|
Oak Lawn Park District
Receives National Accreditation
The National Park and Recreation Association’s Commission for
Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies awarded the Oak Lawn Park
District the status of Accredited Agency on Friday,
March 14, 2008. The Oak Lawn Park District was conferred this Agency
Accreditation for having fully demonstrated commitment to the park and
recreation field and by complying with a high standard of services,
professional operations and management practices. Currently, only
seventy-three agencies nationwide have earned this prestigious
designation, none from Illinois. |
 |
The National Committee on
Accreditation for Public Park and Recreation Agencies developed the pilot
program in 1989. This pilot program set the standards and procedures for
the current Commission. The Commission for Accreditation of Park and
Recreation Agencies administers a rigorous program based on
self-assessment and peer review using national standards of best practice
to better promote the quality of agency services and delivery systems.
Agency accreditation is available to all entities administering park and
recreation systems, including municipalities, townships, counties, special
districts and regional authorities, councils of government and schools.
Agency accreditation is voluntary, but an essential piece to producing
quality environments for communities to play, live and grow.
The agency benefits for receiving this accreditation include: Public and
political recognition; Increased efficiency and evidence of
accountability; Identifies areas for improvement by comparing an agency
against national standards of best practice; Enhances staff teamwork and
pride by engaging all staff in the process; Creates an environment for
regular reviews of operations, policies, and procedures and promotes
continual improvement and Forces written documentation of policies and
procedures.
Benefits for the public include: Assurance and validation of
well-administered services in accord with approved professional practices;
Potential for external financial support and savings to the public;
External recognition of a quality governmental service; Holds an agency
accountable to the public and ensures responsiveness to meet their needs
and Improves customer and quality services.
This accreditation has set the groundwork for the Oak Lawn Park District
to elevate the level of standards of service, professional operations and
management practices in order to serve the every changing needs of the
community. |
|
On October 17, 2003 the Oak Lawn Park
District was evaluated by a committee of commissioners, directors from
other park districts and six additional observers from the fields of parks
and recreation.
After a grueling process that the park district had been preparing for for
two years, the committee announced that the Oak Lawn Park District had
earned the distinction of being a Distinguished Agency.
Out of over 357 agencies in the Illinois Parks and
Recreation Association, less than 10 percent have achieved Distinguished
Agency status. Only 30 of the park districts, Special Recreation
Associations and forest preserve districts located in Illinois are
Distinguished Agencies.
The Oak Lawn Park District is the 31st. Certification is for six years and
then the entire process must be repeated. |
 |
|
