City's Parks Department Earns National Accreditation

[[image:8677,right]|http://www.nrpa.org/CAPRA/]FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 6, 2011

For more information contact
Mick Renneisen, Director, City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department, (812) 349-3700 or [renneism@bloomington.in.gov|mailto:renneism@bloomington.in.gov]

Bloomington, Ind. - City Parks and Recreation Director Mick Renneisen, after attending a hearing of the Commission for Accreditation of Parks and Recreation Agnecies (CAPRA), received official notification in Washington, D.C. last month that the Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department has been reaccredited.

"Achieving CAPRA accreditation is a rigorous process," Renneisen said. "It is truly gratifying to be one of only 97 accredited parks and recreation agencies across the United States. This recognition is a tribute to the professionalism and dedication of our talented staff and the support of our community."

The Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department was first accredited by CAPRA in 2001, and was reaccredited in 2006; reaccreditation occurs in five-year cycles. 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.

"I am proud of our Parks staff for the work they do operating an award-winning department," said Mayor Mark Kruzan. "I'm also proud of the community for supporting and understanding the importance of recreation and how it adds to the quality of life of Bloomington residents."

Bloomington as a community benefits in many ways from the department's accreditation efforts. Thorough reviews of administrative policies and procedures help identify redundancies in providing services. The department uses information gathered during the process to more effectively manage its resources and assure the community their tax dollars are being used wisely.

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