The East Goshen Township Department of Parks and Recreation is among the finalists for the 2019 National Gold Medal Awards for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management.

The finalists were announced earlier this month by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration and the National Recreation and Park Association.

The Gold Medal Awards program was founded in 1965. It honors communities across the country that demonstrate excellence in parks and recreation through long-term planning, resource management, volunteerism, environmental protection, program development, professional development, and agency recognition.

Applications are divided into seven classes, five of which are based on population, along with one for armed forces recreation and one for state park systems.

Agencies are judged on how they address the needs of the community they serve. Four finalists are chosen in each class to compete for grand honors.

The East Goshen Township Department of Parks and Recreation is in Class V, where populations are less than 30,000.

Winners will be announced in September.