Agency vies for its seventh Gold Medal Award against three other agencies.
RIVERDALE, Md. – The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) has been selected as a finalist in the 2025 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA) in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA).
The Gold Medal is among the highest honors in the parks and recreation industry, recognizing outstanding management and service. M-NCPPC, which includes the Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County, and Montgomery Parks, is the only six-time national Gold Medal winner for excellence in parks and recreation management in the nation. The agency earned this prestigious award in 1973, 1977, 1983, 1984, 2003, and 2015 and was also named a finalist in 2023.
“This recognition is a testament to the unwavering dedication our staff has to serving the Prince George’s County community with high-quality recreational experiences,” said Bill Tyler, director of M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County. “We are proud to represent our community on a national stage and will continue to pursue greatness in everything we do.”
“Being named a finalist for the National Gold Medal Award is a testament to our dedicated staff, volunteers, and community partners who work tirelessly to provide exceptional parks and programs,” said Miti Figueredo, director of Montgomery Parks. “This recognition reflects our commitment to fostering social connections, encouraging physical activity, and protecting the environment.”
M-NCPPC is competing for the Gold Medal in the Class I category of park systems with a population of more than 400,001. Other park and recreation agencies competing for the Class I Gold Medal include the City of San Antonio Parks and Recreation, Johnson County Park & Recreation District in Shawnee Mission, KS., and Loudoun County Parks, Recreation and Community Services in Leesburg, VA.
Founded in 1965 the Gold Medal Awards program honors communities in the United States 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 who they serve through collective energies of community members, staff, and elected officials.
The Gold Medal recipient will be announced in September at the 2025 NRPA Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida.
About Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County:
With over 29,000 acres of parkland, trails, athletic fields, playgrounds, and more, the M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation in Prince George’s County provides an award-winning park system through progressive, quality, innovative leadership and a commitment to its community and environment. The Department delivers first-class recreational activities and programs for people of all ages and ability levels. It strives to improve the quality of life for Prince George’s County residents and the communities in which they live, work, and raise families. The Department’s Formula 2040 Plan establishes a framework that will ensure the Department can meet future parks and recreation programmatic and facility needs, fulfilling its mission to determine the combination of land, facilities, and programs that will provide appropriate experiences for Prince Georgians in the future. To learn more, visit www.pgparks.com.
About Montgomery Parks
Montgomery Parks manages more than 37,000 acres of parkland, consisting of 415 parks. Montgomery Parks is focused on promoting physical activity, social connectivity, and environmental stewardship, especially in diverse and urbanizing areas, with an emphasis on teens, working-age adults, and seniors. Montgomery Parks is a department of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), a bi-county agency established in 1927 to steward public land. M-NCPPC has been nationally recognized for its high-quality parks and recreation services and is regarded as a national model by other parks systems. MontgomeryParks.org
Accessibility
Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, encourages and supports the participation of individuals with disabilities. Please contact the Program Access Office at 301-495-2581 (Voice/TTY), MD Relay 7-1-1 or 800-552-7724 or ProgramAccess@MontgomeryParks.org to request a disability modification. Visit Montgomery Parks Accessibility for more information.
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