James City County’s Parks and Recreation Department recently received the 2012 National Gold Medal Awards for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management – the county is the first in its size category in the state of Virginia to win the prestigious award since its inception in 1966.
The award is given each year by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA) in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). The groups select four finalists in five different classes to compete for the top honor each year. The awards recognize 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.
County Administrator Robert Middaugh told the Board of Supervisors at its meeting Tuesday, “I am very, very proud that [the department] won this award. It is very, very prestigious and it is a marvelous reflection of the quality of the program that is available to this community.” The award was presented at Tuesday’s Board meeting.
Parks and Recreation Director John Carnifax told the Board that it was through the collaboration and efforts of all county staff in all departments, the participation by county citizens and support from the Board of Supervisors that the county was able to win the award.
“Collaboration and excellence are two of the county’s core values, and I believe that this award reflects these values, as well as our mission,” Carnifax said.
“This award reflects our efforts to continue to strive to meet the high expectations of citizens… we serve.”
James City County has made the cut as a finalist in its division (for a population of 50,001 to 100,000) seven times since 1999, but this is the first time the county has won.
Carnifax noted that the county is the only locality in its size category to win the award in Virginia since the award first started in 1966, and that just seven localities in the whole state have ever received the award.
The county submitted the following video as part of its application material:
The 2012 Award Recipients:
- Class I (population over 250,000) Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation Department, Charlotte, NC
- Class II (population 100,001-250,000) Rockford Park District, IL
- Class III (population 50,001-100,000) James City County
- Class IV (population 25,001-50,000) Town of Castle Rock Parks and Recreation Department, CO
- Class V (population less than 25,000) Durango Parks and Recreation Department, Durango, CO
