Naperville Park District Achieves National Accreditation

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ray McGury, Executive Director, 630-848-3500, rmcgurgy@napervilleparks.org, Sameera Luthman, Director of Marketing and Communications, 630-848-3570, sluthman@napervilleparks.org

Date: Nov. 10 

The decision was announced at the NRPA national conference in Atlanta, following a formal hearing before the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA).

Naperville is the second park district in Illinois to earn this distinction. The Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies accredits a handful of park agencies each year that have completed a multi-step process, involving a self-review by the agency, a site visit and an evaluation and formal report by the commission. As of 2011, only 104 park and recreation agencies have achieved CAPRA accreditation, out of more than 10,000 agencies nationwide.

"We are extremely proud to bring this honor to Naperville," Park District Executive Director Ray McGury said. "It’s an affirmation of our high standards and also an encouragement to continue bringing high-quality recreation and parks experiences to our community."

The park district’s accreditation process began approximately one year ago and included an extensive self-evaluation by staff and a five-day visit from CAPRA reviewers in July. Maintaining the accreditation requires annual reports and five- and 10-year reviews.

In addition to maintaining CAPRA accreditation, Naperville Park District staff intends to begin the state accreditation process in 2012. The district is an Illinois Distinguished Agency and has maintained this status since 1994.

Park district staff members said the CAPRA process has helped them see the big picture, focus on long-term goals and plans, review plans more regularly and organize documents so they are accessible and useable and collaborate more effectively both interdepartmentally and with outside organizations.

For questions about the Naperville Park District and its programs and facilities, please contact the Naperville Park District at 630-848-5000 or visit www.napervilleparks.org.

About the Naperville Park District: Created in 1966, the Naperville Park District is an independent, municipal agency serving the recreation needs of its residents. An Illinois Distinguished Agency since 1994, the District is one of only 1% of park districts across the country to be nationally accredited through the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA). The Naperville Park District’s mission is to provide recreation and park experiences that enhance the quality of life for our community, including benefits such as community health, environmental education, social connections, and personal growth. The District maintains and operates more than 2,500 acres with 130+ parks and facilities and provides more than 1,400 recreational, arts and environmental programs and special events annually. Included within the District’s operations are two championship golf courses, a multitude of playgrounds, trails, athletic courts and sports fields, two inline skating and skateboarding facilities, the Millennium Carillon, a paddle boat quarry, historic Centennial Beach, and the beautiful Riverwalk.