Kettering PRCA Accredited for Fifth Time
The City of Kettering Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department joins the ranks of elite park and recreation agencies across the country by earning accreditation for the fifth time 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 2016 NRPA Annual Conference in St. Louis, Missouri.
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 accreditation process, Kettering had to demonstrate compliance with 151 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.
The process for accreditation involves a formal application, self-assessments, a site visit by a team of trained visitors that results in a written report, and a hearing with the commission to grant accreditation.
For more information about CAPRA accreditation, visit www.nrpa.org/CAPRA.
Awards and Recognition
We’ve received numerous awards over the years for the work our amazing staff do every day. We share these with you, our residents as we all strive to make Kettering the Community to Live, Work and Play!
National Recreation & Park Association Awards & Recognition
NRPA Gold Medal in 1977, 1994 and 2014. Finalist in 2011, 2012, 2013
Earned Accreditation by the Commission for Accreditation of Parks and Recreation Agencies in 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2016
Great Lakes Regional Council/NRPA – Employee Wellness Program – 2009 Health and Fitness Award
Ohio Parks & Recreation Association Awards & Recognition
Skate Plaza won award of excellence for park area development in 2005
New & Improved Parent/Child Swim Lesson Program won outstanding award for youth programs and events, ages 0-5
Partners for Healthy Youth: Youth Week won award of excellence for teen programs and events in 2005
Healthy Ohioans Community Award in 2004 and 2005 in the suburban category.
Charles I. Lathrem Senior Center won award of excellence for senior programs in 2003.
Fraze brochure won an outstanding award for marketing in 1999.
Delco Park won an outstanding award for park area development in 1999.
Kettering Youth Summit won an honorable mention in 1999.
The Madhatters program won award of excellence under preschool category in 2000.
Our Backyard Festival of Diversity program won outstanding award under youth program category in 2000.
Outstanding Award under senior program for The Ukulelians in 2000.
Kettering Fitness & Wellness Center, Meritorious in Facility Award Category, 2006
Cops and Kids Camp, Meritorious in Program Awards-Youth Programs and Events Category, 2006
Picnic in your Park, Honorable Mention in Program Awards-Family Programs and Events Category, 2006
ABC’s in Kettering, Meritorious in Marketing-Broadcast Media Category, 2006
Senior Transportation, Superior Senior Program, 2007
Honorable Mention, Lincoln Park Lights, Kettering Youth Leadership Academy, Camp Funtastic, 2007
Employee Wellness Program, Award of Merit, Management Innovation/Special Project Award, 2008
The Partners for Healthy Youth Community Day of Service received an OPRA Award of Excellence for Outstanding Management Innovation. We beat out 5 other nominations in the state, 2009.
Pondview Park Environmental Learning Center, Award of Excellence in Park Area Development, 2010 Pondview was also one of three finalists for the prestigious “best-in-show” Governor’s Award for Parks and Recreation.
The EGG Intergenerational Program at Kennedy Park, Award of Excellence in Cross-Cultural/Intergenerational Programming, 2010
Kettering PRCA Broadcast Media Plan (television commercials), Award of Excellence in Marketing: Broadcast Media, 2010
Partners for Healthy Youth Summer Food Initiative, Award of Excellence in Management Innovation, 2010
Construction Public Information Campaign, 1st Place, Marketing – Print, 2011
Program Advisory Committee and Innovation team, 1st Place, Management Innovation, 2011
Kennedy Park, 2nd Place, Park Area Development, $1,000,000 – Higher, 2011
KRC/Adventure Reef Water Park, 2nd Place, Facility $2,500,000 – Higher, 2011
The Friendship Arch Public Art Project, 3rd Place, Cultural Arts Programming, 2011
Asset Athletes – Sports Innovation – 1st Place, 2012
PBS Kids Day in the Park – Environmental Programs, 1st Place, 2012
Regional Recreation Accessibility Training – Management Innovation, 1st Place 2012
The Habitat Environmental Education Center – Facility Award, 2nd Place, 2013
Art on the Playground – Special Event Award, 2nd Place, 2013
Uncovering Kettering – Historical and Cultural Arts Award, 3rd Place, 2013
Movin’ & Groovin’ Summer Camp Wellness Program, Health & Wellness Award, 3rd Place, 2013
Fraze Fan Fare, Management Innovation Award, 3rd Place, 2013
Miscellaneous Awards & Recognition
2008 Daniel Flaherty Park Excellence Award from Great Lakes Park Training Institute for the Skate Plaza.
Ohio Department of Health – “Healthy Community Award” (Silver) 2007 and 2008.
Business Week named Kettering as second best place to raise a family in Ohio—2009.
Kettering S.T.A.N.D. was presented the Mayor’s Award for Volunteer Youth Service in 2001.
Grandparent Friendly Community Award in 2000.
Dayton Business Journal ranks Polen Farm as one of largest banquet facilities in the Dayton area.
American in Bloom National Competition – Award winner in 50,001-100,000 population category
The 2013 Healthy Ohio-Healthy Workplace Silver Level Award.
The 2015 Healthy Ohio-Healthy Workplace Silver Level Award.
Aquatics Awards & Recognition
2004 Kettering City Swim Team received the 2nd place in the small team division at The Ohio State Championship Meet.
2004 Scholarship to NRPA Aquatic Conference in Charleston, SC was awarded to Tammy Erdmann
2000 Certificate of Achievement to the Water Raves Water Park for NRPA Pool Cool Program
1996 First place at the American Red Cross Lifeguard Competition
1997 Third place at the American Red Cross Lifeguard Competition
Arena Awards & Recognition
Excellence on Ice Award from the Professional Skaters Association every year since 2001.
Fraze Awards & Recognition
Fraze ranked in Pollstar’s Top 100 Amphitheaters Worldwide since 2005, ranked #51 for 2008.
Fraze ranked No. 14 in world for ticket sales in Pollstar’s Magazine in 2010.
In 2000 the Hermes Award awarded by the Dayton Ad Club to the Fraze Pavilion for direct marketing.
Sheryl Crow DVD was taped live at Fraze in 2003.
Rosewood Arts Centre Awards & Recognition
Rosewood Arts Centre, Top Ten Arts Organizations in the Miami Valley, 2004 and 2005
Stone Exposition—Kettering Rocks!—was the first International Stone Carving Exposition in the United States.
The Sunshine Artist Magazine, national publication for exhibiting artists, named Art on the Commons as the top ten best festivals for artists to show work in the country.
Bus Shelters – Mary Rogero, AIA of Rogero Buckman Architects, received Urban Design Award of Merit by the Dayton Chapter of the American Institute of Architects for design of Kettering Bus Shelters in 2010.
Art on the Commons, named Top Ten Festivals in the Miami Valley by the Dayton Business Journal in 2003, 2004 and 2005.
Dayton Business Journal ranks Rosewood as Number Two in 2012 for Top 15 Visual Arts Organizations in the greater Dayton area.