Parks and Recreation Master Plan

The Master Plan is meant to guide and support the future development of Santa Barbara’s parks and recreation system. 

Goals of the planning process include engaging community members, identifying current and future park and recreation needs, inspiring new ideas and partnerships, evaluating the feasibility of proposed ideas, and assessing existing and potential funding sources. 

Goals of the final document include providing a roadmap of improvements to meet current and future needs, aligning resources with community values and trends, expanding access equitably throughout the community, and supporting funding efforts for park redevelopment and expansion. 

While we have successfully completed many park and facility improvements, these projects have mainly addressed failing infrastructure and the immediate demands and needs of the community. This new Master Plan is the first comprehensive planning document of this scale since the 1981 Parks and Recreation Facilities and Programming Master Plan, which was last updated in 1985. 

This process gives us a chance to take a proactive, system-wide look at Santa Barbara’s parks, recreation facilities, and community programs while considering future challenges such as population growth and climate change. By setting both near-term projects and long-term goals, the Master Plan will help us identify new opportunities, use resources effectively and equitably, and plan for the future.

The City of Santa Barbara has 64 parks and 18 community buildings. The park system includes beach parks, community parks, neighborhood parks, passive parks, sports facilities, open space parks, and regional parks, all of which support a range of passive and active recreation. The City also owns and operates community buildings that serve a range of uses, including indoor recreation, events, and community services.