Gwinnett parks agency picked as nation’s best

The third time was the charm.

Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation was recognized this week as the number one park agency in the nation by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA). The agency was presented the Grand Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management.

“This award validates what we already knew,” said Lois Allen, Gwinnett County Recreation Authority chairwoman. “The winners are Gwinnettians whose lives are enriched because they have spent time in Gwinnett County’s parks.”

This is the third time in 10 years GCPR has made it to the finals for the award.

The finalists this year included park services for Fort Worth; the Parish of East Baton Rouge, La.; and Las Vegas. Finalists had to submit master/strategic plans and 11-minute videos featuring their agency and achievements.

The most prestigious award of its kind, the gold medal honors park systems and communities that demonstrate excellence in citizen involvement and support systems, long-range planning, fiscal resource management and environmental stewardship.

Gwinnett County manages 8,888.5 acres of parkland, more than any other county in the metro area.

“This is definitely a milestone for Gwinnett County and really goes to show how much citizen involvement and support of parks and recreation in the County can do,” said Tammy Gibson, Resources and Marketing Coordinator for GCPR. “We have always known this locally, and it is great now to be acknowledged on a national level.