The City of Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation Receives National Park Reaccreditation

Staff Reports

The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) has announced that the City of Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation has retained its accreditation status. Atlanta is one of only 119 park and recreation agencies nationwide accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA). This national accreditation by the NRPA is the highest honor that can be bestowed on a parks system and sets it apart from thousands of other parks systems throughout the nation. The City of Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation was first accredited in 2009.

“Every single day, our parks, greenspaces, and recreation centers are transforming lives and revitalizing Atlanta’s neighborhoods and communities,” said Mayor Kasim Reed. “This prestigious national accreditation from the National Recreation and Park Association recognizes all the great work our Department of Parks and Recreation is doing to encourage community building, economic development, and youth development.”

The Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) standards for national accreditation provides an authoritative assessment tool for park and recreation agencies. Through compliance with the standards of excellence, CAPRA accreditation assures policy makers, department staff, the general public and taxpayers that an accredited park and recreation agency has been independently evaluated against established benchmarks as delivering a high level of quality.

“It is truly an honor for the Department of Parks and Recreation to earn the distinction of being accredited by the National Recreation and Parks Association,” said Amy Phuong, Interim Commissioner, Department of Parks and Recreation. “This accreditation, which is the highest honor that can be bestowed on a parks and recreation agency, supports Mayor Reed’s commitment to providing safe and exceptional parks, facilities, and programs to the residents of Atlanta.”

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, which are indicated by the icon in this publication, and at least 92 of the remaining 108 standards.

CAPRA accreditation is a five-year cycle that includes three phases: development of the agency self-assessment report, the on-site visitation, and the Commission’s review and decision.

Atlanta will formally accept this top honor in October at this year’s NRPA Conference in Charlotte, NC. Atlanta is one of only seven agencies throughout the state of Georgia that received recognition for the 2014 cycle.