Florida recognized as finalist for nation’s best state
The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association, recently announced the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Park Service as finalists for the 2011 National Gold Medal Awards for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management. Florida is currently the nation’s first and only two-time Gold Medal winner, receiving the award in 1999 and 2005.
“It is an honor for our 160 state parks to be considered for this prestigious award,” said DEP Secretary Herschel T. Vinyard Jr. “Florida’s state parks serve more than 20 million visitors a year and provide countless recreational opportunities while conserving and protecting more than 700,000 acres of Florida’s natural environment.”
Founded in 1965, the Gold Medal Awards program honors 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. Four finalists in each class are chosen to compete for grand honors each year. The Florida Park Service is a finalist along with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Missouri Division of State Parks and North Carolina State Parks and Recreation. Winners will be announced during NRPA’s Annual Congress & Exposition in Atlanta, GA, November 1-3, 2011.