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About
PRNS History -----Senior Staff Contacts----Mission
Statements |
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Respect
Integrity
Excellence |
Vision
Communities
of people connected by play,
hope and joy in life |
Mission
Support livability of neighborhoods, offer opportunities
for individuals to enjoy life, and strengthen communities
of people
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In
1930, the first semi-public type of recreation program
was launched in San
José. Realizing the need for a citywide
program, the Junior Chamber of Commerce requested the
City Council to appoint a committee to investigate
the possibility of City sponsorship
of a recreation program.
The City’s first active participation in a recreation program
began December 1, 1942 with a budget of $15,000. The
City Council passed ordinances creating a five-member
recreation commission and
the position of Direct of Recreation, Division of the
Parks Department.
In
1948 tremendous program expansion in recreation
facilities and service demonstrated the need for
programming. By 1957, the people
of San José passed a bond for further growth and the first
community center (Carl J. Leninger) and the Japanese
Friendship Garden came online.
By 1965, the Department was reorganized to be called the Department
of Parks and Recreation. The voters once again approved another
bond of $9,621,000 for development of the Coyote River Parkway and
improvements at Kelley, Alum Rock and Overfelt parks. The Leininger
Community Center (1966), St. James (1968) and Mayfair (1968) Neighborhood
center opened for public use.
The City’s first golf course was opened in 1968 and Family
Camp was opened to the public in June of that year. San José also
became the leader with its Senior Education Center
and became funded by the state Office on Aging.
Reorganization came about in 1970, when Gene Saalwaechter was appointed,
Director of Parks and Recreation. The Department went from a centralized
way of operating to a decentralized method giving community centers
to develop the program they wanted to produce for the public. As
a result the City was divided into separate geographical areas,
each supervised by a recreation manager. This structure gave each
district more power in deciding what types of programs to offer.
The Department grew when the Parks Planning section was added into
the Parks and Recreation Department. The Department had grown from
4 to 33 community centers and added a citywide service for disabled
individuals by forming the Therapeutic Recreation section. The Department
of Neighborhood Services was created in 1993, combining the positive
influences of recreation programs and community services with the
neighborhood revitalization efforts of code enforcement, graffiti
abatement and block grant.
Through the 1990s,
PRNS was involved in Special Olympics, Senior Games
and won many awards for their anti-graffiti and anti-smoking
programs.
The Department now serves the residents with a new
Citywide Activity
Guide, which provides programs, classes and activities
information and provides park and city services contacts.
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Senior Staff Contact Information |
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SENIOR
STAFF CONTACT INFORMATION
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Albert
Balagso, Director
408-535-3570
Julie Edmonds-Mares
Assistant Director
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Jay
Castellano,
Deputy Director
Administrative Services
email
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Jon
Cicirelli, Deputy Director
Animal Care Services
email
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Angel Rios, Deputy Director
Community Services-Foothill
email |
Jim McBride, (acting)
Deputy Director
Parks
email
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Cynthia Bojorquez,
Deputy Director,
Community and Resource Development
email
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ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES
200 East Santa Clara Street
San José, CA 95113
408-535-3570
www.sanjoseca.gov/prns
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Marketing and Events Office (MEO)
408-793-5540
Ed Bautista, MEO Manager
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The
City of San José maintains a
24 hour-7 days
a week information phone number.
408-535-3500
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