CPRP key terms

A written, step-by-step instruction explaining how a routine task or situation is handled so staff act consistently and safely; it supports training, reduces errors, and documents the agency's intended practice.

The ongoing process of identifying, evaluating, and controlling the chance of injury, loss, or liability in programs and facilities through written policies, inspections, staff training, documentation, and insurance review.

A factual written record of an injury, accident, near miss, or property damage, completed promptly after the event, describing what happened, who was involved, and what was done in response.

A written procedure telling staff how to respond to emergencies such as severe weather, medical events, or a missing child, including assigned roles, communication steps, and evacuation routes, practiced through regular drills.

Comparing an agency's practices, costs, or results with those of peer organizations or with recognized standards in order to spot gaps and set realistic improvement targets.

Voluntary national accreditation awarded by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies after an agency documents compliance with established standards and undergoes peer review.

A systematic study of community demographics, interests, and existing services, using surveys, focus groups, and secondary data, to determine which programs and facilities residents actually need.

A written outline prepared before registration opens that states a program's purpose, target audience, objectives, schedule, location, staffing, supplies, fees, and how success will be measured.

Collecting and analyzing information after a program ends to judge whether objectives were met, participants were satisfied, and resources were well used, guiding whether to repeat or revise the offering.

Designing activities around the specific benefits participants should gain, such as skills, fitness, or social connection, then selecting measures that show whether those changes actually occurred.

Modifying facilities, policies, and instruction, and offering supports, so people of all abilities and backgrounds can take part in regular programs alongside their peers.

A required number of supervising staff per group of participants, set by age, activity risk, and certification rules, and used for both safety planning and budgeting.

The process of studying a position's duties, required knowledge and skills, and working conditions so that an accurate job description and fair selection criteria can be written.

A periodic, structured review of an employee's work against job expectations, with documented feedback and goals that inform training, pay, promotion, and discipline decisions.

A graded response to repeated performance or conduct problems, typically verbal warning, written warning, suspension, then termination, giving the employee notice and a fair chance to correct the issue.

A written summary of an organization's policies, expectations, and benefits given to staff; it communicates rules consistently and must be kept current and reviewed by legal counsel.

Recruiting, screening, training, supervising, and recognizing unpaid workers so their contributions are safe, effective, and consistent with agency standards and program needs.

The structured orientation a new employee receives covering policies, safety training, job expectations, and workplace culture, intended to speed adjustment and reduce early turnover.

A pricing policy that adjusts program charges according to household income, residency, or both, so lower-income residents can participate while some cost is still recovered.

The portion of a program's or facility's expenses paid by user fees and charges rather than by tax subsidy, usually managed with targets that differ by type of service.

A framework ranking services by public benefit, placing mostly tax-supported services such as open space at the base and mostly fee-supported services such as lessons and rentals at the top.

The annual plan of day-to-day revenue and expenses for ongoing services, covering items such as wages, utilities, supplies, and routine maintenance.

The part of the budget that funds large, long-lasting assets such as buildings, parks, and major equipment, usually tied to a multi-year plan and financed by bonds or grants.

A self-supporting accounting fund for a service that charges fees meant to cover its costs, such as a golf course or aquatics center, kept separate from tax-supported operations.

A calculation showing how many participants, rentals, or units must be sold before revenue equals expense, identifying the point at which a program stops losing money.

The documented process of buying goods and services, including requisitions, competitive quotes or bids, and purchase orders, designed to ensure fairness, transparency, and best value.

A budgeting method in which every activity's spending must be justified from zero each cycle instead of starting from last year's amount, forcing a fresh review of priorities.

A formal request authorizing a specific maintenance or repair task that records the location, problem, labor, materials, and completion, feeding maintenance tracking and cost reporting.

Scheduled routine upkeep performed before equipment or facilities fail, such as inspections, lubrication, and seasonal servicing, which extends asset life and avoids costly emergency repairs.

Repairs and upkeep that have been postponed, usually for budget reasons, creating a backlog of deteriorating assets that becomes more expensive to fix the longer it waits.

Comparing alternatives by their total cost of ownership over an asset's useful life, including purchase, operation, maintenance, and replacement, rather than by purchase price alone.

A multi-year schedule of planned land acquisition, construction, renovation, and major equipment purchases with estimated costs and funding sources, updated annually and linked to the capital budget.

A long-range document guiding a park system's future, setting goals, park classifications, land acquisition priorities, and capital projects, typically based on community input and a decade or more of outlook.

A measurable standard expressing how much parkland, facility space, or programming is provided per resident, or how far residents must travel, used to judge whether supply is adequate.

A system that groups parks by size, purpose, and service area, such as mini, neighborhood, community, and regional parks, so that planning standards and amenities fit each type.

Designing facilities, equipment, and information so the widest possible range of people, including those with disabilities, can use them without special adaptation or personal assistance.

A document required of public agencies that identifies physical barriers limiting access to facilities and programs under the Americans with Disabilities Act, with a schedule and funding for removing them.

Shaping lighting, sight lines, access points, and activity placement so legitimate users feel safe and opportunities for crime are reduced in parks and facilities.