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Parks & Recreation

General Information

40,000+

acres of park assets

400+

parks

26

miles of shorelines

60

recreation centers

15

Pools

13

Skate Parks

3

Golf Courses

Group Events and Permits

If you are interested in having a wedding, large picnic or special event in Balboa Park, Mission Bay Park, Presidio Park, or one of our Shoreline Parks, you will need to obtain a permit from the permit center, located in the Balboa Park Administration Building, 2125 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101.
The permit center is open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Recorded information is available at 619-235-1169.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to the pandemic, the Permit Center at 2125 Park Blvd. remains closed to the public and is not available for in-person visits.

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Your Dogs and City Parks

All dogs shall be maintained on a leash not to exceed 8 feet, including trails and canyons in all parks. For those parks that have been designated dog off-leash areas, dogs must be leashed until inside the posted boundary for the off-leash area.

Find out where our dog parks are located and more

Register for activities

Visit SDRecConnect to conveniently browse a variety of activities offered by the City of San Diego Parks and Recreation Department and Community Recreation Groups. It's as easy as One, Two, and Three. Sign up for an account, find a class or activity, and register!

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Park Use Rules and Regulations

Find information on a list of general rules for parks and recreation centers. Be sure to contact facilities for the latest hours of operations, programs and events, or emergency closure information.

General Rules and Regulations

Open Space Canyons and Parklands Rules

Night Time Park Curfews and Closures

Recreation Centers

Rules of Conduct for Park Patrons

Pools

Tactical Equity Plan

Vision: To connect all to the City’s diverse, world-class park system

Mission: To provide healthy, sustainable, and enriching environments for all

Goals and Objectives:

Goal 1: Provide access to clean, safe, well-maintained parks, open space, and landscaped areas

  • Provide well-maintained parks
  • Provide clean parks
  • Provide safe and enjoyable access to parks

Goal 2: Access to enjoyable fulfilling recreational opportunities to all

  • Serve areas in and around Climate Equity Index communities of concern (“service area”) by reducing impediments to program participation
  • Serve areas in and around Climate Equity Index communities of concern (“service area”) by marketing programs to San Diegans
  • Serve areas in and around Climate Equity Index communities of concern (“service area”) by identifying and closing gaps in services between various recreation facilities
  • Connect all San Diegans with their local park by understanding and offering desired community recreation activities, programs, and events
  • Expand digital equity by providing Wi-Fi (wireless internet) in communities

Goal 3: Foster employee-centric sustainable growth and development

  • Compensate employees at rates at or above average for various governmental agencies within San Diego County
  • Create innovative ways to recognize and reward exceptional performance and special projects
  • Improve recruitment and retention efforts, and create a desirable and attainable workforce

Goal 4: Cultivate a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for our employees and the public

  • Strategize environmental scans to our facilities to ensure that they are culturally inclusive and free of insensitive or racist materials
  • Cultivate a culture of respect in our facilities by following principles of respect, equity, and inclusion

Goal 5: Implement Climate Action Plan goals including fossil fuel use reduction, natural resource management, preservation, restoration, and tree planting

  • Reduce fossil fuel usage in buildings by electrification, appliance swaps, and use of new emerging technologies in accordance with Climate Action Plan objectives
  • Expand natural resource management plans to identify sensitive habitats, establish resource needs and proper management techniques, and restore and protect valuable open space areas
  • Build the urban shade canopy by planting trees in parks and replacing dead/dying trees

FAQ

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