City Awards

2024 Awards

#1 Safest City in Dallas-Fort Worth, WalletHub.com

4th Safest Major City in Texas, FBI

16th Largest City in Texas

1 of 3 cities in Texas to receive ISO#1 status and American Heart Association Gold Plus Award for EMS 8 years in a row

Sustained Excellence 2021-2023 Governor’s Community Achievement Award, Category 10: Keep Grand Prairie Beautiful

#4 Happiest City in Texas, WalletHub.com

#9 Best Concert Venue in the World, Texas Credit Union Theatre, Billboard magazine

#2 Best Indoor Waterpark in the U.S., USAToday

50 Leading Fleets in USA, Grand Prairie Fleet Services, American Public Works

1st Place Destination Excellence Award for the Visit Grand Prairie Community/Local Engagement Promotion of their Solar Eclipse Campaign, Texas Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus

1st Place Leisure/Tourism Marketing for promotion of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Texas Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus

2024 Excellence in Economic Development Silver Award from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC)

2023 Awards

#8 Safest City in Texas, FBI

#9 Best Concert Venue in World (capacity 5001-10,000), Texas Trust Credit Union Theatre, music magazine Billboard

50 Leading Fleets in USA, Grand Prairie Fleet Services, American Public Works Association

2022 Awards

#1 Best Pickleball for a Party (Chicken N Pickle), D Magazine

#2 Happiest City in DFW, #3 in Texas, WalletHub.com

#3 Best City in Which to Live on $5,000 a Month, GoBankingRates.com

#4 Best Indoor Water Park in USA (EpicWaters), FamilyVacayer.com

#5 Best Place to Move in USA, New York Times

#8 Safest City in Texas, FBI

Top 10 Christmas Town in Texas, iHeart.com

Zavala’s featured on The Taco Chronicles, Netflix

Gold Star Affiliate Award, Keep Texas Beautiful

Parks, Arts and Recreation CAPRA reaccreditation, National Recreation and Park Association

2021 Awards

#1 Epic Waters Best Water Park in DFW, Dallas Observer

#1 Asia Times Square Best Food Court in Dallas, Dallas Observer

#1 Best US City Where Black Americans Fare Best Economically, smartasset.com

#2 Best City in Texas for Hipsters, lawnstarter.com

#3 Best City in Texas for Jobs, WalletHub.com

#4 Happiest City in Texas, WalletHub.com

#4 Safest City in Texas, WalletHub.com

#4 Fastest Growing Real Estate Marketing in Texas, AceableAgent.com

#8 Best Staycation in USA, WalletHub.com

Top 50 Best BBQ Joints in Texas, Zavala’s, Texas Monthly

2020 Awards

Best Place to Retire – Self-made.io
1st Best Place to Retire in Texas

Best City – LawnStarter.com
17th  Best city to be stuck at home in U.S.A.

WalletHub.com
3rd Happiest City in Texas
8th Best City for a Staycation in USA

Farmers Market – American Farmland Trust
1st Farmers Market in Texas

Dallas Kids Out & About 
20th Top Places to Take Kids in Dallas, Grand Prairie Farmers Market

Texas Recreation & Park Society Arts and Humanities Award
Game On! Summer Camp Music Video

APWA Government Fleet Magazine Notable Fleets
Grand Prairie Equipment and Fleet Services

Automotive Service Excellence ASE Blue Seal Shop Program
ASE Blue Seal Shop

100 Best Fleets in America – Honorable Fleet 
Grand Prairie Equipment and Fleet Services

Keep America Beautiful
President's Circle Affiliate: Keep Grand Prairie Beautiful 

Keep Texas Beautiful
1st place Governor's Community Achievement Award
Sustained Excellence 2018-2020 Governor's Community Achievement

City Survey
94% love Grand Prairie Quality of Life

2019 Awards

point2homes.com
#1 Most Dynamic Small City in USA

WalletHub.com
#2 Happiest City in Texas
#7 Happiest City in USA
#11 Best City for Hispanic Entrepreneurs in U.S.

