CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The City of Clarksville Parks and Recreation Department earned its place among the nation’s top parks and recreation agencies with its accreditation through the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA).
Accreditation is based on an agency’s compliance with the 154 standards for national accreditation. To achieve accreditation, an agency must comply with all 37 Fundamental and 103 out of 114 Non-Fundamental Standards.
The City of Clarksville exceeded CAPRA’s requirements by meeting all 154 standards and will be the first Tennessee municipality in over 20 years to receive the accreditation, and only the second ever behind Germantown.
"This accreditation is the culmination of a lot of hard work, diligence and persistence by our Parks and Recreation Department staff,” said Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts. “Director Jennifer Letourneau led her team in meeting 100% of the standards, a feat that is unprecedented, and a testament to every member of the Parks and Recreation Department family's commitment to excellence. I am extremely proud of their work and this accomplishment proves we are on the right track."
WHY ACCREDITATION?
Nationwide, nearly 200 million people use local park and recreation services annually to enhance their physical and social well-being. They seek the highest quality recreation experiences.
Agency self-assessment and peer review is an excellent process for evaluating the quality of the system, which delivers these services.
Furthermore, accreditation carries many benefits for Clarksville residents. With an increase in recognition, The Parks & Recreation department becomes a stronger candidate for grants and other sources of external financial support.
Other agency benefits include:
Public and political recognition
Increased efficiency and evidence of accountability
Highlighting of areas for improvement by comparing an Parks and Recreation against national standards of best practices
Enhanced staff teamwork and pride by engaging all staff in the process
Establishing an environment for regular reviews of operations, policies, and procedures and promotes continual improvement
Forces written documentation of policies and procedures
Formal Accreditation Application & Self-Assessment
About Clarksville Parks & Recreation
Clarksville Parks & Recreation provides a variety of indoor/outdoor programs, facilities, nature activities, and entertainment events for people living in the Montgomery County and Fort Campbell area. These free, or reasonably priced, year-round experiences help residents enhance their health, wellness, and social engagement—resulting in a stronger, better community.