Texas Wins National Gold Medal Award

In its centennial year, Texas State Parks won the 2023 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management from the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration. This award honors communities and states 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.

The over 9 million visitors to Texas State Parks every year demonstrate that Texas is one of the nation's premiere systems. Staff has done extensive work to invite new audiences to take advantage of the recreational and health benefits provided by their state parks and to prepare a new generation of stewards for the next 100 years of growth.

About the National Gold Medal Award Program

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. Applications are separated into seven classes, with five classes based on population, one class for armed forces recreation and one class, awarded on odd numbered years, for state park systems.

Agencies are judged on their ability to address the needs of those they serve through the collective energies of community members, staff and elected officials. Four finalists in each class are chosen to compete for grand honors each year.

The National Gold Medal Award Program is governed and administered by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA) and announced at the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA)'s annual conference.

Find more information about the Gold Medal Award Program.