Welcome to the Community Services Department! Greg Betts is the department’s director and is responsible for the following divisions:

Arts and Sciences: Palo Alto is proud to be home to some of the most respected arts and sciences programs in the Bay Area including the Children’s Theatre, the Palo Alto Art Center, the Jr. Museum and Zoo and the Lucie Stern Theatre, home to the Palo Alto Players, TheatreWorks and West Bay Opera.

Human Services: The City’s Human Services division includes a human service provider grant program, Family Resources, childcare services, and the Human Relations Commission.

Open Space, Parks and Golf: This division maintains, interprets and protects Palo Alto’s 4,500 acres of open space, urban parks and street medians including Foothills Park, Baylands Preserve, Mitchell Park and the Stanford/Palo Alto Community Playing Fields.  Palo Alto also has an 18-hole championship golf course.

Recreation: A full spectrum of recreational facilities and programs await you including hundreds of youth and adult classes, teen activities, summer camps, aquatic and sport programs, and special events.

Boards and Commissions:

• Human Relations Commission
• Parks and Recreation Commission
• Public Art Commission

Community Services Department

"Engage, Create, Enjoy!"