Gwinnett Parks and Recreation has joined the ranks of elite park and recreation agencies and state park systems as a finalist for the 2023 National Gold Medal Awards for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management.

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. Agencies are evaluated based on their ability to meet the needs of their communities through the collaborative efforts of community members, staff, and elected officials. Four finalists in each class are chosen to compete for grand honors each year.

In addition to Gwinnett, the 2023 Gold Medal finalists for Class I (population 400,001 and over) included Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation in Tampa, Florida; the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission in Greenbelt, Maryland; and Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Gwinnett Parks and Recreation previously won the Gold Medal Award in 2008 and was a finalist in 1999, 2006, and 2014.

The National Gold Medal Award Program is governed by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association. For more on the National Gold Medal Awards, visit AAPRA.org or NRPA.org.