By Kelli Nesbitt, Parks & Recreation Marketing Coordinator
The City of College Station’s Parks and Recreation Department remains among the elite agencies in the country after re-earning accreditation through the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies and the National Recreation and Park Association.
College Station was first accredited in 2007 and is one of only 22 Texas cities – and 199 across the country – to achieve the designation. The distinguished accomplishment was recognized this week at the NRPA Annual Conference in Arizona.
CAPRA accreditation is the only national accreditation for park and recreation agencies and is a measure of an agency’s overall quality of operation, management, and community service. The mark of distinction indicates an agency has met rigorous standards related to the management and administration of lands, facilities, resources, programs, safety, and services.
As part of the accreditation process, the Parks and Recreation Department demonstrated compliance with 154 recognized standards, documenting all policies and procedures. The process often identifies efficiencies and heightens areas of accountability, translating into higher-quality service and operation to benefit the community.
Maintaining our nationally recognized accreditation is a testament to College Station’s commitment to providing constituents with the best programs and facilities while operating at the highest and most efficient levels.
The accreditation process involves a formal application, self-assessments, a site visit by a team of trained visitors that results in a written report, and a hearing with the commission to grant accreditation. Once accredited, the agency must uphold the standards by submitting annual reports and is reviewed again in five years.
The commission includes representatives from NRPA, the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, the National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials, the International City/County Management Association, the Academy for Leisure Sciences, the Armed Forces Recreation Network, and the Council of State Executive Directors.
About NRPA
The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is the leading not-for-profit organization dedicated to building strong, vibrant, and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation.
With more than 60,000 members, NRPA advances this mission by investing in and championing the work of park and recreation professionals and advocates — the catalysts for positive change in service of equity, climate readiness, and overall health and well-being.
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