Sacramento Standard

The Department of Youth, Parks, and Community Enrichment (YPCE) maintains over 200 parks offering many locations and ways for people to spend time with friends and family.

From picnics and special events to sports activities, YPCE’s Reservations team issues hundreds of permits each year.

Here are four to make the most out of your summer at City parks.

1. Attend or host events

City parks are a favorite place for picnics, family get-togethers and office outings. A Certificate of Park Use entitles you to a specific group picnic area. Group areas may include multiple tables, barbecues or a shade structure. Permits are issued for the convenience of users and guarantee exclusive use of a particular location for a specific day and time.

A Certificate for Park Use is required for any activity with 50 or more people and/or in which assembly is intended to last more than 30 minutes.

For more information, click here.

2. Get active on sports fields and courts

YPCE offers more than 100 athletic fields for a wide variety of uses including: lacrosse, rugby, tennis, baseball, softball, soccer, football, ultimate frisbee, kickball, and more.

Athletic Field Permits are designed for the occasional or drop-in sports field user. Reservations are taken monthly and may be submitted five business days before the first of the month. Applications for Athletic Field Use must be submitted three days prior to use.

In fiscal year 2022/23, staff processed over 500 youth and adult sports fields permits and over 1,000 picnic reservation permits.

For more information, click here.

3. Cool off at spray parks

City spray parks are open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Labor Day. Strawberry Manor Park and Golden Poppy Park spray parks are currently closed for maintenance.

For more information, click here. 

4. Have fun and stay safe 

“Our parks and facilities are great places for many family activities, and we want all users to have a safe and enjoyable experience,” YPCE Director Jackie Beecham said. “We’re seeing an increase in unsafe park use and encourage visitors to review and follow all park use regulations.”

Dogs are allowed on leash at all City parks, and off-leash dog use is also allowed at all 14 dog parks across the city. Alcohol is prohibited at parks unless a special event permit has been issued. A full list regulations and City code is available online here.

Park Safety Rangers provide security response to service requests received via 311 calls and routinely patrol areas of all parks. Rangers are staffed with leashes to distribute for those at parks with dogs who need them.

If you have safety concerns, observations, on-site problems or comments about City parks, please contact 311. If outside the City limits, call (916) 264-5011.

Original source can be found here.