Ohio’s state parks named the best in the U.S. by national groups

COLUMBUS, Ohio–Ohio State Parks have been named the best state park system in the country by a pair of nationwide park administration groups.

Ohio’s 76 state parks, run by the state’s Department of Natural Resources, won the 2025 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management on Wednesday.

The award, presented by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association, is based on criteria such as conservation efforts, innovation, sound fiscal policy and community engagement.

A five-judge panel of parks and recreation professionals picked Ohio over two other finalists, Florida and Wyoming, according to the AAPRA .

In a release, Gov. Mike DeWine’s office noted that Ohio’s state parks o