Chicago Park District General Superintendent and CEO Michael Kelly announced the district’s 2014 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management would begin a tour of the city’s 252 field houses on Wednesday.
The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration and the National Recreation and Park Association named the Chicago Park District as the award winner in October. While speaking at a Tuesday City Club of Chicago event, Kelly said the district is the largest system to win the award in its 50-year history.
“This gold medal, this is a victory for Chicago. And it’s a victory for all the park employees in the room today,” Kelly said. “This is our national championship. This is our Stanley Cup. It confirms what we always thought. We are the best of the best in the country. We are the gold standard for parks.”
-Tom Butala