Metro Parks Tacoma Earns Elite National Accreditation

CAPRA recognizes Tacoma among the best of the best

Metro Parks Tacoma received recognition for national accreditation last night at the National Recreation and Parks Association’s (NRPA) Best of the Best Ceremony honoring excellence in park system operations. 

The public is invited to learn more and celebrate at a reception prior to the Board of Park Commissioners’ meeting October 27 from 5-5:30 pm at Metro Parks Tacoma’s Headquarters, 4702 S. 19th St.

The Commission on Accreditation for Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) conveys accreditation after evaluating an agency’s overall quality of operation, management, and service to the community. 

Metro Parks Tacoma is now one of 135 agencies nationwide, out of over 12,000 park and recreation systems, to earn this honor.

Park Board President Tim Reid accepted the award for the district saying, “I am proud of staff. This honor highlights the commitment to excellence we’ve held all along. It’s our citizen-driven approach that makes us the Best of the Best. CAPRA has just made it official.”

Meeting CAPRA standards helps assure citizens, policy makers, staff, and program participants that Metro Parks Tacoma is what it strives to be: an accountable agency that contributes to a sustainable and livable city.

Executive Director Jack Wilson commented on the importance of Metro Parks earning accreditation, “In receiving this distinguished recognition from national experts in our field, it validates how committed we are in being the very best at what we do. It is indeed a privilege for me to be associated with such a high performing and professional organization.”

After a decade of progressive growth, district staff performed an internal review in 2013 and recognized a clear alignment with national standards. This led to the formal application for accreditation. 

The accreditation process, which included contributions from nearly every employee and the presentation of more than 1,400 supporting documents, culminated with a four-day, on-site visit from CAPRA's inspection team in June, 2014.

The CAPRA team concluded that Metro Parks Tacoma complies with 144 standards of best practices in the industry and determined that all standards were met or exceeded. The reviewers noted that the district was one of the most organized agencies they had ever visited and one of the few to achieve 100% compliance. They commented that Metro Parks’ strong base of policies, relationship with our community and partners, and comprehensive planning was done to a degree almost unprecedented for first time applicants.

Renton and Bellevue’s City Park Departments are the only two other agencies in the state of Washington that are accredited. Accreditation is valid for a period of five years.

To learn more visit MetroParksTacoma.org/Accreditation.