CAPRA

THPRD has been accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies.

THPRD has been accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies.

THPRD is now one of only four park and recreation providers in Oregon--and around 160 agencies nationwide--to be awarded the prestigious CAPRA accreditation. On September 25, representatives of THPRD were officially granted the accreditation from the 15-member CAPRA board, an independent review body administratively sponsored by the National Recreation & Park Association.

Read the official press release here.

What did accreditation require?

Getting accredited required THPRD to demonstrate its compliance with 151 standards that the commission deems indicative of excellent management. THPRD achieved all 151.

CAPRA’s website defines its standards as “an effective and credible means of evaluating a park and recreation agency’s overall system.” The accreditation process “assures policy makers, department staff, the general public and taxpayers that an accredited park and recreation agency has been independently evaluated against established benchmarks as delivering a high level of quality.”

Timeline of events
THPRD submitted a self-assessment in April 2017, preparing and documenting its compliance with the CAPRA standards. In June 2017, three CAPRA visitors completed a peer review of THPRD’s application materials. Finally, THPRD was awarded CAPRA accreditation in September, 2017.

What does it mean for district residents?

This valuable process has made us a better agency because we reviewed, updated and documented plans that will guide our long-term operations, and make us more effective at providing high-quality programs and services.

District residents can be confident that whether they participate in a THPRD activity, visit a facility or enjoy a natural area, they are receiving the very best in parks and recreation services.

Learn more about CAPRA and the accreditation process HERE.