The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA), in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), is pleased to announce the Town of Castle Rock as a finalist for the 2018 National Gold Medal Awards for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management.
The Town of Castle Rock is a finalist in the Class IV (population 30,001-75,000) category. Castle Rock is known for its small-town charm, family-friendly community events and abundant parks, open space and trails. Established in 1977, the Parks and Recreation Department served a population of merely 2,000. Through robust community planning, nearly 65,000 residents now enjoy 87 miles of trails, 50 well-planned parks – including the reimagined Festival Park – and more than 6,000 acres of open space that define the region’s most prominent features.
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. The Town of Castle Rock joins three other finalists in their class that will compete for grand honors this year.
Read the Town of Castle Rock’s application online.
We thank our community
“This recognition demonstrates our ability to see opportunities in the face of dramatic growth,” department director Jeff Brauer stated. “The community leveraged its financial resources and public support to make parks and recreation a priority, and recognizes its role as being essential to quality of life. It is a clear indication that both department direction and skillful execution are considered noteworthy among park and recreation agencies in the U.S. We are honored to be considered for the Gold Medal Award, and we thank our community for providing us with the resources and direction to make it possible.”
Keeping the tradition
In its short history, the Castle Rock Parks and Recreation Department has been a finalist for the National Gold medal twice, and the national winner in 2012. The National Gold Medal honors communities that demonstrate excellence in long range planning, resource management and innovative approaches to delivering superb park and recreation services with fiscally sound business practices. This is the highest achievement an agency can receive and the residents of Castle Rock can continue to expect this level of excellence.
