CAPRA

NRPA's Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) delivers quality assurance and improvement to accredited park and recreation agencies throughout the United States. This operational management system improves their infrastructures; increases efficiency in all activities; and demonstrates accountability within their communities. Implementation of this system strengthens teamwork among agency staff, imbeds all aspects of CAPRA into their internal culture, and establishes a continuous improvement mindset for all agency activities.

CAPRA is the only national accreditation of park and recreation agencies and is a valuable measure of a agency’s overall quality of operation, management, and service to the community. Achieving CAPRA accreditation is the best way to demonstrate that your agency and your staff provide your community with the highest level of service.

Benefits of Accreditation

For Your Community

1. Demonstrates that the agency meets national standards of best practice.
2. Recognizes the community as a great place to live.
3. Helps secure external financial support and reduce costs for the community.
4. Holds the park and recreation agency accountable to the public and ensures responsiveness to meet their needs.
5. Ensures that all staff are providing quality customer service.

For Your Agency and Staff

1. Proves to decision makers, stakeholders and the public that your agency is operating with the best practices of the profession.
2. Increases credibility and can improve internal and external funding.
3. Improves overall operations and increases efficiency.
4. Enhances staff teamwork and pride by engaging all staff in the process.
5. Creates an environment for regular review of operations, policies and procedures, and promotes continual improvement.

We are thrilled that we are the 6th agency in Oregon and one of the 200 agencies throughout the United States to have earned the Best of the Best title.

For more information on CAPRA, visit www.nrpa.org.

Since our 2023 CAPRA Accreditation, we have completed the mandatory annual reports and submitted them to the CAPRA Assessment Team to ensure our commitment to being Best of the Best. In 2025, the National Recreation Parks Association (NRPA) developed and published 2027 CAPRA Standards. Our 2026 annual report will comply with the original standards. We are busily preparing for our 2027 annual report and 2028 reaccreditation which both must comply with the new 2027 CAPRA National Accreditation Standards.

To learn more about the 2027 CAPRA National Accreditation Standards, visit:
2027 CAPRA NATIONAL ACCREDITATION STANDARDS