Texashillcountry.com
#2 Epic Waters Indoor Water Park most fun indoor water park in Texas

Dallas Business Journal
#3 DFW Economic Development Agency (city of Grand Prairie economic development department) for highest value deals in 2018 ($351M)

Kempler Industries
#4 Hardest Working City in USA

USA Today
#5 Best Holiday Happening in DFW (Prairie Lights)
Epic Waters Top 10 Water Parks in USA

GOBankingRates.com
#7 Most Surprising City in USA Where You Can Make A lot of Money

FBI
#7 Safest Large City in Texas (pop 100,000 )

smartassett.com
#10 Best City in Texas for Living the American Dream

self-made.io
#11 Best Place to Retire in USA and #1 in Texas

Keep Texas Beautiful
3rd place Governor's Community Achievement Award
Sustained Excellence 2017-2019 Governor's Community Achievement Award, Category 10: Keep Grand Prairie Beautiful
Gold Star Affiliate: Keep Grand Prairie Beautiful
1st place Sadie Ray Graff, Educator: Amber Bermudez

Texas Recreation and Park Society

Promotional Award: Summer at Epic Central
Facility Excellence Award:  The Epic

Trinity Blackland Urban Forestry Council Project of the Year

Grand Tree University (GTU)

The Knot
Best of the Knot (9th consecutive year), Ruthe Jackson Center Weddings

Avid Golfer
Prairie Lakes Golf Course, Best Public Golf -Top Value Course
#15 Best Public Golf Course, Prairie Lakes Golf Course
#3 Best Premium Course, Tangle Ridge Golf Course
#5 East Side Courses, Tangle Ridge Golf Course

Dallas Morning News Name a “Go To” Farmer’s Market in DFW
Grand Prairie Farmers Market

American Heart Association Gold Award for Fire Department EMS response times

APWA Government Fleet Magazine Notable Fleets

Grand Prairie Equipment and Fleet Services

Automotive Service Excellence ASE Blue Seal Shop Program
ASE Blue Seal Shop

100 Best Fleets in America – Honorable Fleet
Grand Prairie Equipment and Fleet Services

2018 Awards

WalletHub.com
#2 Happiest City in Texas
#10 Happiest City in U.S
Top 50 Best Place to Retire in U.S
#5 Best City for First Time Home Buyers in Texas
#21 Best City for First Time Home Buyers in U.S
Top 50 in U.S. Best Place to Raise a Family
#13 in U.S. Best City for Hispanic Entrepreneurs

MoveHub.com
Least Hipster City in U.S

Self-made.io
#1 Best Place to Retire in America

MoneyWise
#9 of Top 20 Inexpensive Places to Retire in U.S.

Dallas Business Journal
#5 Easiest Place to Sell a Home in Texas

Getrealtor.com
#3 Best Move in DFW

Epic Waters
Water Park Associations Leading Edge Award
#5 Travel Channel’s Most Incredible Indoor Water Parks in the U.S.
#2 in the Five Indoor Waterparks for the Most Fun in Texas, as ranked by Texas Hill Country

The Knot
Ruthe Jackson Center - 2018 Best of Weddings

The Epic
Texas Recreation and Parks Association Recreation Facilities Design Award

The Big Event
3CMA SAAVY Best in Nation for Recurring Special Event

FBI
10th Safest Major City in Texas (of 34 cities with 100,000 population)

Farmers Market
#1 in Texas and in top 10 nationally for third year by American Farmland Trust

City of Grand Prairie
Playful City USA

D Magazine
Historic Downtown Poised for Greatness

VisitDFW.com
Named Best Visitor Center in DFW

Housing Department
2018 NUSA Best Neighborhood Program Award for the Housing Department’s “Future Builders” program

Information Technology Department
2018 Excellence Award from the Texas Association of Governmental Information Technology Managers (TAGITM)
Rising Star Award: Keshnel Penny from TAGITM

3CMA City County Communication and Marketing Association
Savvy Best in Nation – Recurring Special Event:  The Big Event

Texas Municipal Library Director’s Association

Library of Excellence Award

Neighborhoods USA Best Neighborhood Program
Future Builders Program, Housing and Neighborhood Services Department

Visit DFW’s Best of DFW Bucket List
Top Visitor Center in DFW, Grand Prairie Tourist Center

