City of Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) joins the ranks of elite park and recreation agencies across the country by earning accreditation through the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). This distinction was awarded during the 2022 NRPA Annual Conference. 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, and indicates that an agency has met rigorous standards related to the management and administration of lands, facilities, resources, programs, safety and services.
“This distinction further cements Atlanta’s national standing and reputation for excellence in our greenspaces and recreation centers,” said Mayor Andre Dickens. “Congratulations and thank you to our amazing DPR team for their hard work to get us amongst the top one percent of parks and recreation agencies in the nation.”
As part of the accreditation process, DPR demonstrated compliance with 154 recognized standards and document all policies and procedures. The process also helps identify efficiencies and heighten areas of accountability—all of which translate into higher quality service and operations for Atlanta communities.
“We are extremely honored and proud to achieve this accomplishment,” said DPR Commissioner Justin Cutler. “Accreditation helps to enhance the quality of our departmental operations and service delivery to the community. It also demonstrates our dedication to providing equitable access to quality parks and recreational programs in Atlanta.
The process for accreditation involves a formal application, self-assessments, a site visit by a team of trained visitors that results in a written report and a hearing with the commission to grant accreditation. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s visitations were held virtually. Once accredited, the agency must uphold the standards by submitting an annual report and is reviewed again in five years.
The Commission is comprised of representatives from NRPA, the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, the National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials, the International City/County Management Association, the Academy for Leisure Sciences, the Armed Forces Recreation Network and the Council of State Executive Directors.
“Thank you to our entire staff for their continued contributions to making the Department of Parks and Recreation best in class.” added Commissioner Cutler.
