Rockville is among 27 agencies nationwide selected as finalists for the 2025 National Gold Medal Awards for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management.
Rockville is one of four finalists in class IV, which includes communities with populations between 30,001 and 75,000. Other finalists in the class include Bristol, Connecticut; Glenview, Illinois; and Oak Park, Illinois.
The awards, presented by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association, recognize communities that demonstrate outstanding achievement in long-range planning, resource management, environmental stewardship, program and professional development, and community engagement.
Finalists were selected by a panel of park and recreation professionals based on their ability to meet community needs through collaboration among residents, staff and elected leaders. Rockville’s inclusion reflects its commitment to high-quality programs, facilities and services that promote health, wellness and inclusion.
Rockville’s recreation and parks mission reaches all 67,000 Rockville residents, and thousands more in the region, through 67 parks, three community centers, a regional swim and fitness center, senior and nature centers, four historic properties, a performing arts theater and more than 3,000 programs offered annually.
Winners in each class will be announced Wednesday, Sept. 17 at the National Recreation and Park Association’s annual conference in Orlando, Florida. The Gold Medal Awards program, established in 1965, honors public park agencies and state park systems across the United States.
For more information about the awards, visit www.aapra.org or www.nrpa.org. Visit www.rockvillemd.gov/recreation to learn more about the Department of Recreation and Parks.