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The District is 112th of 3,000 Parks and Recreation Agencies Nationwide to Achieve Accreditation

Wednesday, October 9, 2013
CAPRA

Contact: Doxie McCoy (EOM): (202) 727-9691, [email protected] 
             John Stokes (DPR): (202) 288-7275, [email protected]  

(Washington, DC) Mayor Vincent C. Gray announced today that the District's Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) has been granted national accreditation for standards of excellence in quality and efficiency through the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA), the leading advocacy organization dedicated to the advancement of public parks, recreation and conservation.

The Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) announced the decision early Monday night on the eve of the 2013 NRPA Congress and Exposition, being held from October 8 - 10 in Houston. The official announcement of accreditation was made to the NRPA-member body at the "Best of the Best" ceremony on Wednesday, October 9, 2013. Thirteen parks-and-recreation agencies from around the nation this year applied for accreditation, and 15 agencies applied for re-accreditation. 

“DPR submitted to an intensive accreditation process that started in 2012, and the agency was measured on CAPRA standards of excellence for parks-and-recreation agencies,” said Mayor Gray. “This achievement of CAPRA accreditation underscores DPR’s commitment to deliver quality programs and facilities to all of our residents and neighborhoods. I applaud everyone at DPR for making the District one of fewer than 115 accredited parks-and-recreation agencies in the nation.”

The District is the 112th nationally accredited parks-and-recreation agency in the nation out of the more than 3,000 state and local publicly funded agencies that are NRPA members. Each year, parks-and-recreation departments apply for CAPRA accreditation, a multi-step process that includes an extensive pre-evaluation of the agency, a three-day visit from CAPRA reviewers, and an evaluation and formal report by the commission. Accreditation is based on an agency’s compliance with the 144 standards for national accreditation. To achieve accreditation, an agency must comply with all 36 Fundamental Standards and at least 85 percent of the remaining 108 standards. Maintaining the accreditation requires annual reports, and a five-year review.

“DPR is very, very proud to bring this honor and distinction to the District of Columbia,” said Interim DPR Director Sharia Shanklin, Ed.D. “Achieving CAPRA accreditation reaffirms DPR’s continued pledge to bring quality programs, leisure activities, parks, recreation and opportunities to District residents and visitors. The accreditation process is not only an intensive process, but it also requires an organization to self-evaluate its policies, procedures and best practices on every level and across the board. This is a proud moment for DPR, the constituents we serve, and the District of Columbia.”

CAPRA accreditation is a five-year cycle that includes three phases: development of the agency's self-assessment report, the on-site visitation, and the commission’s review and decision. The on-site visitation follows the agency’s development of its self-assessment report. If accreditation is granted by the commission at its meeting following the on-site visit, the agency will develop a new self-assessment report and be revisited every five years. Within each of the four years between on-site visits, the agency will submit an annual report that addresses its continued compliance with the accreditation standards. The CAPRA Accreditation Handbook sets forth in detail the accreditation process and procedures.

CAPRA standards maintain a high level of excellence with respect to an agency’s efficiency and the effectiveness of its plans, policies, and procedures. Accreditation is a way for taxpayers, policy makers, staff and the public to know that their needs have been met, according to CAPRA standards. The CAPRA national accreditation standards provide benchmarks for parks-and-recreation agencies that comply with the quality assurance and improvement process, and demonstrate their commitment to the people they serve.

For a list of accredited agencies, go to http://www.nrpa.org/accreditedagencies/.

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