Mission:

To provide quality public spaces and experiences that build a healthy community, foster equity, and better the environment.

Vision:

We envision a thriving Parks & Recreation system that creates recreational and cultural opportunities, improves quality of life, and strengthens the health of the local environment and economy for all.

Values – Communication, Openness, Service, Collaboration:

The parks and recreation department is essential to the community. To that end, we commit to:

• transparent and honest communication as the foundation of great relationships.
• a spirit of equity, openness and innovation, welcoming differences and diversity.
• service to the community in a manner that is sustainable, safe, responsive and accessible to all. 
• collaboration to achieve results that reflect our department vision, leveraging the strengths of the community.

Parks and Recreation's Annual Reports present a snapshot of progress and lay out goals each fiscal year (FY).

FY 2023 Annual Report

FY 2022 Annual Report

FY 2021 Annual Report

FY 2020 Annual Report

Master Plans

The Santa Cruz Parks Master Plan 2030 is a tool to guide the City of Santa Cruz in parks, facility, beach, and open space planning on a long-term basis. This document contains policies and actions for the provision of parks services and recommendations for improvements at specific parks. Other master plans include the following:

• Arana Gulch Master Plan
• Beach Management Plan 2020
• DeLaveaga Park Master Plan
• Depot Park Master Plan
• Jessie Street Marsh Master Plan
• Moore Creek Interim Management Plan
• Neary Lagoon Management Plan
• Pogonip Master Plan
• Street Tree Master Plan

Other Initiatives / Plans

2023-2025 Parks & Recreation Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan is a three-year roadmap describing strategic priorities for the Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Department. The plan provides clear milestones, which have been distilled from the Strategic Themes as set forth by the 2030 Parks Master Plan. The purpose of the Strategic Plan is to take the broad Strategic Themes and focus them into actionable and measurable milestones for the Department over a three-year period. 

City of Santa Cruz Children's Fund. In November 2021, the City of Santa Cruz voters approved Measure A, which codified the 2017 City Council-adopted Children's Fund in the City's Charter. With Measure A passage, 20 percent of audited Cannabis Tax is allocated to the fund to support the enhancement and expansion of evidenced-based programs that prioritize access to early childhood development, prevention, and vulnerable youth programs. The Parks and Recreation Department will support the Children's Fund Oversight Committee in tracking and allocation of these funds. A brief overview of the Children's Fund is available here.

The Parks and Recreation Commission advises City Council on all matters pertaining to public facilities including neighborhood and regional parks, the greenbelt, museum, wharf, urban forest, golf course and medians after receiving public input. The Commission will also advise City Council on matters pertaining to recreation programs and facilities including youth, teen, adult, and senior activities, arts and cultural programs, beaches and pools, and other community facilities.

The Sister Cities Committee advises City Council on all matters pertaining to the Sister Cities program. The mission of the Sister Cities program is to encourage the people of the City of Santa Cruz and the people of its Sister Cities to understand one another as individuals, as members of their community, as citizens of their country, and as part of the family of nations. To foster continuing relationships of mutual concern between the people of the City of Santa Cruz and the people of its Sister Cities. The Sister Cities committee meets the second Monday of January, March, May, July, September, and November. Current Santa Cruz Sister Cities include Shingu, Japan est. 1974, Sestri Levante, Italy est. 1980, Alushta, Ukraine est. 1984, Jinotepe, Nicaragua est. 1990, Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela est. 1966