October 23, 2009

Charlotte, NC--  Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation has been formally awarded national accreditation by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA), sponsored by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA).

 “We are very proud to be one of only 88 agencies in the country to be so accredited,” said Park and Recreation Director Garges.  “Congratulations to all our staff for their hard work to make this happen. This affirms that we are using the best practices in the profession to provide excellent services to our citizens.”

The accreditation caps a year-long process in which all aspects of the Park and Recreation Department --operations, facilities, administration, programs and procedures--were compiled into extensive documents and carefully examined by professionals in the field. The documents filled more than 15 binders and describe how all divisions meet more than 155 national standards. A team of experts came to Charlotte last March to make on-site inspections and personal examinations.

Accreditation recognizes Park and Rec’s commitment to quality and constant improvement. The notice of accreditation was officially presented to Director Jim Garges at the NRPA National Congress in Salt Lake City. Agencies accredited by CAPRA demonstrate not only that they meet standards for quality, but also that they have the professional competence, commitment and community support to complete the rigorous process of accreditation.

For more information on park and recreation agency accreditation, contact James O’Connor, Accreditation Manager of the National Recreation and Park Association:  703 858-2150 or joconnor@nrpa.org.