The City of Pearland Parks & Recreation joins the ranks of the elite park and recreation agencies and departments 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 2013 NRPA Congress and Exposition. The Department is one of only eight agencies in the state of Texas to have achieved this standard. 

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, the City of Pearland Parks & Recreation demonstrated compliance with 144 recognized standards and document all policies and procedures. Often the process helps identify efficiencies and heighten areas of accountability, all of which translate into enhanced service and operation to benefit the community. 

The achievement of accreditation is a source of civic pride for Pearland. “I am personally proud of all of the work that was done to earn this designation. It speaks to the quality of the staff and their commitment to excellent in the Pearland community,” said Michelle Graham, Pearland Parks & Recreation Director. 

The process for accreditation involves self-assessments, a formal application, a site visit by a team of trained visitors that results in a written report and a hearing with the commission to grant accreditation. Once accredited, the agency must uphold the qualifying standards and be 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 American Association for Physical Activity and Recreation, the Armed Forces Recreation Society and the Council of State Executive Directors. 

For more information about CAPRA accreditation, visit nrpa.org/CAPRA. 

About Pearland Parks & Recreation – The vision of Pearland Parks & Recreation is to be the leader in providing quality services that connect the community through people, parks and programs. The department is dedicated to multiplying the Q4 factor: quality facilities, quality programs and quality service for your quality of life. More than one thousand programs, events and activities are planned and produced by the department every year, in service to the City of Pearland and surrounding communities. Pearland Parks & Recreation is a CAPRA accredited agency.  

About the NRPA - The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people. Through its network of 40,000 recreation and park professionals and citizens, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable access to parks and public space. For more information, visit NRPA.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit parksandrecreation.org.