Parks & Recreation

25-CostRecoveryInspiredHeaderNew Cost Recovery Policy

The City of West Sacramento has adopted a new Cost Recovery Policy to ensure that Parks & Recreation programs remain affordable, transparent, and financially sustainable for residents of West Sacramento. This new policy aligns program fees with the true cost of providing high-quality services to our community, allowing us to continue offering programs that West Sacramento residents love while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

Why are program fees changing?

  • Over the past decade, the City has continued to grow and invest in our parks and recreation programs. As costs for staffing, utilities, and maintenance have increased, the City is updating program fees to ensure they remain accessible.
  • The new Cost Recovery Policy provides a transparent way to align fees with the actual cost of providing services while keeping programs affordable for residents.
  • Until now, program fees only accounted for direct costs like part-time staff and materials. This new approach also includes indirect costs such as custodial services, utilities, full-time staffing, and administrative support, giving the City a more accurate understanding of what it takes to operate programs and maintain facilities responsibly.

What is “Cost Recovery”?
For the City of West Sacramento, cost recovery refers to the process of recuperating expenses over time through various means, such as revenue generation through fees, grants, or subsidies.

How are programs categorized under the new policy?
Programs are now grouped by activity type, such as Open Access, Beginner, or Advanced to ensure a fair and consistent approach for residents. This method applies clear, objective cost recovery goals based on the type of service rather than factors like age, personal interests, or demographics.

  • Community-wide and senior programs will remain heavily subsidized, with the City covering 55%–95% of total costs
  • Specialized or premium programs will have higher cost recovery goals, ranging from 65%–85%
  • Retail-based services (such as merchandise sales) will aim to recover nearly all costs 95%–100%

Will financial assistance be available?
Yes, financial assistance will be available. Eligible West Sacramento residents who qualify may receive significant fee reductions to help make programs and memberships more accessible.

What's next?
Beginning January 1, 2026, program fees will be updated based on this new policy.
We are developing the financial assistance program.  More information will be available this December and applications will open prior to start of 2026.

  An aerial map view of Alyce Norman Park and the surrounding neighborhood.Alyce Norman Park Master Plan Public Meetings
Help Shape the Future!

Join us for a community workshop focused on the future planning and development of Alyce Norman Park. Attendees are invited to share feedback, ask questions, and take part in interactive activities designed to help guide the park’s vision and improvements.

When

  • Wednesday, November 12, 2025 | 6:00–8:00 PM

  • Tuesday, December 9, 2025 | 6:00–8:00 PM

Where
Bryte Career and College Training
Multipurpose Room
637 Todhunter Avenue
West Sacramento, CA 95605

For more information about the meeting please contact Senior Project Manager Jamie Teske at jamiet@cityofwestsacramento.org 

Westacre Park Project

The concrete for the skate park and pump track is setting! Overall construction is anticipated to be completed in May 2026. Visit the Westacre Park page for project updates.

Playbook #31 An overview of programs running October 2025 through September 2025.

What We Do

West Sacramento Parks & Recreation consists of four separate functions: a Parks Division, Recreation Division, Early Learning Services, and our Tree Program. The Parks Department provides recreation and leisure opportunities with its park facilities and recreation programming. These programs are designed to help local residents improve their overall health and quality of life.

Film Screening "The Memory of Darkness, Light, and Ice"

West Sacramento Hosts Free Screening of Award-Winning Climate Documentary “The Memory of Darkness, Light, and Ice”

Thursday, November 20, 2025
Doors open at 5:00 p.m. | Screening at 5:30 p.m.  |  60 minute run time
Followed by a panel discussion and audience Q&A
Admission and parking are free. Please RSVP online on Eventbrite.

The City of West Sacramento will host a free public screening of The Memory of Darkness, Light, and Ice (2024), an award-winning documentary by filmmaker and scientist Kathy Kasic, on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. at the Black Box Theater in the West Sacramento Community Center.

The film explores urgent questions about our planet’s future through stunning visuals and groundbreaking discoveries about the Greenland Ice Sheet. Beneath the Arctic ice, sediment from a long-forgotten Cold War military base has revealed evidence that Greenland’s ice sheet has completely melted before — a revelation that carries serious implications for rising sea levels and global climate change.

After seeing the film, West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero was inspired to bring the screening to local audiences. “People might wonder what melting ice in Greenland has to do with inland communities,” said Mayor Guerrero. “But sea level rise affects us all. Our Delta and wetlands, rivers, farmland, and groundwater are at risk from saltwater intrusion.”

Filmmaker Kathy Kasic, an Associate Professor at California State University, Sacramento, brings her background as an evolutionary biologist to visually striking films that connect science and art. Her work has been featured in international festivals, museums, and on television, earning numerous awards for its sensory storytelling and environmental insight.

Following the 60-minute screening, a panel discussion and audience Q&A will feature Kasic and regional experts involved in local climate action and adaptation planning.

For more information, contact Martha Guerrero via email mguerrero@cityofwestsacramento.org or visit learn about the film at metamorphfilms.com

Transportation and Parking:

There is limited street parking along West Capitol Ave. Visitors may use the City Hall and Community Center parking lots. Please use the Crosswalks. The front entrance along West Capitol and Merkley is locked. Enter on the south side of the building next to the Community Center Parking lot.

For Community Center Parking: Turn onto Merkley Ave and use the parking lot entrance at the Arthur F. Turner Yolo County Library. Continue through the parking lot. The Community Center parking lot will be on the right.

ADA Accommodations If you are a person with a disability and need an accommodation to participate in the City’s programs, services, activities and meetings, please email ada@cityofwestsacramento.org at least 72 hours in advance to request an auxiliary aid or accommodation.

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