For the third consecutive year, the Park District of Oak Park was named a finalist of the National Gold Medal Award, the most prestigious award in the industry.
The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA), in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), judges park districts nationwide by their long-range planning, resource management, and innovative approach to excellent park and recreation services. After a rigorous application and evaluation process, the PDOP was named one of the top four finalists for the Class IV category (population between 30,001 to 75,000).
This year alone, the PDOP opened the Community Recreation Center, a net-zero building, started a partnership with the Community Mental Health Board to improve access to mental health resources, implemented accessible, inclusive playground features for children with disabilities, and allocated hundreds of thousands of dollars in financial assistance to community members.
Above all, the dedication of our board, staff, volunteers, and community members made this distinction possible. We are honored to be recognized as one of the best park districts in the nation and look forward to carrying out this legacy for years to come.
