Gold Medal: The Symbol Of Excellence

by Matthew T. Sevick

THE HIGHEST AND MOST PRESTIGIOUS HONOR ATTAINABLE by a park and recreation agency in the United States is the Gold Medal Award. This award is sponsored by the National Sporting Goods Foundation in cooperation with the National Recreation and Parks Association. From its beginning in 1965, the award has symbolized excellence.

The committee of judges for this award selects seven annual winners; five of the awards are presented for general park and recreation superiority and two for service to the handicapped. In screening the several hundred applications submitted annually, the judges focus primarily on three general areas; public service, community support and established growth. The selection process is so discriminating and competition so formidable that designation of your agency as a recipient of this award signals to the citizens in your community, your local government, and the entire nation that you are among the elite in the field of parks and recreation.

According to various individuals, the process of applying for the Gold Medal takes anywhere from 25 to 200 staff hours. It requires the completion of an application, and, in the event your agency is nominated as one of the five finalists, the creation of a slide presentation. The application is composed of questions encompassing every aspect of an agency's operation, including programs, facilities, financial resources, and any obstacles encountered. The slide presentation is required for the five finalists in each of the five population classes. The five population classes (under 20,000; 20,000-50,000; 50,000-100,000; 100,000-250,000; and 250,000 and over) allow smaller park districts an equal opportunity of earning the Gold Medal Award. The slide presentations are crucial to an agency's success. The judges must be impressed with the

Illinois Parks and Recreation 35 May/June 1991

20,000-50,000; 50,000-100,000; 100,000-250,000; and 250,000 and over) allow smaller park districts an equal opportunity of earning the Gold Medal Award. The slide presentations are crucial to an agency's success. The judges must be impressed with the agency immediately because of the hundreds of applications received. Therefore, the slide presentation must not only "show off' and highlight the best attributes, it must keep the attention and interest of the judges while taking them on a relaxing tour of the agency. Remember, the judges are expecting to see a professional looking presentation, so make sure the slides make the judges want to visit that agency.

Judges want proof that residents' needs are being met

What does an agency highlight in the application to become a finalist? The primary purpose of every park and recreation agency is service; therefore, the judges want proof that the residents' needs are, in fact, being met. In order to accomplish this goal, these needs must be known, assessed, and addressed. Past winners have consistently surveyed the public to determine the specific needs of their citizens and tailored their programs accordingly. The judges don't demand changes overnight, but look for specific plans that bring about these changes. Proof of distinct and thorough plans is a similarity past winners share.

Winning agencies share common bonds

The diversity of programs offered is another common thread of previous Gold Medal winners. The winning agencies establish programs

for all races, ages, interests, and handicaps. They remain open- minded and willing to implement new ideas. Winning agencies constantly assess the needs and desires of the community and implement programs to meet those needs.

Second area judges look at is community support

The second area of focus for the judges is community support and involvement. Gold Medal winners are soundly backed by every aspect of their community. Not only do past winners of the Gold Medal Award serve their community, but they seek service from their community as well. Community support can be shown by the number of people in attendance, by establishing financial backing from the community in the form of taxes, bonds, and commercial donations, or simply in numbers of volunteers for the programs. The Gold Medal judges including the Illinois Association of Park Districts Executive Director Ted Flickinger, a previous Gold Medal winner at Bexley Parks and Recraetion, Bexley, Ohio, and longest serving judge (since 1977), believe it is important to establish a broad base of community support because it solidifies the value of the agency to the community.

'Winning the award carries its own seal of satis faction when the members of winning agencies can proudly say, 'Yes, we are one of the very best'."

Judges also look for established growth

The third general area in which the judges seek information is established growth. Both expanding programs and serving more people demonstrate growth. The expansion of programs includes everything from offering more open swim time to starting a program in horseback riding. Service to more people can mean attracting new people or simply encouraging the current patrons to become involved in new programs. Although the diversification of the programs and the number of people served is indicative of growth, so too is the increase and improvement of actual facilities.

Agencies should have long-term plans

The judges are interested in what agencies are doing with their land and other assets. Is the agency acquiring more land? Are there development plans for land currently owned? Perhaps a bike path is under construction. The agency should have a long-term plan. The judges are seeking to reward an agency for continually striving for improvement.

Putting together an entry is difficult and time-consuming

Although the procedure of putting together an entry for the Gold Medal Award is a difficult and time-consuming task, the process appears to get easier every year. Traditionally, finalists from one year become winners the next.

However, once an agency wins, it must wait five years before re-entering to afford other park districts an opportunity. The self-assessments, goal-setting, and planning that are part of the application pay off in many ways for many years to come. It establishes credibility when applying for grants, enhances community support, and can increase attendance at events.

Gold Medal winners are among the very best

In addition, completing the application compels agencies to evaluate their current position, strengths and weaknesses, and focuses their goals on future growth. Of course, winning the award carries its own seal of satisfaction when the members of winning agencies can proudly say, "Yes, we are one of the very best."

About the Author

Matthew T. Sevick is a senior at Oregon High School. He is serving his internship at the Illinois Association of Park Districts through the Illinois Governmental Internship Program. He will be attending Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., in the fall.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 36 May/June 1991