A Milestone Worth Celebrating!

WPRD Earns National Accreditation, Reinforcing Our Commitment to Providing Superior Parks, Facilities, and Programs for ALL to Enjoy an Active Life.

 Williston Parks & Recreation District (WPRD) is proud to announce its achievement of national accreditation through the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA)!

After years of dedication, preparation, and hard work, WPRD was recognized in late September during the 2026 NRPA Annual Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, marking one of the most significant achievements in our District's history.

This national recognition reflects the dedication of our staff, leadership, and Park Board Commissioners, who have worked together toward a shared goal of providing exceptional parks and recreation services to the Williston community.

What Is CAPRA Accreditation?

CAPRA accreditation is the only national accreditation program specifically designed for park and recreation agencies. It is a distinguished recognition awarded to agencies that demonstrate excellence in operations, management, and service to their communities.

Only approximately 2% of park and recreation agencies nationwide have achieved CAPRA accreditation, placing WPRD among a select group of agencies recognized for meeting the highest national standards in parks and recreation.

To earn accreditation, WPRD was required to demonstrate compliance with 154 nationally recognized standards, covering essential areas such as park and facility management, recreation programming, administration, safety, policies, and organizational operations.

The accreditation process includes extensive documentation, internal assessments, an independent review, and an evaluation by trained professionals before final approval by the Commission.

Achieving accreditation demonstrates that WPRD meets rigorous national standards and is committed to accountability, continuous improvement, and delivering high-quality recreational opportunities.

More Than an Accreditation. A Promise to Our Community.

While earning CAPRA accreditation is a tremendous honor, its meaning extends far beyond national recognition.

During our acceptance, WPRD shared a statement that reflects what this achievement truly represents:

"Our CAPRA accreditation is not just an award on the wall. It is a promise to our community that we at Williston Parks & Recreation District are committed to providing superior parks, facilities, and programs for ALL to enjoy an active life. It is also a promise that every day, we will hold ourselves to the highest national standards while continuing to prepare for the needs of tomorrow."

Watch this quick video that played during our acceptance. 

This promise represents the heart of everything we do.

From maintaining our parks and facilities to developing programs, hosting community events, and planning for future growth, our goal has always been to create opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy an active life.

CAPRA accreditation reinforces that commitment while challenging us to continue growing, improving, and preparing for the future needs of our community.

Years of Dedication. A Future of Possibilities.

Earning national accreditation did not happen overnight. It required years of collaboration, careful evaluation, policy development, and a District-wide commitment to meeting the highest standards in parks and recreation.

Throughout this process, our team examined how we operate, identified opportunities for improvement, strengthened internal procedures, and worked to ensure our services continue to meet the evolving needs of Williston.

Although accreditation is an incredible achievement, our work does not stop here. Maintaining CAPRA accreditation requires annual compliance reporting and a comprehensive reaccreditation process every five years. This ongoing commitment means we will continue to hold ourselves to the highest national standards, strive for excellence each year, and continually look for ways to improve the parks, facilities, and programs we provide to our community.

We are incredibly proud of our entire WPRD team and grateful to our Park Board Commissioners and community for their continued support.

This achievement belongs to all of Williston, and we look forward to continuing to provide superior parks, facilities, and programs for ALL to enjoy an active life!

Learn More About CAPRA

To learn more about the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies and the national accreditation process, visit www.nrpa.org/CAPRA.