Title
Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department Receives National Re-Accreditation (B)
This item is a brief presentation regarding PRCA’s recently obtained reaccreditation and to view the 25th Anniversary CAPRA video. **estimated staff presentation 10 minutes**
Explanation
On September 27, 2018, the City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs (PRCA) joined the ranks of elite parks, recreation and cultural affairs agencies across the country by earning reaccreditation through the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). This accomplishment was awarded during the 2018 NRPA Annual Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana.
In 2013, the department received its first accreditation, then one of only 119 agencies that had achieved this accomplishment. Now, five years later, there are 178 accredited departments in the country. Fewer than 2% of all parks and recreation agencies in the U.S. achieve this distinction.
The accreditation process compares the City’s PRCA operations against 151 Industry Best Practices and Standards. Meeting or exceeding these Best Practices makes a department better and more effective in serving its citizens. The Industry Best Practices and Standards of CAPRA are in line with the City’s efforts to provide exemplary services for the people who call Gainesville home and to further Gainesville’s drive to become a New American City. From innovative new parks, to uplifting cultural experiences and recreational programming that appeals to diverse audiences, PRCA is a leader on the national scene by being reaccredited.
The accreditation process is a voluntary evaluation of the department that is conducted by an external, unbiased source, CAPRA, which is the only national accreditation for parks, recreation and cultural affairs agencies, and measures an agency’s overall quality of operation, management and service to the community. The department’s business practices are evaluated against national best practice standards created by the NRPA. Aside from the initial review, the accreditation process has an ongoing internal review of the department’s policies and procedures, which help document all aspects of the department’s operations. The department is required to develop a new self-assessment report every five years, as well as submit annual reports to maintain its accreditation.
PRCA’s reaccreditation is the result of the dedication by the department’s staff, citizens and support from other City departments. Since the adoption of the department’s Vision 2020 Master Plan in 2012, staff has focused on maintaining standards and metrics to gauge the level of service provided to the citizens of Gainesville. Going forward, this reaccreditation process will further establish the department’s mission to provide and maintain the natural, recreational and cultural facilities and programs that make Gainesville a great place to live, work and visit; and that help sustain the City economically, socially and environmentally.
Fiscal Note
No funds are being requested.
Recommendation
The City Commission hear a brief presentation by Assistant City Manager Dan Hoffman and Steve Phillips, Director of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department and view the 25th anniversary CAPRA video.