Operations and Administration
"We do not quit playing because we grow old,
We grow old because we quit playing."
-Oliver Wendell Holmes
Mission
The mission of the Livermore Area Recreation and Park District is to provide
the people of this area with an outstanding system of parks, recreation
areas and facilities, along with providing recreation programs that will stimulate,
educate and enrich the lives of people within the District.
 |
The Livermore Area Recreation and Park District is a multifaceted agency that was created in 1947 by a vote of the public. It provides recreation and parks for the 245-square-mile area bounded by Contra Costa County to the north, San Joaquin County to the east, Santa Clara County to the south and the cities of Pleasanton and Dublin to the west. The LARPD boundaries are very similar to those of the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District (LVJUSD). |
LARPD is governed
by a five-person, elected Board of Directors, each of whom serves a four-year
term.
The agency provides 29 neighborhood parks ranging from two to 12 acres in size;
three community parks with such amenities as an equestrian center and rodeo
grounds, sand-based all-weather soccer fields and soccer and ball fields;
four open space parks totaling 1,360 acres; and 10 special-use parks. Rental
facilities include the Robert Livermore Community Center; Ravenswood Historic
Site; Carnegie Building; Veterans
Building; The Barn; May Nissen Swim Center; group picnic areas at May Nissen,
Almond Avenue and Veterans parks; the equestrian center; and all-weather
ball fields.
LARPD provides school-aged child care to youth at all 11 LVJUSD elementary schools. After-school programs are offered at all
four middle schools. Preschool is available for children from as young as 3 months.
The District is also the provider of community classes, youth and adult sports, aquatics,
environmental education, and senior services and special events throughout the year.
As part of a joint bond measure with the City of Livermore and the LVJUSD,
LARPD built a $27 million community center at Robert Livermore Park
on East Avenue at Loyola Way. The 71,000-square-foot facility includes
a teen center, senior center, numerous meeting and activity rooms, a full-sized
gymnasium, a 500+ seat ballroom/banquet room and two outdoor pools. The
facility opened in March of 2005.
The independent special district’s combined operating and capital 2012-2013 budget is $20,264,535.
The bulk of the money comes from program fees, property taxes and a special
tax. The agency also obtains money through the City of Livermore’s
parkland dedication or in-lieu fees for new park development.
LARPD has operated under particularly difficult financial constraints since
1992 when the State of California began taking half of its property taxes
as Educational Revenue Allocation Fund (ERAF). In all, LARPD has lost more
than $74 million to the state in this way since 1992, including $6.7 million in 2009-10.
View the Quick Facts page for more info on LARPD!