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New parks director outlines multi-year plan and push for national CAPRA accreditation
Summary
Darryl Crittendon, Hampton’s new Parks & Recreation director, told council he plans a four-year push for CAPRA national accreditation, stepped-up staff training and higher maintenance standards while expanding programming; initial staffing and training costs will be routed through the regular budget process.
Darryl Crittendon, the new director for Hampton Parks, Recreation & Leisure Services, outlined a department plan during the council work session focused on staff training, program expansion and pursuing national CAPRA accreditation.
Crittendon said CAPRA accreditation will be a four-year effort requiring policy overhaul, staff training and a sustained management team. "I've established some goals for the department, achieve CAPRA accreditation, meaning that we will be nationally accredited," he said, and added that a recently hired accreditation finance manager will help jump-start the process. He outlined priorities including certified playground safety training, improved maintenance cycles (mowing every 12–14 business days), upgraded athletic fields with irrigation and overseeding, and expanded senior and youth programming.
Councilmembers asked about costs and how the accreditation process would be funded. Crittendon described a phased approach to training and conferences this year and next; Deputy City Manager Brian De Profio said any capital or operating requests would be brought to council through the annual budget process. Council members with previous accreditation experience recommended a cost–benefit review and emphasized maintaining accessibility to programs while exploring cost-recovery models for some offerings.
Crittendon also discussed community engagement strategies — including recruiting local volunteers and partnering with churches, schools and businesses — and confirmed the parks master-plan procurement will be reviewed by his incoming senior management team before staff moves forward. The council did not take a formal vote on the accreditation plan at this meeting.
