09/18/2025
🏆 We did it, Ohio! 🏆
Ohio State Parks is officially the No. 1 state parks system in the nation, winning the 2025 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence - presented by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration and the National Recreation and Park Association.
This honor belongs to YOU—our millions of visitors who camp, hike, fish, paddle, swim, and explore every year. Together with our incredible staff, volunteers, and partners, you’ve helped make Ohio’s 76 state parks a place where memories are made and nature is celebrated.
From free entry and thousands of campsites and trails, to adaptive kayak launches, inclusive playgrounds, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences like the 2024 solar eclipse, Ohio State Parks are for everyone. 🌲💧🌅
Thank you for making Ohio the gold standard of outdoor adventure. Come see why we’re the best in the nation—your next adventure awaits at ohiostateparks.gov!
Complete press release: https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/safety-conservation/about-ODNR/news/ohio-state-parks-gold-medal-winner
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Ohio, The Heart of it All
Governor Mike DeWine
Ohio Magazine
