The East Lansing Recreation & Arts program has become the first organization in the state to receive accreditation from the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies.

The program had to meet 154 standards set by the national agency for its human resources, finance, facility safety, program and instructor quality and diversity.

“We had a lot of stuff in place already,” Executive Director Jim Crisp said. “It wasn’t like we were starting from scratch. Even just looking at the standards, we knew it was going to be a lot of work.”

For more than two years, the program’s 35 full-time employees have been trying to meet the conditions for the five-year accreditation.

The nonprofit organization, which was formed jointly by the East Lansing City Council and the East Lansing School Board in 1989, is only the 31st program in the nation to earn the honor.

“Like anything else, it’s catching on,” Crisp said. “Knowing how much work it is, I can understand why initially some (programs) are hesitant, but they’re realizing the importance of meeting those standards.”

A variety of classes in 17 different categories for children, young adults, adults and seniors are offered by the program.

Nancy McRay, the vice chairwoman of the East Lansing Recreation & Arts Board, said this is just another success for a very strong program.

“I’m not at all surprised that we got it,” McRay said. “I think it calls for a celebration. It took a long time just because of the depth the accreditation agency wanted to know. I feel that it was very well-deserved.”

East Lansing Mayor Mark Meadows said the program’s nonprofit status and joint effort by the school board and city council is very unique.

“There are very few communities that have done it this way,” he said. “We’re all so proud that the program has come so far in such a short period of time.”