LTC 265-2008 Parks & Recreation - 2007-2008 - A Year of Excellence!
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UFFICF OF TrIE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC # 265-2008 LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Members of the City Commission
FROM Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager
UATE: October 15, 2008 ~yU
SUBJECT- Parks & Recreation - 2007-2008 - A ear of Excellence!
Due to your continued support, the Park & Recreation Department is proud to share with you its
most recent accomplishments for this year, and "First-Ever(s)" for the Department.
• The Parks & Recreation Department was recently visited by the Accreditation Team
from the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA). The
team's visit, as part of the 5year re-accreditation process was to reevaluate and assure
that the Department continues to be in compliance with over 150 standards deemed
essential to the quality of services, the professionalism of its operations and for the
delivery of best practices. We are pleased to announce that the Department not only
was recommended by the visitation team for Re-Accreditation, but it scored 100% in
meeting every single standard, a "first ever" for the Department, and a rarity for the
entire industry. The re-accreditation process was granted on October 14, 2008 at the
(NRPA) National Recreation and Parks Association's conference in Baltimore.
• The City of Miami Beach Parks & Recreation Department was awarded the 2008
Agency Excellence Award by the Florida Recreation and Parks Association (FRPA) at
its Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida. The Florida Recreation & Park Association is
anon-profit organization dedicated to the promotion, preservation, and advocacyof the
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Services profession. The Agency Excellence Award is
given to parks and recreation agencies that exemplify ideal departmental initiatives,
including administration, master planning, diverse programming, community
partnerships and promotion of the department. The Department is extremely honored
by this important achievement, and again this is a'~rst ever" for the department!
• The Recreation Review magazine was also recognized by the Florida Recreation and
Parks Association. The magazine received the 2007 Media Excellence Award, yet
another "first ever" for the department.
• The Recreation Division's Surf Camp for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
completed another week during Summer Camp 2008. Being offered for the second
time, the camp was a huge success. The camp was highlighted on the Herald's front
page and was also featured on "Despierta America" Univision, a Spanish television
station, to a national audience, another'Ylrst ever" for the department.
• For the second time, the Recreation Review, the Department's program and
informational magazine, became one of three finalists to be nationally recognized with a
Savvy Award in the 3CMA Recreation Catalog Category from the City County
Communications and Marketing Association. 3CMA sponsors the Annual Savvy Awards
competition and recognizes outstanding local government achievements in
communications, public-sector marketing and citizen-govemment relationships. The
award ceremony will take place in October 2008.
• In response to the thousands of trees lost during Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma, fhe
Commission approved reforestation plan implemented by the Greenspace Management
Division is well undenuay planting during its first year, approximately 1,100 trees
comprising of 50 species, and now finishing up our second year with another 1,700
trees.
• In 2007, after ensuring that all requirements had been met, the Greenspace
Management Division applied for and received the Tree City USA designation for the
City of Miami Beach. The program, which is sponsored by the National Arbor Day
Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the
USDA Forest Service, recognizes communities that have proven their commitment to a
healthy urban forest and an effective urban forestry program.
We encourage your participation and support of the Parks & Recreation family as we
continuously strive to provide a higher level of customer service excellence!
Should yo a additional questions, please contact Kevin Smith at (305) 673-7730.
JMG~MIKSi1/jg
c: Robert C. Middaugh, Assistant City Manager
Kevin Smith, Parks & Recreation Director
Julio Magrisso, Assistant Parks & Recreation Director