COUNTY News:

LACEY, Wash. — The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA), in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) announces, the Incorporated County of Los Alamos Parks and Recreation has received a Finalist Award in the 2025 National Gold Medal Award Program for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management.

Musco LLC sponsors this nationally recognized award program.

Incorporated County of Los Alamos Parks and Recreation is one of four Finalist agencies in Class V, population 30,000 and under. One Finalist agency in Class V will receive the highest award, the Grand Plaque.

Founded in 1965, the Gold Medal Awards program honors park and recreation agencies in the United States and military installations worldwide that demonstrate excellence in parks and recreation through long range planning, resource management, volunteerism, environmental stewardship, program development, professional development and community engagement.

Applicants are placed into six classes, with five classes based on population and one class for armed forces installations. A panel of five park and recreation professionals, representing differing governmental agencies, size, and geographic area, reviewed and judged all application materials.

Judges are chosen due to their considerable experience in managing park and recreation agencies and their knowledge of parks and recreation on the local, state and national levels.

“Congratulations to the County of Los Alamos Parks and Recreation as a 2025 Gold Medal Finalist! AAPRA is proud to administer this program which recognizes excellence in park and recreation management from a variety of perspectives,” AAPRA Executive Director Jane H. Adams said.

Presentation of the Finalist and the Grand Plaques in each population class will occur in-person at the 2025 NRPA Annual Conference, Sept. 16-18, in Orlando, Fla.