Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation (CCPR) Director Michael Klitzing has been appointed to a three-year term on the Eppley Institute for Parks & Public Land’s National Advisory Board (NAB).
Founded in 1993 by Indiana University, the Eppley Institute provides parks and public land agencies with training, planning, and research. Using the vast knowledge and experience of its members, NAB advises the Eppley Institute on strategic planning and long-term decisions.
Klitzing
“It’s an honor to join Eppley Institute’s National Advisory Board,” Klitzing said. “I look forward to sharing my experience in the park and recreation field and working alongside my fellow board members to advance the Eppley Institute’s mission, services, and programs.”
Klitzing has more than 20 years of experience in parks and recreation. Under his leadership, CCPR has become recognized as one of the best and most innovative park and recreation agencies throughout the nation, receiving the National Gold Medal for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management in 2014 and 2020, the highest honor for a municipal park and recreation agency.
CCPR is nationally accredited, employs more than 500 people, and serves 17 million visitors annually. CCPR has also received national, regional, and state awards for the design of its parks and facilities, outstanding programs, excellence in providing services to people with disabilities, and commitment to environmental stewardship.
Klitzing is an active member of the National Recreation and Park Association and served as the Conference Program Committee Chair and Local Host Committee Co-Chair for the association’s 2018 conference hosted in Indianapolis. That same year, Klitzing received the National Distinguished Professional Award, presented to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the parks and recreation field through leadership, research, advocacy, community outreach and program development.
In 2021, Klitzing was elected to the Board of Directors for the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration. He has also served as a Commissioner on the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies, which is responsible for establishing national standards and best practices for park and recreation agencies.
For more information about the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Land, please visit eppley.org.