The National Park and Recreation Association (NRPA) has named the Richland County Recreation Commission as a finalist for the National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management in Class II (100,001- 250,000 population). The Gold Medal, the most celebrated park and recreation award in the country, is given to the top five park and recreation agencies in the U.S. each year.

The Recreation Commission is one of four finalists in its category and is the only one from South Carolina. Recreation Commission executive director Lew Leopard commented, "It is truly an honor for our agency and the employees to be recognized nationally for the services we provide locally to the residents of Richland County. Just to be ranked as a finalist in the top four in our class for the nation is certainly a great compliment to each and every employee of the Richland County Recreation Commission."

The Gold Medal Awards Grand Plaque recipients will be presented during the NRPA Congress and Exposition in Baltimore, Maryland on October 15th.

The purpose of the National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management is to honor the nation's outstanding

park and recreation agencies. The program gives national recognition to communities for excellence in long range planning, fiscal resource management, citizen support systems, environmental stewardship, preservation, technological integration, program planning and assessment, professional development, agency recognition, and services for special populations. For more information about the Gold Medal Awards visit on www.nrpa. org.

2008 National Gold Medal Awards, Class II Finalists: Richland County Recreation Commission, Richland, S.C.; South Suburban Park and recreation District, Centennial, Colorado; Pleasure Driveway and Park District of Peoria, Peoria, Illinois; Grand Prairie Parks and Recreation, Grand Prairie, Texas.

The Richland County Recreation Commission gained CAPRA accreditation in October of 2006 and is the first and only nationally accredited parks & recreation agency in the state of S.C.

The Commission has served Richland County since 1960 and is dedicated to enhancing the lives and positive experiences of Richland County residents of every age and ability through diverse opportunities for lifelong wellness, personal growth, socialization, and the pursuit of happiness in environments that are creative, safe, affordable, and accessible.