Los Angeles City Recreation & Parks Department

The Los Angeles City Recreation and Parks Department is responsible for all municipal parks and facilities in the city. The goal of the department is to provide the people of the city with public facilities in which to play sports, gather, celebrate, learn, and spend time with their families, friends, and others in the community. The department wants to provide affordable recreation options for people in an effort to promote strong family values and strong communities. If people have a place to gather and participate in constructive activities, it is more likely a community will be safe and continue to thrive. To attract people to the parks and facilities, the department does all it can to build and maintain attractive, clean, inviting locations. The department is responsible for the operation and maintenance of over 400 different sites and is run by a department head and a general manager. Included in the department's facilities are tennis courts, swimming pools, golf courses, museums, camps for kids, recreation centers, community sports programs, and programs for seniors. The department is also responsible for the maintenance and care of 11 lakes and various groups of volunteers. There are a number of events for senior citizens organized by the department each year including picnics, shuffleboard tournaments, sightseeing trips, dances, bridge games, and crafting workshops. Seniors can also participate in a low-cost lunch program that provides them delivered meals if they are home-bound.