Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department

 

Mission

Providing opportunities for healthy, happy living through award-winning parks, inclusive experiences and environmental stewardship​.

Vision

To be a nationally recognized parks and recreation leader that connects people and parks by:

Engaging all members of our diverse community,

Ensuring safe, functional and innovative amenities now and in the future,

Continually developing professional, well trained staff that mirrors our community,

Being the premier outdoor recreation destination in South Florida,

Forming strategic relationships to ensure local access to green space,

Exceeding the national average of park land per capita, and

Advancing services through the incorporation of new technologies

Core Values

A culture of teamwork

Excellent customer service

Demonstrating a high level of integrity and pride

Fiscally responsible

Core Services

Ensure access to beaches and water bodies

Facilitate health and wellness opportunities

Provide for youth enrichment, sports/athletic programming and facilities

Promote stewardship of natural, archaeological and cultural sites

Provide for trails, open space and picnic facilities​

History​

​The Palm Beach County Parks Department was created in 1951 as a department under the direction of the County Engineers Office. By 1965, the department was managing twelve parks and included a work force of sixty-nine employees. Reorganization in 1972 led to the separation of Parks and Engineering and so the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department was born. The department steadily expanded during the late 1960s and 1970s. During the 1980s and 1990s, responding to Palm Beach County's exploding population growth and its equally exploding demand for leisure services, aggressive expansion efforts were accomplished. Today, the department is recognized nationally for excellence in park and recreation management, operates more than 110 parks and recreational facilities, spanning more than 8,500 acres, and provides organized recreational programs and services for people of all ages and abilities.