Lower Makefield Township earned a top accreditation through the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) at the 2022 NRPA Annual Conference Sept. 8.
CAPRA accreditation is the only national accreditation for park and recreation agencies and is a measure of an agency’s overall quality of operation, management and service to the community.
As part of the accreditation process, Lower Makefield Township had to demonstrate compliance with 154 recognized standards and document all policies and procedures. Often the process helps identify efficiencies and heighten areas of accountability, all of which translate into higher quality service and operation to benefit the community.
“We are the first agency to complete this process in Pennsylvania which is such a great accomplishment for not only the Parks and Recreation staff but for the Lower Makefield Township Community Volunteers, the Board of Supervisors, The Park Board and the department heads who helped make this Accreditation process possible.” said Monica Tierney, Director of Parks and Recreation. “We are very proud and excited to be a part of the CAPRA Community, this is a real commitment to offer the highest level of service to the community.”
The process for accreditation involves a formal application, self-assessments, a site visit by a team of trained visitors that results in a written report, and a hearing with the commission to grant accreditation. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s visitations were held virtually. Once accredited, the agency must uphold the standards by submitting an annual report and is reviewed again in five years.
The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), with more than 60,000 members, is the leading not-for-profit organization dedicated to building strong, vibrant and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation.
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