Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks Celebrates Prestigious CAPRA Accreditation

TOWSON – Baltimore County’s Department of Recreation and Parks now stands among the most prestigious recreation and parks agencies in the country by this week earning accreditation by the National Recreation and Park Association’s Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA). CAPRA is the only national accreditation of park and recreation departments and is a valuable measure of a department’s overall quality of operation, management, and service to the community. 
 
This exclusive accreditation – held by 214 of approximately 10,000 recreation and park agencies nationwide – was awarded to Department leadership at the National Recreation and Park Association’s annual conference in Atlanta on Wednesday evening.
 
“Baltimore County residents deserve world-class recreational opportunities and our recent CAPRA accreditation affirms that we are poised to continue providing such opportunities,” said County Executive Johnny Olszewski. “This CAPRA accreditation highlights the dedicated and ongoing work by our Recreation and Parks team to deliver excellent service, inclusive parks, modern initiatives, and more. I applaud the efforts of the Department of Recreation and Parks for this achievement and look forward to continuing to work with them and our communities so we can continue building a better Baltimore County together.”
 
The accreditation process involved a formal application that included the Department’s planning processes, community engagement practices, financial procedures and self-assessments; a site visit by a team of trained visitors; and a hearing with the commission to grant accreditation. CAPRA judged the Department on a total of 154 metrics as part of its decision-making process.
 
The perfect score awarded to Baltimore County reflect three years of hard work, including an extensive review of Department procedures and identification of opportunities for improvement.  The work is reflected in the Department’s Reimagine Recreation and Parks initiative – modernization through transparency, sustainability and equity – and its five-year strategic plan. 
 
“Accreditation demonstrates that the Department is reimagining recreation in Baltimore County and carrying out our mission to professionalize our staff and develop innovative, sustainable and inclusive opportunities and facilities,” said Department of Recreation and Parks Director Bob Smith.  “I want to congratulate the entire Recreation and Parks team for their hard work in reaching this amazing milestone.  I also want to thank County Executive Johnny Olszewski, the County Council, and the Board of Recreation for their continued support towards this goal.” 
 
This accreditation serves as the foundation for a comprehensive management system of operational best practices and demonstrates that the Department of Recreation and Parks provides Baltimore County communities with the highest level of service.

The agency will be audited by CAPRA annually to ensure its standards are being upheld and reviewed for reaccreditation in five years. More information about CAPRA can be found on the National Recreation and Park Association’s website.