Santiago Park and Amphitheater in Santa Ana is a natural haven that radiates a sense of tranquility while offering an array of engaging amenities. The centerpiece is the outdoor stage, thoughtfully integrated into the park’s layout. The park’s organic design is accentuated by the inclusion of strategically placed community gathering spaces that encourage relaxation and social interaction amidst the soothing embrace of nature. The new walking trails weave an intricate tapestry that connects visitors with the park’s abundant natural beauty. The careful balance between the park’s landscape and the functional trails creates a unique experience. Complementing the park’s multifaceted appeal, a small playground beckons to younger visitors, offering a space for exploration and play. Santiago Park and Amphitheater is an engaging place to gather and recreate. Come take a walk along the creek, gather with family and friends at the amphitheater, or just enjoy nature in a splendid setting.

The Orange Memorial Park Stormwater Capture and Sports Field Project is a world-class and innovative project that resulted in cleaner water, and better recreational facilities for the community. The stormwater capture project, which captures, cleans and reuses water from Colma Creek, is the first of its kind in Northern California. The new turf field that sits atop the cistern is a multi-use community field, serving tens of thousands of community members each year with its high-quality amenities. Not only has this project demonstrated the City of South San Francisco’s commitment to protecting the environment, it also showcases the City’s dedication to providing high-quality public spaces for all to enjoy, regardless of their socio-economic situation, age, or ability. The site certainly will serve as a beacon for the community to gather, recreation, and celebrate community for many years to come. 

Community outreach and resident participation in the Lucinda Garcia Park Improvement Project set a new standard in community-based planning for the City of Monrovia. Residents of all ages and abilities gathered at unique events, laying the foundation for an active, dynamic park design celebrating history and culture. Park expansion allowed for the removal of a concrete wall, activating what was an area of blight, adding approximately one-quarter (¼) acre of park space; coupled with transformative park improvements, including the construction of two new playgrounds with fencing and picnic tables, five exercise fitness stations, a demonstration garden, interpretive garden, and a new walkway with lighting and distance markers. Playground features, public art, and interpretive signage now celebrate the legacy of Lucinda Garcia and the historic Red Car Trolley. The result is a unique neighborhood park connected by gardens where children play, families and friends bond, residents exercise, and community identity flourishes.

How do you transform over 30,000 square feet of building and acres of parking lot into the City’s most popular park while creating trust and strengthening the community? Let the people design it! Once the site of two car dealerships, Dusterberry Neighborhood Park underwent a complete transformation through a dedicated community process which united and galvanized the neighboring community. Using personal stories, shared values, and empathy for their fellow neighbor, residents took the lead in designing the park of their dreams in a once-in-a-lifetime effort led by the City of Fremont’s Park Planning and Design team.  

Nipomo Skatepark is a new 15,000 square foot skatepark that is available to all who ride non-motorized wheels. Bikes, scooters, roller skates and wheelchairs are all welcome. The park includes street style features: pipes, rails, stairs, and ledges, along with a flow bowl and an 8-foot-deep bowl. It introduces a skateplaza feature. A skateplaza is a flat wide-open area where less skilled users can practice away from faster moving traffic keeping everyone safer. This skatepark has something for everyone no matter what you ride, how old you are or what your skill level is. It was designed by the skating community with help from Kanten Russell, a renowned skatepark designer and professional skateboarder, incorporating public input gathered from workshops and social media comments. This park is consistent with the County of San Luis Obispo, Department of Parks and Recreation’s goal of: “Recreation that serves all the County’s residents and visitors.

The Summer Camps Recreation Guide for 2023 provided enriching opportunities for over 7,000 children in the community. It showcased a diverse range of camps, including STEAM, aquatics, arts, cooking, performing arts, sports, and traditional camps. The innovative marketing brochure was a critical part of the overall campaign that resulted in over $2.2 million revenue generated, a notable increase of over the previous year. The 2023 camps emphasized physical, emotional, and mental health benefits, offering eleven weeks of outdoor activities, sports, and active play. The thematic approach, inspired by Fremont's prehistoric history, was seamlessly integrated into all campaign elements, creating a memorable experience for participants. Overall, the City of Fremont's Summer Camps contributed towards the well-being of the Fremont community with the brochure playing a key role in showcasing fun and enriching recreational experiences.

The new Grapevine stands as a testament to the power of continuous improvement, a clear vision, ambitious yet attainable goals, an engaged community, dedicated staff, and supportive leadership working in harmony. Positioned as Rancho Cucamonga's revitalized lifestyle magazine, the re-imagined Grapevine showcases the city's best, fostering neighborly engagement among residents. This dynamic resource is the go-to for programs, activities, events, services, city news, support, and vital information. Functioning as residents' portal to community connection, the Grapevine opens doors to meeting new people, forging friendships, understanding the community, exploring local businesses, initiating exercise routines, seeking support, delving into new interests, contributing to community improvement, discovering talents, volunteering time, pursuing lifelong learning, and crafting enduring memories.

The CULTURA emulates a strong sense of identity and representation for those even outside the City of Santa Ana. The magazine aims to inspire community members to participate in programs and create lasting memories. The purpose is to remain intentional about content that is shared for all readers and remind everyone about the importance of offering community services despite obstacles and/or challenges faced. The goal should always be to remain relatable and accessible.

The magazine celebrates the real Santa Ana through a revolutionary approach. The CULTURA: A Community Connection Guide is a completely new way of presenting community services to residents. Curated community visuals, complete Spanish translations, storytelling, intentional collaborative space allocations, an eco-conscious subscription model, and holistic branding have all contributed to the innovative format that is the CULTURA.

As expressed through its unique style, personable images, and community connection, the CULTURA is a work of heart.

