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The coveted Gold Medal Award being displayed.

ANOTHER GOLD MEDAL AWARD FOR ILLINOIS

The Naperville Park District is one of five national winners honored in the annual Gold Medal Awards program for excellence in park and recreation management. Naperville won in Class IV (population 20,000 to 50,000). The award, sponsored by The Sports Foundation, Inc., was presented at the general session of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Congress held at the Anaheim Convention Center Arena, Anaheim, California.

Among the outstanding elements of Naperville's program cited by the judging panel were the 1971 master plan survey for the future of Naperville programs conducted with the help of a citizen advisory committee, unified fund raising efforts by the park district and Naperville citizens to build new facilities and finance programs, cooperation with schools for use of facilities and equipment, extensive land acquisition, and well balanced programming with numerous special programs. Of particular note were the citizen involvement in historical preservation and efforts toward environmental clean-up of the DuPage River, and the planning for the future by implementing a zoning ordinance requiring land developers to donate 5.5 acres of property for park use per 1,000 population. Naperville was a Gold Medal finalist in 1971.

Sound financing, far-sighted land acquisition, strong leadership, balanced but flexible programming, and overall planning and cooperation with other agencies are key program criteria. Of special interest to the judges is the degree to which the department has succeeded in assessing and meeting the recreational needs and desires of the community residents.

continued on page 28

The National Gold Medal Award flag is proudly displayed by Harold Cromer, President of the Naperville Park District Board; Mrs. Dorothea Weigand, Vice President; George Pilkenlon, Commissioner; and Ernest Nance, Executive Director of the Naperville Park District.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 2 November/December, 1972


GOLD MEDAL

Continued from page 2

Naperville was nominated for the Gold Medal Awards competition by Hayden Sports Center, Aurora, Illinois.

The Sports Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization founded to encourage interest and participation in sports and sports-related activities. The Foundation initiated the Gold Medal Awards program in 1966 to focus national attention on the achievements of outstanding community park and recreation departments across the nation.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 28 November/December, 1972


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