Keep America Beautiful
President's Circle Affiliate: Keep Grand Prairie Beautiful

Keep Texas Beautiful
3rd place Governor's Community Achievement Award, Category 10: Keep Grand Prairie Beautiful
Sustained Excellence 2016-2018 Governor's Community Achievement Award, Category 10: Keep Grand Prairie Beautiful
Gold Star Affiliate: Keep Grand Prairie Beautiful

STAR North Texas Environmental Leadership Award

Winner of the Rachael Green Sustainability Leadership Award

North Texas Corporate Recycling Association Green Awards
Winner of the Best Recycling Partnership award with the Grand Prairie Office Depot Distribution Center

American Heart Association Gold Award for Fire Department EMS response times

APWA Government Fleet Magazine Notable Fleets

Grand Prairie Equipment and Fleet Services

Automotive Service Excellence ASE Blue Seal Shop Program
ASE Blue Seal Shop - Grand Prairie Equipment and Fleet Services

100 Best Fleets in America – Honorable Fleet
Grand Prairie Equipment and Fleet Services

2017 Awards

National Recreation and Park Association
Gold Medal Award – Best in Nation (pop. category 150,001-400,000)

3CMA City County Communication and Marketing Association 
President's Award – Most Outstanding Marketing Program – "Grand Prairie Libraries. Educate. Everyone.
Savvy Best in America – Best Branding/New Logo/Etc.  "Grand Prairie Libraries. Educate. Everyone.

Texas Festival and Events Association (TFEA)
Gold – Best Outdoor Billboard – Prairie Lights
Gold – Best Event Promotional Photograph – Prairie Lights
Gold – Best Misc. Printed Materials (Multiple Pages) – Main Street Fest
Gold – Best Misc. Printed Materials (Single Page) – Main Street Fest
Gold – Best Emergency Preparedness & Risk Management Plan for an Event – Main Street Fest
Silver – Best Misc. Printed Material (Single Page) – Prairie Lights
Silver – Best Event Program – Main Street Fest
Silver – Best Cover Design – Main Street Fest
Silver – Best Outdoor Billboard – Main Street Fest
Silver – Best Event Invitation – Main Street Fest
Silver – Best Outdoor Billboard – Flight of the Monarch
Silver – Best Event Program – Flight of the Monarch
Bronze – Best Volunteer Program – Main Street Fest
Bronze – Best Event Website – Main Street Fest
Bronze – Best Misc. On-Site Décor – Flight of the Monarch

Texas Association of Municipal Information Officers (TAMIO)
Award of Honor – Print Category – Special Publication

American Heart Association
Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold Plus Award

National ISO 1 Rating
Earned by the Grand Prairie Fire Department, one of 203 cities in the U. S. to achieve, lowering insurance rates for residents and businesses in the city

Government Treasurer’s Organization of Texas
Certificate of Distinction

Texas Library Association

Libraries Change Communities – Grand Prairie Library System
Branding Iron Identity Campaign Honorable Mention – Grand Prairie Library System

Government Finance Officers Association
Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, 32nd consecutive year

North Central Texas Council of Government
Air North Texas Partner of the Year

NEOGOV
Best Managed Onboard Implementation

Texas Citizen on Patrol Association
Membership of the Year award

State of Texas Alliance for Recycling (STAR) Environmental Leadership Awards
1st place Rick Fuszek Memorial Award for Outstanding Sustainable Materials Management: City of Grand Prairie Solid Waste and Recycling Division
1st place Outstanding Integrated Solid Waste Management: City of Grand Prairie Solid Waste and Recycling Division
1st place Excellence in Construction and Demolition Debris Reuse/Recycling: City of Grand Prairie Solid Waste and Recycling Division

Texas Environmental Excellence Awards
Finalist: City of Grand Prairie Solid Waste and Recycling Division - Grand Prairie ISD STEM Camp

Keep Texas Beautiful
Sustained Excellence Governor's Community Achievement Award, Category 9: Keep Grand Prairie Beautiful
1st place Government Award, City, 150,000 Population: City of Grand Prairie Solid Waste and Recycling Division

Texas Hotel Association

CVB Partner of the Year, Grand Prairie Tourist Center

TACVB IDEA FAIR People’s Choice Award
Local Awareness Campaign, Discover Grand Prairie Familiarization Tour

