Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission maintains National Accreditation in Parks and Recreation
December 17, 2024
Distinction recognizes quality of operation, management and service to the community
The Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission (CCPRC) was recently recognized for its re-accreditation through the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). CCPRC received the distinction during the 2024 NRPA Annual Conference in Atlanta in October, ranking them among elite park and recreation agencies and departments across the country.
CCPRC received their initial CAPRA accreditation in 2014 and was last reaccredited in 2019. CAPRA provides quality assurance and quality improvement of accredited park and recreation agencies throughout the United States by providing agencies with a management system of best practices. CAPRA is the only national accreditation of park and recreation agencies and is a valuable measure of an agency’s overall quality of operation, management and service to the community. Out of thousands of agencies in the country, only 213 parks and recreation agencies have earned accreditation.
This mark of distinction indicates an agency met rigorous standards related to the management and administration of lands, facilities, resources, programs, safety and services. The process for accreditation involves training, self-assessments, a formal application, a site visit by a team of trained CAPRA volunteers and a hearing to grant accreditation. Once accredited, the agency must uphold the standards and is reviewed again in five years. As part of the accreditation process, CCPRC demonstrated compliance with 154 recognized standards and policy and procedure documentation. The ongoing process of achieving and maintaining accreditation itself helps identify and spotlight areas of efficiency and heighten areas of accountability, which translates into higher quality service and operation to benefit the community.
CCPRC earned a perfect score on its assessments, with CAPRA reviewers stating that “the agency’s strength shines through the dedication and long-standing commitment of its staff [who] truly embody the idea of parks and recreation for all.”
“The award is the culmination of a five-year journey supported by all members of our organization and led by the members of our Accreditation Team, fondly known as the A-Team,” said CCPRC Associate Executive Director Phil Macchia. “This achievement would not be possible without the hard work and commitment of each member of the CCPRC team. It recognizes our organizational efficiency, adherence to policies and procedures, and the significant investment of time and dedication.”
For more information about CAPRA accreditation, visit www.nrpa.org/CAPRA. NRPA is the leading non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of public parks, recreation and conservation. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org.
About Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission
The mission of CCPRC is to improve the quality of life in Charleston County by offering a diverse system of park facilities, programs and services. The large park system features over 11,000 acres of property and includes four land parks, a skate park, three beach parks, four seasonally-lifeguarded beach areas, three dog parks, two landmark fishing piers, three waterparks, 19 boat landings, a climbing wall, a challenge course, an interpretive center, a historic plantation site, an equestrian center, cottages, a campground, a marina, as well as wedding, meeting and event facilities. The park system also offers a wide variety of recreational services – festivals, camps, classes, programs, and more. For more information on CCPRC, call 843-795-4386, visit CharlestonCountyParks.com or download the Charleston County Parks mobile app.
