Illinois Distinguished Accredited Agency
The Skokie Park District has been certified four times as an Illinois Distinguished Accredited Agency by the Illinois Park & Recreation Association and by the Illinois Association of Park Districts. The goal of the program is to improve the delivery of recreation services to the residents of Skokie through a voluntary comprehensive evaluation process and to improve the quality of life for Skokie residents. The process takes one to two years and includes a site visit by an experienced statewide evaluation team. State accreditations are good for five years.
National Gold Medal Award
The Skokie Park District has applied for the the National Gold Medal award for excellence in Park and Recreation Management from the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) five times since 1979 and has been a (top four) finalist four times. The application process is long and rigorous, and involves significant staff time and financial resources. The award is the highest honor given out by NRPA and recognizes agencies that demonstrate excellence in long-range planning, resource management, volunteerism, environmental stewardship, program development, and professional development. The district no longer applies for this award, but continues to participate in an exacting evaluation process through the Illinois Distinguished Accredited Agency program (above).
