Bismarck Parks & Recreation

BPRD Earns National Reaccreditation in Parks and Recreation

October 20, 2023 — News

Mark of distinction recognizes commitment to highest level of service to the communityCAPRA logo

Bismarck Parks and Recreation District (BPRD) upholds its status among elite park and recreation agencies across the country by earning its third reaccreditation 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 2023 NRPA Annual Conference in Dallas last week.

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 reaccreditation process, BPRD had to demonstrate compliance with 154 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.

“Bismarck Parks and Recreation District is proud to be one of only 206 accredited agencies in the country and shares this honor with Bismarck residents,” says Kevin Klipfel, BPRD executive director.

The process for reaccreditation every five years involves a formal application, self-assessments and visits with a team of trained volunteers that results in a written report. BPRD was first accredited in 2008 and was reaccredited in 2013 and 2018. BPRD was the first and remains the only accredited park and recreation agency in North Dakota.

The Commission is comprised of representatives from NRPA, American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials, International City/County Management Association, Academy for Leisure Sciences, Armed Forces Recreation Network, Council of State Executive Directors, National Recreation and Park Ethnic Minority Society, National Association of State Park Directors and American Therapeutic Recreation Association.