The Woodlands Township Gold Medal Finalist

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- The Woodlands Township Parks and Recreation Department has been honored as a finalist in one of the most prestigious awards competitions for parks and recreation professionals in the United States. The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) has named The Woodlands Township Parks and Recreation Department as one of only four finalists nationwide for the Gold Medal Award in the Class III category, representing cities with populations between 75,001 – 150,000. The recipient of the prestigious Grand Plaque will be announced at the 2025 NRPA Annual Conference, to be held in Orlando, Florida, in September.

Founded in 1965, the Gold Medal Award is an outstanding honor in the parks and recreation profession. It recognizes agencies that demonstrate the highest levels of excellence in serving their communities through recreation and park services. This honor acknowledges the Township’s outstanding commitment to excellence in long-range planning, resource management, environmental stewardship, volunteerism, program and professional development and community engagement.

All finalists will proceed to the next round of judging during the summer of 2025. Finalists in the Class III category include:

• Lewisville Parks and Recreation Department, Lewisville, TX
• Mansfield Parks and Recreation, Mansfield, TX
• The Woodlands Township, The Woodlands, TX
• Waukegan Park District, Waukegan, IL

The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration is a national nonprofit organization founded in 1984 to advance knowledge related to the administration of recreation and parks; to encourage scholarly efforts by both practitioners and educators to enhance the practice of park and recreation administration; to promote broader public understanding of the importance of parks and recreation to the public good; and, to conduct research, publish scholarly papers and sponsor seminars related to the advancement of park and recreation administration. For more information, visit www.aapra.org.

The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is the leading not-for-profit organization dedicated to building strong, vibrant and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation. With more than 60,000 members, NRPA advances this mission by investing in and championing the work of park and recreation professionals and advocates — the catalysts for positive change in service of equity, environmental resilience, and overall health and well-being. For more information, visit nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit parksandrecreation.org.