After winning the top prize, Milwaukee hosts judges in National Gold Medal Awards for parks

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Milwaukee's history as a top place for recreation has helped to garner it the chance to host representatives from some of the country's other elite cities.

If you've spent much time in Milwaukee County's parks, trekking the trails, hitting the courts or even stopping for a snack, you know their value firsthand. But it may still surprise you to hear they're considered among the country's elite!

"When they call your name, it's kind of like our academy awards if you will and I'll never forget the feeling when we won it here," Sue Black said.

Milwaukee County Parks and Recreation took home the top prize in the National Gold Medal Awards for Excellence in Parks and Recreation Management when Black was the Parks Director back in 2009.

"First thing we did -- we were in Salt Lake City and we texted back to Milwaukee and the electronic billboards went up I'll never forget it. It's something to celebrate," Black said.

Black says Milwaukee County's team worked for several years to snag the top prize.

As a former champion, Milwaukee County is ineligible for the award for five years, so Milwaukee County won't compete this year. But this week, Milwaukee County is hosting the judges, as they work to choose this year's winners.

"This recognition is an important aspect of all that we do and the things that we do to help make life better for everyone that we touch," judge Rod Tarullo said.

A lot of factors go into choosing the champions, including things like what kind of enrichment programs departments offer, and while there's no monetary award to go with the prize, Black says it can still have a big impact on things like tourism.

"Totally for tourism. I remember like with the state parks when Florida had won, they totally capitalized on it and told everybody that they had the best state parks system in the country," Black said.

Judges select a winner in each of the several categories. Five are population based, and another is for the Armed Forces.

Every other year, they also select a winner in a state parks category.

Even though Milwaukee isn't able to compete this year, Wisconsin does have a couple of places still in the mix. Both Eau Claire and Middleton are among the finalists.