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Naperville Park District Achieves State Accreditation - District Officially an Illinois Distinguished Park and Recreation Accredited Agency
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ray McGury, Executive Director, 630-848-3500, rmcgury@napervilleparks.org Sameera Luthman, Director of Marketing and Communications, 630-848-3570, sluthman@napervilleparks.org Date: November 20, 2012 At its annual meeting on November 19, the Illinois Distinguished Park and Recreation Accreditation Committee voted unanimously to confirm the Naperville Park District as an Illinois Distinguished Park and Recreation Accredited Agency. The committee’s announcement at the November 19 meeting was the final step in a nine-month evaluation process that involved staff in all areas of operations. "We are extremely pleased to have achieved state accreditation as well as national accreditation," said Executive Director Ray McGury. Approximately one year ago, the Naperville Park District became one of only two park districts in Illinois to have earned national accreditation through the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA). The state accreditation process is a joint initiative of the Illinois Association of Park Districts and the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association. Less than 1% of the park districts and city park departments in Illinois have earned state accreditation, and approximately 1% of park districts across the country have achieved CAPRA accreditation. "Achieving both state and national accreditation brings benefits to the District and the community," said McGury. "Comparing ourselves to industry standards and inviting outside review by experts from other leading agencies helps us to bring more excellent programs and facilities to our residents," he said. Additionally, the Naperville Park District’s experience with both state and national accreditation has prompted a new cooperative effort between the Illinois Distinguished Park and Recreation Accreditation Review Committee and CAPRA to streamline the process for other agencies who participate in both evaluations. The Naperville Park District helped pilot a new process in which agencies can be exempted from some of the state standards if they have fulfilled similar national standards and vice versa. The District will be recognized along with other newly accredited agencies at the state conference in Chicago in January 2013. For further information about the Naperville Park District, please visit www.naperviillparks.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 Park and Recreation Accredited Agency, 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 140 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. |
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