Metroparks

“Metroparks of the Toledo Area are three-time recipients of the Ohio Partnership for Excellence gold level award, the state-level Baldrige program. We are the first and only park district within the State of Ohio to be recognized as such. Our strategic planning process was recognized as an example of excellence within our first two applications. Between the second and third applications, our Business Services Supervisor attended a Haines Centre training on systems thinking taught in part by Jeri Denniston. Following that, the Haines Centre conducted an audit of our strategic planning process. Between both the training and the audit, our strategic planning process was redefined as the system that all other work processes stemmed from. Further, our short-term and annual plans were brought into direct alignment with our Strategic Plan. Within our third OPE application, our scoring band improved. And, not only was our strategic planning system cited as a best practice, but so was our leadership and human resources management practices, key components in accomplishing any strategic plan. We have currently just completed our first CAPRA (Commission for Accreditation of Parks and Recreation Agencies) audit as well. While we have yet to hear if we’ll receive accreditation, the examining team has again cited our strategic planning system as a sound business practice.”

Lara Frankenberg
Business Services Supervisor