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Parks department updates policies and eyes CAPRA accreditation next year
Summary
The Elkhart City Parks and Recreation Department updated its administrative policies — changing scholarship eligibility, tightening weather‑closure thresholds and adding continuity and crisis‑communications plans — and plans a CAPRA self‑assessment this year with a likely visitation next summer.
Matthew Williams presented revisions to the department’s administrative policies and procedures manual and outlined a schedule to pursue CAPRA (Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies) accreditation.
Key policy changes include moving scholarship eligibility from a school reduced‑lunch requirement to an affidavit‑based system, new temperature and notification protocols for weather‑related facility closings, staff‑structure updates, and the addition of a continuity of operations plan plus a crisis communications plan that spells out emergency contacts and departmental spokespeople. Williams told the board the manual undergoes annual review and that the proposed changes are intended to improve service consistency and emergency response.
On accreditation, Williams described the 10 CAPRA chapters and the department’s timeline: complete a self‑assessment by Dec. 31, submit documentation for review, schedule a visitation next summer and expect final results at the national convention the following October. He said several policies are under legal review and identified areas for near‑term focus, including communications, emergency management, human resources orientation and land‑use criteria.
Board members asked clarifying questions about implementation and consistency (for example, how fee‑waiver decisions or permit rules will be applied). Williams said he would align CAPRA requirements with staff work plans and return to the board with updated policies as they are finalized. The board approved the manual changes as presented.
