4 minute read
Agency Briefs
The City of Colorado Springs
Parks, Recreation and Cultural
Services Department and City
of Loveland Parks & Recreation
Department joined the ranks of elite park and recreation agencies across the country by earning accreditation through the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). This distinguished accomplishment was awarded during the 2020 NRPA Annual Conference: A Virtual Experience.
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, Colorado Springs and Loveland 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.
Loveland Parks & Recreation Department Director, Elizabeth Kayl, stated, “I would like to thank my entire department for their efforts – we would not receive such a distinction without their dedication, professionalism, and expertise”.
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. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s visitations were held virtually. 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.
New Playground in Frisco Opens with Help from Grants
A ribbon cutting for the Walter Byron Playground in Frisco took place on Oct. 21, 2020. The new project was made possible with the help of CPRA, PlayCore and Gametime’s Play On! grant. Learn more about grants at gametime.com.
Submit your best photo!
NEW PHOTO CONTEST WINNER WILL RECEIVE 2021 CONFERENCE REGISTRATION!
Photo Contest Categories:
• Parks & Playgrounds • Recreation & Programming • Trails, Nature & Conservation
The CPRA member whose photo receives the most votes will win ‘Best in Show’ and a free 2021 CPRA Annual Conference registration! The top three photos receiving the most votes in each category will be featured in the Summer 2021 issue of CPRA Byline magazine.
Entries due by April 15, 2021. Online voting runs April 16-May 14,
2021. Photos taken between Jan. 1, 2020 and April 15, 2021 are eligible to be submitted.
City of Loveland Shining Star Awards
The City of Loveland Parks and Recreation Department is proud to share some positive news for our department. Across the board, Parks and Recreation Department staff are committed to providing outstanding service to our community and achieving excellence in all we do. We were thrilled when, on September 13, the City of Loveland recognized two of our employees and one of our teams for “2020 Shining Star” awards. Recipients of these awards were nominated by other City of Loveland staff and selected via an evaluation committee.
The City’s Core Value Award for Accountability, Integrity, Transparency & Honoring the Public Trust was awarded to Parks Crew Leader Devin Wilson (lower right). The Cross-departmental Team Awarded was given to Open Lands Division team members Debbie Eley and Cindy Ticer (at left), along with members of the City’s Power Department, for their collaborative work on the City’s Raptor Monitoring Program. Molly Elder (upper right), Administrative Business Manager of the Parks and Recreation Department, was recognized as the City of Loveland Employee of the Year for her work supporting the department.
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