And the Gold Medal goes to …

Parks & Recreation, June, 2004

Finalists for the 2004 Gold Medal Awards, sponsored by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration and NRPA, were announced in late April with four park districts being nominated in five different categories. Selection of the winners in each class will be based on service, diversity, development and future planning, degree of participant involvement and citizen support. Five judges will make the final decision, and winners will be announced at NRPA's National Congress in Reno, Nev., on Oct. 13. The finalists in each class are:

CLASS I (POPULATION 250,000 ]

Austin Parks and Recreation Department, Austin, Texas

Fort Worth Parks and Community Services Department, Ft. Worth, Texas

Lee County Department of Parks and Recreation, Fort Meyers, Fla.

Miami-Dade Park and Recreation Department, Miami, Fla.

CLASS II (100,000-250,000)

Lake Metroparks, Concord Twp., Ohio

Peoria Community Services Department, Peoria, Ariz.

Tallahassee Parks and Recreation Department, Tallahassee, Fla.

Tempe Community Services Dept, Parks and Recreation Division, Tempe, Ariz.

CLASS III (50,000-100,000)

Bend Metropolitan Park and Recreation District, Bend, Ore.

Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department, Bloomington, Ind.

Plymouth Parks and Recreation Department, Plymouth, Minn.

Schaumburg Park District, Schaumburg, Ill.

CLASS IV (25,000-50,000)

Englewood Parks and Recreation Department, Englewood, Co.

Glen Ellyn Park District, Glen Ellyn, Ill.

Grand Junction Parks and Recreation Department, Grand Junction, Colo.

James City County Division of Parks and Recreation, Williamsburg, Va.

CLASS V (LESS THAN 25,000)

Bloomingdale Park District, Bloomingdale, Ill.

Breckenridge Leisure Services Department, Breckenridge, Colo.

Evans Department of Parks and Recreation, Evans, Colo.

Lake Forest Parks and Recreation Department, Lake Forest, Ill.