Automotive Service Excellence ASE Blue Seal Shop Program

ASE Blue Seal Shop

2016 Awards

National League of Cities
City Cultural Diversity Awards Program-Best in Nation for Mayor's Community Table

Dallas Morning News 5-15-16
#12 Tangle Ridge Golf Course in top 25 best mid-priced golf courses in state
#48 best golf course in Texas open to public regardless of pricing

Golf Digest (July 2016)
Top 20 Golf Eats in America – Eddlemon's at Prairie Lakes

State of Texas Alliance for Recycling (STAR) Leadership Awards
First Place for Outstanding Environmental Public Education and Outreach Program

3CMA City County Communication and Marketing Association
Award of Excellence – Community Involvement – Reinventing the Library

Forbes Magazine
Top 25 List of Best Places to Retire in 2016

Texas Recreation & Park Society Arts and Humanities Award
Game On! Summer Camp Music Video

North Central Texas Council of Government
Air North Texas Partner of the Year

National Davey Silver Award for Live Life Grand TV Commercial

American Heart Association Gold Award for Fire Department EMS response times

Texas Citizens on Patrol Association Large Agency of the Year Award
Grand Prairie Citizens on Patrol

Office of the Governor / Texas Crime Stoppers Council
Grand Prairie Schools Productivity Award and Best Website

National Association of Town Watch
National Night Out Award Winner for outstanding participation

National Recreation and Park Association Gold Medal Finalist
 
Keep America Beautiful
President's Circle Affiliate: Keep Grand Prairie Beautiful
1st place School District Youth & Education Awards: GPISD Month of Service with Keep Grand Prairie Beautiful
 
Keep Texas Beautiful
Continued Excellence Governor’s Community Achievement Award, Category 9: Keep Grand Prairie Beautiful
1st place Sadie Ray Graff Award, District: GPISD STEM Camp with Grand Prairie Solid Waste and Recycling Division
Honorable Mention Sadie Ray Graff Award, District: Grand Prairie ISD 2016 Month of Service with Keep Grand Prairie Beautiful
Gold Star Affiliate: Keep Grand Prairie Beautiful

Government Finance Officers Association
Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, 31st consecutive year

2015 Awards

WalletHub.com, leading online finance analyst
#1 - best place to start a career in USA
#4 - best monthly median starting salary in USA
#5 - best number of entry-level jobs per 10,000 residents in USA
#6 – best housing affordability in USA
#6 – best workforce diversity in USA
#10 – best city for families in USA
#16 – best annual job growth rate in USA
#18 – best median annual income in USA

City Manager Tom Hart named Top Administrator of the Year
American Society for Public Administration

Texas Citizens on Patrol Association
Large Agency of the Year – Grand Prairie Police Citizens on Patrol

American Heart Association
Gold Standard for EMS service
Air North Texas
Outstanding Outreach Award
Outstanding Initiative Award

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program
10th Safest Large City in Texas (of 34 cities with 100,000 or more population)

Keep Texas Beautiful 
Governor's Achievement Award for best grass roots efforts

Air North Texas
Outstanding Outreach Award
Outstanding Initiative Award

Government Finance Officers Association 
Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, 30th consecutive year

White House Champions of Change
Building Bridges between Youth and Law Enforcement – GP Youth Boxing Program

2014 Awards

Texas Citizens on Patrol Association
Large Agency of the Year – Grand Prairie Police Citizens on Patrol

3CMA City County Communication and Marketing Association
Savvy Best in America – Best Use of a Promotional Item  Waggin' Wagon Mobile Adoption Trailer
Savvy Best in America – Graphic Design: Art – Waggin' Wagon Mobile Adoption Trailer
Savvy Best in America – Graphic Design: Other – Waggin' Wagon Mobile Adoption Trailer

North Central Texas Council of Government
Air North Texas Partner of the Year

Texas Comptroller Leadership Circle Silver
Transparency in Government

Government Finance Officers Association
Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, 29th consecutive year

Playful City USA

US Department of Justice - Community Oriented Policing Services
Community Policing in Action Photo Contest Winner