About us
The City of San José Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services (PRNS) has one of the most diverse service models of any agency of its type. The recreation, social services and outdoor spaces serve not only San Jose’s million plus residents, but individuals from surrounding cities and communities as well.
Our Vision
To be a National leader of Parks and Recreation in cultivating healthy communities through quality programs and dynamic public spaces.
Our Mission
To build healthy communities through people, parks and programs.
People
There are significant challenges to serving the San José’s incredibly diverse community; distance, language and, ever-present, funding constraints. To meet these challenges PRNS has made community engagement the core of all planning and programming. The department collaborates proactively with community-based organizations, other public agencies; school districts, county, state and federal governments, and a growing number of volunteers citywide to serve the residents of San José. By partnering with these groups PRNS is able offers services such as afterschool education, recreation and enrichment, senior nutrition and socialization outings for the disabled.
Parks
Realizing early on the positive affect of outdoor space on the community and the rapidly rising cost of land, the Parks and Recreation department devised City of San José Greenprint; comprehensive master plan for interweaving parks into the future growth of the city. Rather than attempting to build parks as an afterthought, this living document secures outdoor space today for our residents of tomorrow. It incorporates parks in all parts of the city ensuring equal access to green space for all San José residents. This progressive plan adapts to changes in growth, the economy and the concerns of San José residents.
Programs
PRNS provides activities year-round to stimulate children, engage youth, provide exercise for adults and keep our seniors physically and socially active. The department offers hundreds of classes and activities each year on a variety subjects crafted to appeal to San Jose’s diverse community. The curriculum covers everything from pre-schooler cooking classes designed to develop coordination and motor skills to ballroom dancing for seniors offering the social contact necessary to maintain mental acuity. Our programs regularly draw participants from all the surrounding cities in the county. The programs are priced to meet the budgets of all residents; from scholarships for qualifying participants to below-market class fees based on the cost of service.
Our Commitment
The City of San José Department Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services touch the lives of San José residents at every stage. PRNS will continue to tailor those services to the needs of the San José community. Through all economic seasons will remain committed to building healthy communities through people, parks and programs.
PRNS History
In 1930, the first semi-public type of recreation program was launched in San José. Realizing the need for a citywide program, the Junior Chamber of Commerce requested the City Council to appoint a committee to investigate the possibility of City sponsorship of a recreation program.
The City’s first active participation in a recreation program began December 1, 1942 with a budget of . The City Council passed ordinances creating a five-member recreation commission and the position of Direct of Recreation, Division of the Parks Department. In 1948 tremendous program expansion in recreation facilities and service demonstrated the need for programming.
By 1957, the people of San José passed a bond for further growth and the first community center (Carl J. Leninger) and the Japanese Friendship Garden came online.By 1965, the Department was reorganized to be called the Department of Parks and Recreation. The voters once again approved another bond of $9,621,000 for development of the Coyote River Parkway and improvements at Kelley, Alum Rock and Overfelt parks. The Leininger Community Center (1966), St. James (1968) and Mayfair (1968) Neighborhood center opened for public use.The City’s first golf course was opened in 1968 and Family Camp was opened to the public in June of that year. San José also became the leader with its Senior Education Center and became funded by the state Office on Aging.
Reorganization came about in 1970, when Gene Saalwaechter was appointed, Director of Parks and Recreation. The Department went from a centralized way of operating to a decentralized method giving community centers to develop the program they wanted to produce for the public. As a result the City was divided into separate geographical areas, each supervised by a recreation manager. This structure gave each district more power in deciding what types of programs to offer. The Department grew when the Parks Planning section was added into the Parks and Recreation Department.
The Department had grown from 4 to 33 community centers and added a citywide service for disabled individuals by forming the Therapeutic Recreation section. The Department of Neighborhood Services was created in 1993, combining the positive influences of recreation programs and community services with the neighborhood revitalization efforts of code enforcement, graffiti abatement and block grant. Through the 1990s, PRNS was involved in Special Olympics, Senior Games and won many awards for their anti-graffiti and anti-smoking programs.
The Department now serves the residents with a new Citywide Activity Guide, which provides programs, classes and activities information and provides park and city services contacts.
City Owned Inventory
Acres of Developed Parkland |
Trails/Bikeways
|
Regional Parks |
Skate Parks
|
Bmx Parks
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Golf Courses
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Pools
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Community Gardens
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Roller Hockey Rinks
|
Wilderness Camps
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Zoo & Amusement Parks
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PRNS has 179 Neighborhood Parks
Within the Neighborhood Parks there are
Playgrounds
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Water Features (Spraygrounds)
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Dog Parks
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Horseshoe Pits
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Softball/Baseball Fields
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Tennis Courts
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Basketball Courts
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Handball Courts
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Volleyball Courts
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Bocce Ball Courts
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Exercise & Par Courses
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PRNS Operates 55 Community Centers
Hub Centers
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Satelite Centers
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Neighborhood Centers
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Youth Centers
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Senior Centers
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Reuse Sites
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The inventory numbers were taken from the 2009 Greenprint Update; the PRNS official source for inventory, facility and acreage figures. Please visit this site for updates to these statistics.
