JAMES CITY COUNTY — James City County Parks & Recreation earned reaccreditation through the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) during the 2022 NRPA Annual Conference held in September.
The honor recognizes James City County Parks & Recreation among the ranks of elite park and recreation agencies across the country, the county said in a press release. Initially accredited in September 2017, the reaccreditation process is required every five years.
“Parks & Recreation staff, as well as numerous county staff members, worked diligently over the past year to comply with the more than 154 standards needed to receive reaccreditation,” John Carnifax, Parks & Recreation Director, said. “The department received very positive feedback from CAPRA with comments focused on well-maintained facilities, passionate and knowledgeable staff, teamwork, pride in what we do, commitment to our community and our ability to work in partnership with community organizations.”
CAPRA accreditation is the only national accreditation for park and recreation agencies. The accreditation measures a department’s overall quality of operation, management and service to the community.
The reaccreditation process includes a formal application, self-assessment, a site visit, a written report and final approval from the commission. Once granted, an agency must submit annual reports and is reviewed again in five years.
According to the county, benefits include “an increased potential for external financial support and tax savings through grants, documenting all department operations as a benchmark for continuous improvement, and routinely reviewing our department against national standards to ensure efficient and effective delivery of services to our citizens.”
James City County is one of only 14 such accredited agencies in Virginia, and one of 197 nationally accredited parks and recreation departments.
For more information about CAPRA accreditation, visit www.nrpa.org/CAPRA.
