The purpose of Parks & Recreation
To help the City achieve its Vision 2023 plan of creating "A Vibrant City Where You Can Live, Work and Play", by providing opportunities for quality recreation and leisure experiences through programming and facilities for West Sacramento citizens of all ages.

Our Profession's Core Values

Values we as professionals all share as members of the West Sacramento Parks & Recreation family:

Our Profession's Mission Objectives
The mission objectives of recreation and park professionals in California describe both why our Parks & Recreation Department exists and the benefits it can foster in the community . . .

The primary mission objectives of the West Sacramento Parks & Recreation Department is to:

• Strengthen community image and sense of place

• Support economic development

• Strengthen safety and security

• Promote health and wellness

• Foster human development

• Increase cultural unity

• Protect environmental resources

• Facilitate community problem solving

• Provide recreational experiences

Leisure and West Sacramento's Vision 2023 Strategic Plan
We feel that our profession's values and mission objectives support the vision and goals described in the West Sacramento Vision 2023 Strategic Plan. One of the goals stated in this plan is "Riverfront Alive". One of the objectives of that goal is "Variety of Leisure Venues: Restaurants, Entertainment, Sports and Culture".

Another goal in the Vision 2023 Strategic Plan is "Our City to be a Self-Contained Community". This goal contains two objectives that relate directly to the Parks & Recreation Department. They are:

• Expanded Parks and Recreational Facilities
• Expanded Recreational, Cultural, Sports and Leisure Programs and Activities

Leisure . . . what is it and why it is so important?
Leisure has been mentioned several times, but tends to be a concept that is often misunderstood. So what is leisure? Social psychologists who have studied the phenomenon of leisure have identified four distinct characteristics that are present in leisure experiences: perceived freedom, intrinsic motivation, perceived competence, and positive affect. With these four components in mind, the definition of leisure by Dr. Ernest Olsen seems most appropriate:

Leisure is an activity which produces a state of being, physiologically characterized by a sense of being free and intrinsically motivated, and associated with positive value for both the individual and society.

Another quote from Dr. Ruth Russell defines leisure in more simple terms:

Leisure is when you're having a good time. It's happiness and pleasure. Leisure is not a withdrawal from life, rather it's an engagement in living.

Leisure is a state of being, a lifestyle. Leisure is all about one’s quality of life.
Park facilities and recreation programs should contribute positively to an individual’s leisure, but can never fulfill this need completely. However, local park and recreation agencies can help people develop their leisure interests, personal wellness, and positive lifestyle habits that promote a healthy, meaningful leisure lifestyle. The West Sacramento Parks & Recreation Department strives to provide meaningful recreational opportunities and quality facilities that allow for meaningful leisure, but ultimately we want to help West Sacramento residents develop healthy attitudes towards leisure and active lifestyles that will contribute to long, healthy, happy lives!

Department Description

The Parks Division oversees the maintenance of 145+ acres of developed city parks. Our park workers are dedicated to maintaining the parks to the highest standard: keeping them clean, safe, and attractive. Each park is unique in its amenities. Some of these include: baseball, softball, and soccer fields, picnic areas, open grassy areas, tot lots, and a boat ramp, just to name a few.   To view park amenities click here and look for the Parks Matrix link.  The Parks Division also has the Tree Program, which includes tree permits, pruning classes, and a free tree and tree education program. 

The Recreation Division provides community members with a wide variety of recreation opportunities that can contribute to one's leisure lifestyle. They include: aquatics, children's programs (Discovery Preschool, KidZone, K.I.D.S. Camp and Camp Lakeside), teen programs (Club West Teen Center and summer Teen Camp), youth sports and adult sports, activities for senior citizens (West Sacramento Senior Citizen Center), leisure interest classes, recreation programs for individuals with special needs, special events, facility rentals, Bridgeway Lakes Boathouse management, and the administration of Community Mini-grants.

Administration is another important function within our department. This includes our clerical staff at the main office, activity registration, and accounts payable.