THPRD named finalist for prestigious national award

The Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District has been named a finalist for the coveted 2016 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management.

The award is presented annually by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA), in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA).

The program honors communities that demonstrate excellence in parks and recreation through long-range planning, resource management, volunteerism, environmental stewardship, program development, professional development and agency recognition.

Gold Medal applicants are judged on their ability to address the needs of those they serve through the collective energies of citizens, staff and elected officials.

“It’s a great honor to be a finalist for the Gold Medal,” said THPRD General Manager Doug Menke. “It demonstrates that we are serving the community’s interests and improving the quality of life for Beaverton-area residents.”

Gold Medal applicants are separated into seven classes -- five based on population, one for armed forces recreation and one for state park systems (awarded during odd-numbered years). THPRD is in Class II (for agencies that serve 150,000 to 400,000 residents).

The other Class II finalists are the Arlington (Texas) Parks and Recreation Department; Cary (N.C.) Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources; and Grand Prairie (Texas) Park, Arts and Recreation.

THPRD submitted its Gold Medal application in March, providing a series of quantitative data about district resources (miles of trails, park acreage, sports fields, etc.) and answering nine essay questions about key areas of operation, including programs that support the NRPA’s three pillars of community impact -- Health & Wellness, Conservation and Social Equity.

• View THPRD's responses to Gold Medal questions

“The process was illuminating,” said Deb Schoen, THPRD’s interim superintendent of Sports, who led the nomination process. “As we prepared our answers, the list of programs that deserved a mention kept getting longer. It was a morale boost to see the comprehensive list of programs we offer that are having a positive impact.”

A panel of five park and recreation professionals reviews all application materials. The judges are chosen for their considerable experience and knowledge in parks and recreation on both the local and national levels.

Gold Medal Award winners will be announced at the 2016 NRPA Annual Conference in St. Louis Oct. 5-8. Musco Lighting LLC has sponsored the Gold Medal Awards program for more than 10 years.

About THPRD
Formed in 1955, THPRD is the largest special park district in Oregon, spanning 50 square miles and serving about 240,000 residents in the greater Beaverton area. The district provides year-round recreational opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. Offerings include thousands of widely diverse classes, 95 park sites with active recreational amenities, nearly 70 miles of trails, eight swim centers, six recreation centers, and about 1,500 acres of natural areas. For more information, visit www.thprd.org or call 503-645-6433.

About the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration
The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration is a nonprofit organization founded to advance knowledge related to the administration of recreation and parks; to encourage scholarly efforts by both practitioners and educators that would enhance the practice of park and recreation administration; to promote broader public understanding of the importance of parks and recreation to the public good; and, to conduct research, publish scholarly papers and sponsor seminars related to the advancement of park and recreation administration.

About the National Recreation and Park Association
The National Recreation and Park Association is a national, not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people. Through its network of 50,000 recreation and park professionals and citizens, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable access to parks and public space. For access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.

About Musco Lighting
Musco Lighting, LLC has been a proud sponsor of the Gold Medal Awards program for over 10 years. The company has specialized in lighting systems for sports and large areas for more than 30 years. Musco has pioneered dramatic improvements in energy efficiency and affordable ways to control wasted spill light and glare. Permanent and temporary lighting services range from neighborhood fields to NASCAR super speedways.