2015 Gold Medal Award Grand Plaque Award Recipients Announced

ASHBURN, Va., Sept. 15, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA), in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2015 National Gold Medal Grand Plaque Awards for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management. Sponsor of the Gold Medal Awards program is Musco Lighting, LLC.

The 2015 Gold Medal Grand Plaque recipients are:

Class I (population 400,001 and over)
• The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, MD

Class II (population 150,001 – 400,000)
• Plano Parks and Recreation, TX

Class III (population 75,001 – 150,000)
• City of St. George Leisure Services Department, UT

Class IV (population 30,001 – 75,000)
• Park District of Oak Park, IL

Class V (population less than 30,000)
• Oak Brook Park District, IL

Armed Forces Recreation Award
• Marine Corps Community Services, Marine Corps Installations West – Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, CA

State Park System Award
• Delaware State Parks

Founded in 1965, the Gold Medal Awards program honors communities throughout 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. Agencies are judged on their ability to address the needs of those they serve through the collective energies of citizens, staff and elected officials.

A panel of five park and recreation professionals reviews and judges all application materials. Judges are chosen for their considerable experience and knowledge in parks and recreation on both the local and national levels.

This year's recipients were announced live during the NRPA Annual Conference on Sept. 15 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

For more information on the Gold Medal Awards, go to www.nrpa.org/awards or www.aapra.org.

The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration is a non-profit organization founded to advance knowledge related to the administration of recreation and parks; to encourage scholarly efforts by both practitioners and educators that would 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 is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people. Through its network of 50,000 recreation and park professionals and citizens, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable access to parks and public space. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA's flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.

Musco Lighting, LLC is a company that has specialized in lighting systems for sports and large areas for more than 30 years. Musco has pioneered dramatic improvements in energy efficiency and affordable ways to control wasted spill light and glare. Permanent and temporary lighting services range from neighborhood fields to NASCAR super speedways. For more information, visit www.musco.com.