December 2010 - Parks & Recreation - 57

N R PA I N A c t I o N

Right: More than 400 vendors exhibited their products at Congress 2010
Above: NRPA CEO Barbara tulipane, Chair Lois Finkelman, and President
Elizabeth kessler discuss key developments at the Association.

Beach Teen Club Gang and Drug Prevention Program.
■ Class 4, Population 25,000-4,999-East
Hartford (Connecticut) Parks and Recreation for its Podunk Bluegrass Music Festival.
■ Class 5, Population 24,999 and under-
Audubon State Park in Henderson, Kentucky, for the Audubon Arts & Music Festival.
In partnership with NRPA, the American Academy for Park and Recreation
Administration administers the National Gold Medal Awards for Excellence in
Park and Recreation Management program. Musco Lighting LLC sponsored
the awards program. The 2010 Gold
Medal Grand Plaque Recipients are:
■ Class I (population 250,000 and over)-
Fairfax County Park Authority, Virginia
■ Class II (population 100,001-250,000)-
Pleasure Driveway and Park District of
Peoria, Illinois.

■ Class III (population 50,001-100,000)-Lee's

Summit Parks and Recreation, Missouri.
■ Class IV (population 25,001-50,000)-
Gurnee Park District, Illinois.
■ Class V (population less than 25,000)-
City of Golden Parks and Recreation Department, Colorado.

America's Backyard
In mid October, NRPA launched our
new public outreach campaign: America's Backyard-Make it Yours. While
in Minneapolis, NRPA capitalized on
the opportunity to reach out to the public with this new initiative. More than 20
individuals from the local Minneapolis
community participated in this year's 5K
run around Lake Harriet. This is the fi rst
time that the event has been opened to
the public, and it was met with enthusiasm from those who attended, especially

America's Backyard-
a Gift for the Whole
Community!
Not sure what you give that special someone this holiday season?
Make them a Friend of America's
AMERICA'S BACKYARD
Backyard for as little as $25. Your
MAKE IT YOURS
100 percent tax deductable donation helps support parks and recreation across the country. Your recipient will receive an America's Backyard
Car Cling, as well as a limited-edition 2011 calendar with photos from across
the country. Visit www.americasbackyard.org. For more information, contact
americasbackyard@nrpa.org.

www.NRPA .ORG

with special guests Sunshine and O'Neal
from the television show, " The Biggest
Loser, " Season 9.
During the Opening General Session, NR PA released a video about
America's Backyard and the impact
that local park and recreation agencies
have on the community. Didn't get to
Minneapolis or missed seeing the video? Go to www.Americasbackyard.org
to view the video at any time and learn
more about how you can be a part of
America's Backyard.
The 2010 Congress was about two
things: connecting communities, and
empowering the field to form a collective voice, " said NRPA CEO Barbara Tulipane. " Parks and recreation sustain us
all as human beings, and it's up to us to
share this message with America. "
Throughout Congress week, attendees had access to hundreds of education sessions and a trade show featuring
more than 400 exhibitors. Other highlights included: NRPA's annual " Leave
It Better " community service project,
where volunteers constructed a sawmillthemed playground on the Minneapolis river front; the Park and Recreation
Showcase and Student Quiz Bowl; and,
the 2010 5K for Parks and Recreation at
Lake Harriet.
The 2011 NRPA Congress and Exposition-Active Minds, Active Nation-will
be held November 1-4 at the Georgia
World Congress Center in Atlanta. Visit
www.nrpa.org for more information. 

DECEMBER 2010

Parks & Recreation

December 2010 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of December 2010 - Parks & Recreation