The Los Alamos County Community Services is a finalist for 2025 National Gold Medal presented by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration. Los Alamos Daily Post file photos
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
Los Alamos County Community Services Department earned an award that, in its profession, is equivalent to an Oscar or a Super Bowl trophy.
Not only is it a big deal to receive a Finalist Award in the 2025 National Gold Medal Award Program for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management from the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA) and the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA), but the Community Services Department is now in the running to receive the highest honor, the Grand Plaque. If it wins, it would be the first time any municipality has received the honor in New Mexico.
“I am beyond thrilled,” Community Services Department Director Cory Styron said. “This is, to our profession, equivalent to the Academy Awards … this is a big deal for our industry.”
“I’m incredibly proud of our Parks and Recreation Division, and not surprised,” Los Alamos County Manager Anne Laurent said. “We have a team of dedicated staff who take pride in their work to serve our community every day. This acknowledgement of their good work is well deserved.”
Styron said the Community Services Department is one of four finalist agencies in Class V, population 30,000 and lower. The other finalists are Glencoe Park District, Ill; Oak Brook Park District, Ill; and Valley City Parks and Recreation, North Dakota.
According to a press release, the Gold Medal Awards program honors parks 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.
It is also reported in the press release that applicants are placed into six classes, with five classes based on population, one class for armed forces installations and one for state park systems. A panel of five parks and recreation professionals, representing differing governmental agencies, size, and geographic area, reviewed and judged all application materials.
Styron said he believes several things helped the department cinch the award.
“I think it was our emphasis on community health and then how our residents like to provide input into our programs and services … and all of the partners and collaborators we have in our community,” he said.
Styron also credits his team.
“It says a lot about our team – that they are working hard every day to improve our community and deliver a high level of service,” he said.
The Community Service Department has made a lot of strides. Styron said when he first arrived, the department seemed reactive and wasn’t really looking forward to the future. However, with the help of the Integrated Master Plan as well as planning and budgeting, things have improved, he said.
“We were able to re-organize to serve the community, train and hire a fantastic team at the Community Services Department that works very well together,” Styron said.
Winning the award is a testament to the department team’s efforts, he said.
“I think it shows all the hard work we have done over the past five years to establish our processes and really lean in to our future planning and quality of life with the community,” Styron said. “This is validation at the highest level, and we look forward to continuing to grow. It is a great honor for us and the community who supports the department and our community quality of life.”
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.