Post Falls staff outline plan to pursue CAPRA accreditation; initial timeline 2–3 years
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Summary
Parks manager Brian Myers presented the CAPRA accreditation process, saying the 2027 standard has 68 standards (37 fundamental) and that an initial accreditation would likely take two to three years; staff time, interdepartmental support and modest fees were noted.
Brian Myers, Post Falls parks manager, told the Nov. 25 commission meeting the department has begun preparing for CAPRA accreditation and outlined the application steps and standards.
Myers said the 2027 CAPRA standard contains 68 total standards, including 37 fundamental standards that must be met; agencies also must meet a portion of elective standards to be accredited. He described a six-step process (application, staff training, mentor assignment, self-assessment, review team feedback, host review) and said hybrid reviews have reduced hosting costs compared with the pre-COVID in-person model. "The exercise that is the big value," Myers said, framing accreditation as a system for discipline and continuous improvement rather than only as a seal.
Commissioners asked about the cost and timeline; Myers said the application fee has been around $2,500 historically but cautioned staff time and interdepartmental support (IT, finance, HR) will represent the largest commitment. He estimated two to three years to complete an initial accreditation and described a five-year reaccreditation cadence after award.