CAPRA Accreditation
The City of Lake Oswego Parks & Recreation joined the ranks of elite park and recreation agencies nationwide by earning accreditation through the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA). This distinguished accomplishment was awarded during the 2023 NRPA Annual Conference in October of this year!
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 service to the community. This distinction indicates that an agency has met rigorous standards for managing and administrating lands, facilities, resources, programs, safety, and services.
The process for accreditation involves a formal application, self-assessments, a site visit by a team of trained volunteers that results in a written report, and a hearing with the commission to grant accreditation.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BECOMING AN ACCREDITED AGENCY?
BENEFITS FOR THE PUBLIC:
Assurance and validation of well-administered services under approved professional practices,
Potential for external financial support and savings to the public,
External recognition of a quality governmental service,
Holds an agency accountable to the public and ensures responsiveness to meet their needs,
Improves customer and quality services.
BENEFITS FOR THE AGENCY:
Public and political recognition,
Increased efficiency and evidence of accountability answers the question, "How are we doing?" through extensive self-evaluation,
Identifies areas for improvement by comparing an agency against national standards of best practices,
Enhances staff teamwork and pride by engaging all staff in the process,
Creates an environment for regular reviews of operations, policies, and procedures and promotes continual improvement,
Forces written documentation of policies and procedures.
We are thrilled that we are the 6th agency in Oregon and one of the 200 agencies throughout the United States.
To learn more go to our site: CAPRA
CAPRA