Welcome to the Community Services Department! Richard James is the department’s director and 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.

Cubberley Community Center and Human Services: The Cubberley Center is Palo Alto’s largest and most active community center. Cubberley is the home of the City’s Human Services division which includes a human service provider grant program, Family Resources, childcare services, and the Human Relations Commission.

Open Space and Parks: 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.

Recreation and Golf: A full spectrum of recreational facilities and programs await you from 18 holes at the Palo Alto Golf Course, to hundreds of youth and adult classes, teen activities, summer camps, aquatic and sport programs, and special events.

Community Services Department

"Engage, Create, Enjoy!"