Outgoing NOVA Parks Executive Director Paul Gilbert received the prestigious Pugsley Medal earlier this month for his dedication to conservation, promotion and development of public parks.
Gilbert was nominated for the Honorable Cornelius Amory Pugsley Medal by late Northern Virginia Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-11). The award was presented Sept. 17 by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, and is recognized as the the most prestigious recognition for the promotion and development of public parks in the country, according to AAPRA. He has been executive director of NOVA Parks for 20 years and will be succeeded by former Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson on Oct. 6.
Alexandria Rep. Don Beyer (D-8) said that Gilbert has left a lasting mark on park conservation in the region and throughout the U.S.
“His work reminds us that protecting our natural resources is not only about preserving landscapes, but also about
strengthening communities and inspiring future generations,” Beyer said in a release. “This national award is a fitting
tribute to his leadership and lifelong commitment to stewardship of the environment.”
Jeff McKay, the chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, said that Gilbert has left a lasting legacy on the region.
“From creating new parks to expanding beloved community spaces, his work has preserved open space for generations to
come,” McKay said. “This national recognition is a fitting tribute to his decades of dedication, and we are
proud to celebrate this honor with him.”
Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chair Phyllis J. Randall said that Gilbert has been a pillar of conservation in Northern Virginia.
“From Aldie Mill to Reservoir Park at Beaverdam, his imprint on the County I love is undeniable,” Randall said. “I wish him nothing but the best in the next stage of his life.”
Gilbert has conserved 3,500 acres throughout his career. According to NOVA Parks, the parkland that he played a role in acquiring include:
- Aldie Mill, Aldie: 2006, 1 acre
- Ball’s Bluff expansion, Leesburg: 2014, 15 acres
- Battle of Middleburg/Mt. Defiance, Middleburg: 2015, 5 acres
- Battle of Upperville/Goose Creek Bridge, Upperville: 2017, 20 acres
- Beaverdam, Ashburn: 2016, 630 acres
- Beaverdam West, Ashburn: 2016, 140 acres
- Cattail, Leesburg: 2023, 85 acres
- Elklick Preserve, Chantilly: 2003, 226 acres
- Gilberts Corner, Gilberts Corner: 2010, 157 acres
- Linn Preserve, McLean: 2012, 11 acres
- Mt. Zion, Gilberts Corner: 2009, 6 acres
- Occoquan expansion, Lorton: 2020, 36 acres
- Piscataway Crossing, Lucketts: 2010, 300 acres
- Pohick Bay expansion, Lorton: 2009, 2012, 2017, 2020, 10 acres
- Rust Sanctuary, Leesburg: 2013, 60 acres
- Springdale, Loudoun County: 2017 & 2022, 280 acres
- Tinner Hill, Falls Church: 2014, 1 acre
- Webb Sanctuary, Clifton: 2013, 20 acres
- Winkler Botanical Preserve, Alexandria: 2022, 45 acres
Other winners of the Pugley award include:
- Stephen Mather, founder of the National Park Service
- Robert Moses, Park Commissioner for New York City
- Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., Landscape Architect
- Gilbert Grosvenor, Chair of the National Geographic Society
- Bruce Babbitt, Secretary of the Interior
- Stuart Udall, Secretary of the Interior
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver, vice president of the Kennedy Foundation
- Former U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
