Parks, Recreation & Culture


The Parks, Recreation & Culture Division is responsible for the following City functions:

Parks

The Parks Department is responsible for the design, construction and maintenance of City parks, trails and green spaces including maintenance on medians for section line roads, subdivision/cul-de-sac, walkways and boulevards. This section also coordinates sports programming and special events in the City's parks, and is involved in many civic beautification initiatives.

Parks is staffed by park planners, park foremen, technologists, sports/special event coordinators and research staff who work in consultation with the community to provide a variety of parks-related services and opportunities.

Enjoy Minoru ParkThe Parks section manages over 1,500 acres of open space including six Community Parks, 68 Neighbourhood Parks, eight City-wide Parks, seven Special Purpose Parks, 50 km of trails and several Natural Areas. As well, parks staff make recommendations for land acquisition for park, trail and beautification purposes.

Beyond park and trail design, construction and maintenance projects, other initiatives and special projects coordinated by this section include: the Street Banner Program, the Tree Planting Program, a variety of sports tournaments and City-wide special events.

The Parks Department is broken into the following sections:

Contacts:

Parks

Related Topics:

Recreation

The Recreation Department works in partnership with local Associations, volunteer organizations and special interest groups to provide recreation and cultural opportunities city-wide through a variety of facilities, including eight community centres, arenas and aquatic centres, fitness centres and the Richmond Nature Park.

The Department is divided into the following sections:

The City provides the buildings, maintenance and core staffing. The facilities are operated by the volunteers on Boards of Directors for the Community Associations. Responsibilities are defined in partnership agreements established between the City and the Associations. The Community Associations work with individuals, groups and staff to determine and meet the recreation requirements of the general public and their various user groups.

City staff act as liaison between the Associations, community groups and the City and provides support to groups to help them achieve their mandate.

Contact Us:

Recreation

Related Topics:

Community Partners:


Arts, Culture and Heritage Services

The Arts, Culture and Heritage Services Department fosters community cohesion, civic pride and reflects and contributes to the City’s cultural identity. Arts, Culture and Heritage programs and services contribute to individual intellectual, creative, social and physical well being and support economic development through the tourism and creative sectors, including the film industry. The mandate of the Arts, Culture and Heritage Department is to create an environment of culture in the city that ensures arts, heritage and culture play a strong role in place making, community building, tourism and economic development by focusing on transitioning from the current “grass roots” approach to arts and culture, to one that embraces a fuller range of opportunities from beginner/recreational to professional.

The focus is placed on activities that fast track the growth and development of the city’s arts and cultural community, foster a thriving and vibrant arts scene, activate city streets, preserve and promote our heritage, and enhance the overall experience for residents and visitors.

The Arts, Culture and Heritage Department also provides a readily accessible and direct operational resource with which external arts and cultural community stakeholders can consult and partner.

The department is divided into the following sections:
  • Arts Services
  • Community Cultural Development
  • Museum & Heritage Services
  • Major Events & Film

Contacts:

Arts, Culture & Heritage

Related Topics:

Planning, Programs and Projects

This section offers specialized services on a division-wide basis, with a focus on:

  • Strategic Planning
  • Policy Development
  • Parks, Recreation and Culture-related research
  • Marketing and Communications
  • Volunteer Development

Contacts: Programs & Projects

School Board Liaison

The City maintains communication with the Richmond School Board through the Council/School Board Liaison Committee and administratively through the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Division. The Board is an elected body composed of seven trustees who are responsible for managing Richmond School District #38. The Board administers the Provincial School Act for students from Kindergarten through Grade 12. The Board also offers a wide range of special education programs including learning assistance, alternate education, community schools, education evaluation, diagnostic assessment, counselling, continuing education and speech therapy.

Related Topics:

Related Links:

Public Library Liaison

The Community Services Division acts as the City's liaison with the Board and management of the Richmond Public Library. The Richmond Public Library is an independent body governed by the Richmond Library Board and under the authority of the British Columbia Library Act.
Funding for the Library comes primarily from the City with special and supplemental funding coming from the provincial government.

The Library liaisons with various City of Richmond Divisions and many community groups through cooperative programs and other initiatives, thereby building its role as a strong community-oriented information resource.

Contacts:

Library Contacts

Related Links:

Gateway Theatre Liaison

The Cultural Services Department acts as the City's liaison with the Board and management of the Gateway Theatre. The Gateway Theatre is a civic theatre constructed by the City in 1984 to provide a venue for the performing arts in Richmond. The theatre is operated by an independent non-profit Society. The Richmond Gateway Theatre Society is dedicated to providing the community with opportunities to participate in the performing arts. The Society sponsors several major theatre productions each year. When the facility is not in use by the Society it is made available for rental to other performing arts groups as well as groups requiring meeting space.

Contacts:

Gateway Theatre

Related Links:

Gateway Theatre Website