The City of Fort Collins’ parks and recreation department has earned reaccreditation through the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). The reaccreditation was awarded during the 2025 NRPA Annual Conference in Orlando, Fla.
CAPRA accreditation is the only national accreditation program for park and recreation agencies. It recognizes organizations that meet established standards for quality, accountability and service delivery. Reaccreditation reflects the department’s continued commitment to operating at a high level of service and maintaining best practices in park and recreation management.
“Reaccreditation shows that we are keeping the needs of our community at the center of everything we do,” says LeAnn Williams, the city’s deputy director of community services. “From our parks and trails to recreation programs and community events, this recognition reflects our team’s dedication to providing safe, welcoming and high-quality experiences for everyone in Fort Collins.”
Through the reaccreditation process, Fort Collins’ parks and recreation departments demonstrated compliance with 154 nationally recognized standards related to the management and administration of parks, facilities, programs, safety and services. Reaccreditation supports ongoing evaluation and improvement of department operations, helping ensure that services, facilities and programs continue to meet the needs of the Fort Collins community in an efficient, transparent and responsible manner.
The process includes comprehensive self-assessment, extensive documentation of policies and procedures, an onsite review by trained volunteer evaluators and a formal review by the CAPRA Commission.
The CAPRA Commission is an independence body 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, the Council of State Executive Directors, the National Recreation and Park Ethnic Minority Society, the National Association of State Park Directors and the American Therapeutic Recreation Association. For more information about CAPRA accreditation, visit the NRPA website.
