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Parks department advances CAPRA accreditation push; final file due in December
Summary
Deputy director Pat O'Mara updated the commission on the department's multi-year effort to regain accreditation from the Commission for Accreditation of Parks and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA), with a completed evidence file due this December and on‑site review planned for spring 2026.
Pat O'Mara, deputy parks, recreation and cultural affairs director, briefed the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission on Oct. 7 about the department's effort to secure CAPRA accreditation, a national best-practice review for parks and recreation agencies.
O'Mara said CAPRA involves 154 standards, 36 of which are considered fundamental; agencies must show documented evidence of compliance. The city must meet 90% of non-fundamental standards in an initial accreditation and 95% at reaccreditation. The department began its current push in January 2024, has collected evidence of compliance for most standards and plans to submit its completed file to the commission by mid-December 2025.
If accepted, CAPRA will assign a three- to four-person review team that will examine documents and conduct an on‑site visit, including a facilities tour. O'Mara said the department submitted multiple possible weeks for the spring 2026 on-site review and that the final CAPRA determination will be announced at the national conference next year. He described the primary benefit of accreditation as standardization of procedures and improved quality assurance across facilities and processes.
Commissioners asked whether the department is using current CAPRA standards; O'Mara said the department is applying the current standards and noted CAPRA plans to streamline standards in 2027. Commissioners expressed support and asked how the commission could help; O'Mara said the board's support is sufficient and that commissioners may be asked to provide hospitality if reviewers attend a meeting.
The commission did not take formal action on the update.
