Bellevue’s Parks & Community Services Department has earned a perfect score of 154 out of 154 from the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA), making it the only parks department in Washington state to be reaccredited for the fourth time. The national accreditation evaluates standards for management, safety, facilities, programs, and public engagement.
A team of CAPRA reviewers visited Bellevue in spring 2025 to observe the department’s operations, including park and trail maintenance, program evaluation, partnerships, and commitment to equity and community engagement.
The evaluators assessed the department against 154 standards covering the management and administration of land, facilities, resources, programs, safety, and services. Meeting all of these standards earned Bellevue a perfect score.
National accreditation is a multiyear process that includes an application, self-assessment, site visit, and final evaluation. Bellevue has been CAPRA-accredited since 2005 and is one of only 222 accredited agencies nationwide.
The city’s Parks & Community Services Department manages 2,700 acres of parks and open space, including Bellevue Downtown Park, Bellevue Botanical Garden, and Mercer Slough Nature Park. The Lake to Lake Trail system connects parks from Lake Washington to Lake Sammamish.
For more information, visit Bellevue Parks & Community Services.
