Mesa Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities remains one of the elite park and recreation agencies across the country by earning re-accreditation through the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). Mesa first received this distinction in 2013. This year's accomplishment was awarded Sept. 26 during the 2018 NRPA Annual Conference in Indianapolis.
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.
As part of the accreditation process, Mesa Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities had to demonstrate compliance with 151 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.
"This is quite an accomplishment for our department and I am very proud that we continue to maintain such high standards of agency management and operations," Mesa Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities Director Marc Heirshberg said. "This accomplishment is the result of the hard work, dedication and creativity of our staff and volunteers as well as the tremendous support we receive from City management, our City Council and our residents."
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. Once accredited, the agency must uphold the standards by submitting an annual report and is reviewed again in five years.
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 and the Council of State Executive Directors.
For more information about CAPRA accreditation, visit www.nrpa.org/CAPRA.
About Mesa Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities
With 204 parks, nine aquatic centers, five recreation centers, two professional baseball stadiums, a championship golf course, tennis center, convention center, a 5,000-seat amphitheatre, a cemetery and oversight of maintenance operations at all City owned properties, this uniquely organized department serves employees and citizens throughout ALL stages of life. For more information, visit www.mesaparks.com.
About the National Recreation and Park Association
The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all Americans have access to parks and recreation for health, conservation and social equity. Through its network of 60,000 recreation and park professionals and advocates, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable access to parks and public space. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA's flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.
Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities
Contact: Kevin Christopher
Tel. 480-644-4699
kevin.christopher@mesaaz.gov