Since 2012 the Erie Parks & Recreation Department has been Nationally Accredited through the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA). Every five years the Department must demonstrate compliance of standards to renew the accreditation. The Department achieved reaccreditation in 2017, and is now striving for the prestigious award again in 2022. The CAPRA accreditation process consists of 10 chapters with 154 standards to meet. While the Department is striving to meet all 154 standards, we must pass 148 standards to maintain accreditation. Standards require evidence of compliance and range from Strategic Plans to Purchasing Policies, from Land Acquisition Plans to Volunteer Management Guidelines, and much, much more. CAPRA auditors will also visit the Department to review our evidence of compliance and ensure Department practices align with outlined policies and procedures.
Becoming Nationally Accredited is a longstanding and difficult process that we are able to achieve through hard work and dedication. For example, Erie’s Parks and Recreation Department is only one out of ten agencies in Colorado that are currently accredited which is a valuable measure of the Department’s overall quality of operation, management, and service to the community. Further, National Accreditation demonstrates that Erie meets the national standards of best practice in the delivery of Parks & Recreation services. It holds the Department accountable to the public ensuring responsiveness to meet community needs, increases credibility, and enhances staff teamwork and pride!