Whittier's Summer at the Parks Influencer Marketing Program is a groundbreaking initiative that revolutionized community engagement for our Parks, Recreation, and Community Services department. Through innovative collaboration with local influencers and businesses, the program redefined traditional marketing methods, significantly boosting event attendance, program registrations, and social media reach. The approach addressed the challenges posed by recovering in a COVID-19 landscape, fostering a vibrant and inclusive community. The measurable success includes a doubling of Instagram followers, record-breaking event turnouts, and increased awareness of diverse programs. This program not only celebrates community identity but also nurtures economic vitality by supporting local businesses. Whittier's Influencer Marketing Program stands as a testament to forward-thinking strategies that transcend conventional boundaries, making a profound impact on park and recreation services while setting a new standard for community engagement nationwide.

The Conejo Recreation & Parks District (CRPD) marked a significant milestone this past year, celebrating their 60th anniversary through a dynamic marketing campaign. Fueled by a passion for community and well-being, their campaign showcased a remarkable evolution of recreation, parks, and open space over six decades. By capturing the past, present, and future, the District engaged community members through a captivating video, press coverage, social media initiatives, and community events. The strategic approach honored their history and reinforced their commitment to future generations. Through imaginative storytelling and vibrant visuals, CRPD’s marketing efforts radiated the spirit of celebration, leaving an indelible mark on their enduring legacy.

The PlayLA Adaptive Youth Sports Program, which serves as a legacy before, during and after the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games, is providing quality, accessible adaptive sports programming to youth with disabilities across the City of Los Angeles to enhance lifelong leisure pursuits and achieve a more equitable quality of life. By removing barriers to participation and embracing diversity, equity and inclusion, PlayLA Adaptive has already impacted the lives of hundreds of youth with disabilities in the City of LA by providing them the opportunity to engage in sports and discover new passions. PlayLA Adaptive has thoughtfully and strategically used marketing and communication strategies that are engaging for youth with disabilities and their parents, as well as the broader disability community. 

Experience the impact of our 'July is West Sac Parks Make Life Better Month' social media initiative, a dynamic campaign that surpassed expectations and enriched our community. Focused on inclusivity and accessibility, our multifaceted approach resulted in improved engagement metrics. The program's success extended to a 140% increase in overall reach on Facebook, demonstrating its ability to resonate with a diverse cross-section of our community. Through strategic advocacy and celebratory storytelling, we secured a mention in the feature in the California Parks & Recreation magazine. Our initiative is more than a success story; it's a transformative experience advocating for continued investment in our park and recreation services, backed by compelling data for informed decision-making and community-driven developments.

Southgate Recreation & Park District orchestrated a compelling digital media campaign focused on elevating public awareness regarding parks and recreation. Through the Parks Make Life Better initiative, this successful endeavor spotlighted 13 unique locations, encompassing community parks, centers, and developed open spaces, each showcasing distinctive amenities. Engaging videos featured impassioned staff members sharing personal narratives about the significance of these spaces, intertwining historical anecdotes with insights into the myriad of benefits and amenities available to the community. The infectious enthusiasm conveyed by the staff encouraged community exploration and engagement, inviting individuals to forge their own cherished moments within these spaces while considering them for their diverse needs and leisure activities.

Roseville's Parks, Recreation & Libraries (PRL) department is dedicated to enhancing community life by providing exceptional experiences through accessible parks, recreation programs and facilities. As a finalist for the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Gold Medal Award, we showcased our many achievements. Within a tight timeline and a small budget, we produced a dynamic video, symbolizing our teamwork by passing a ball among staff, highlighting our ability to manage multiple responsibilities seamlessly. This video, shared on multiple platforms, generated community pride, evidenced by enthusiastic responses on social media. Though we didn’t win, being a finalist sparked celebration, reflected in high customer satisfaction (93%) and significant park usage (92% monthly visits, 70% several times per week). Our collaborative spirit, captured in the video, underscores our commitment to exceeding expectations and creating exceptional experiences for our community by showing that Parks Make Life Better!

The JCSD Parks & Recreation Department's "Friday 411 with JCSD" summer video series marked a paradigm shift in Eastvale's community engagement and awareness. This digital campaign, unfolding weekly across social media platforms, showcased the richness of parks, facilities, and recreational programs available to the community. Through a strategic blend of compelling content, community collaboration, and inclusive storytelling, the series successfully heightened awareness about the importance of parks and recreation, nurturing a robust sense of community identity and pride. Measurable successes, including increased social media engagement, enhanced program participation, and positive community feedback, underscored its impact. Beyond streamlining departmental operations, the series played a pivotal role in enhancing community health, social cohesion, and inclusivity. "Friday 411 with JCSD" serves as a testament to the transformative influence of innovative communication strategies, underscoring parks and recreation as indispensable cornerstones of community well-being.

The Santa Ana River Bottom is home to approximately 200 unsheltered individuals, constituting the largest encampment concentration in Riverside County, facing environmental hazards and vulnerability. Recognizing the complex challenge of homelessness, Supervisor Karen Spiegel spearheaded a multidisciplinary team in early 2020, securing an $11 million award from the State of California. The team's achievements are showcased on the collaborative SARBshare.org platform, emphasizing partnership, success stories, heat maps, and location-specific resources. SARBshare.org serves as a centralized hub, facilitating swift access to housing, mental health, substance abuse, and other services for outreach participants. Hosting bi-weekly collaborative meetings promotes constant interaction among stakeholders, improves coordinated outreach response and ensures SARBShare.org content is up-to-date. By consolidating expertise and tools, this collaborative website achieves a lasting impact and creates positive change in Riverside County.