Prince William County Parks and Recreation Earns CAPRA Reaccreditation

Prince William County Parks and Recreation joins the ranks of elite park and recreation agencies across the country and internationally by earning accreditation through the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) for the second time. The park agency first earned it in 2020. This distinguished accomplishment was awarded during this year’s NRPA Annual Conference. 

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. This mark of distinction indicates that an agency has met rigorous standards related to the management and administration of lands, facilities, resources, programs, safety and services. 

“Accreditation confirms that we’re doing the important work of serving our community well and it also challenges us to keep getting better,” said Janet Bartnik, Acting Director of Prince William County Parks and Recreation. “Our focus remains simple—creating welcoming parks and meaningful recreation opportunities that help our residents connect, play and thrive.”

As part of the accreditation process, Prince William County Parks and Recreation 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. 

The process for accreditation involves a formal application, self-assessments, review, and visit by a team of trained volunteers that results in a written report, and a hearing with the Commission to grant accreditation. 

The Commission is comprised of representatives from NRPA, the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, the National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials, the International City/County Management Association, The Academy for Leisure Sciences, the Armed Forces Recreation Network, the Council of State Executive Directors, The National Recreation and Park Ethnic Minority Society, The National Association of State Park Directors, and the American Therapeutic Recreation Association. 

For more information about CAPRA accreditation, visit nrpa.org.