Parks and Recreation Wins National Gold Medal Award

Arlington County’s Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) has won the 2025 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Parks and Recreation Management. This win celebrates not only DPR’s dedication and innovation, but also the staff, partners, and community members who make Arlington’s parks a place where everyone can thrive.

The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA) and National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) presented the award on Sept. 17 at the 2025 NRPA Annual Conference in Orlando, Fl. Arlington won Gold in Class II, the category for communities with populations between 150,001–400,000.

"This award and the success of our department is a testament to the professionalism, dedication, and hard work of our DPR team,” said Jane Rudolph, Director of Arlington County’s Department of Parks and Recreation. "The staff’s commitment to excellence ensures that individuals of all ages, abilities, and interests can find a welcoming environment in Arlington County to connect with nature and enjoy an active lifestyle."

Gold Medal award submissions were independently judged by a panel of parks and recreation professionals. Arlington’s submission highlighted several significant achievements over the past three years including:

• Expanding Access for All. DPR’s fee reduction and financial hardship program provided more than $1.5 million in support in 2024, helping over 3,000 residents save an average of $518 each on preschool, summer camps, fitness memberships, and classes.
• Addressing Teen Safety and Well-Being. In response to community concerns about teen safety and the opioid crisis, DPR prioritized early intervention by expanding youth programming including late-night sports, drop-in after school programs, Teen Nights, and internships that help teens build confidence, creativity, and real-world skills.
• Maximizing Limited Space. Despite Arlington’s small size, DPR reached 80% of its Public Spaces Master Plan 30 acres of public land acquisition goal by 2029. Robust community feedback guided sustainable, state-of-the-art projects and enhancements that provide spaces for both recreation and reflection.
• Leading with Environmental Stewardship. Arlington adopted its Forestry and Natural Resources Plan (FNRP) in 2023, setting a roadmap for climate resilience, tree canopy growth, and sustainable biodiverse, and equitable natural resource management. One highlight from the plan is proactive tree circuit maintenance, which reduced our street tree maintenance cycle from 17 years to five years.

For more highlights from Arlington’s submission, view DPR’s submission video.

About the National Gold Medal Award

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, and one class for state park systems. Learn more about the Gold Medal Awards.

About Arlington County

Arlington VA., is a world-class residential, business and tourist location that was originally part of the "10 mile square" parcel of land surveyed in 1791 to be the Nation's Capital. Slightly smaller than 26 square miles, it is the geographically smallest self-governing county in the United States, and one of only a handful with the prized Aaa/AAA/AAA bond rating. Arlington maintains a rich variety of stable neighborhoods and quality schools, and has received numerous awards for Smart Growth and transit-oriented development. Home to some of the most influential organizations in the world — including the Pentagon — Arlington stands out as one of America's preeminent places to live, visit and do business. 

Media Contact

Kathryn Roberts

Image

View this release in our newsroom