Title
Community Recreation and Access Leisure Program Updates
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FileID
File ID: 2026-01723
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Location
Location: Citywide
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Recommendation
Recommendation: Receive and file.
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Contact
Contact: Katie Houser, Recreation Manager, (916) 808-6046, Khouser@cityofsacramento.org;, Heather Kopf, Recreation General Supervisor, (916) 808-3997, HKopf@cityofsacramento.org; Department of Youth, Parks, & Community Enrichment
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Attachments
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Presentation
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Additional Description/Analysis
IssueDetail
Community Recreation, which includes Youth and Adult Sports, is responsible for the operation and oversight of youth sports leagues throughout City facilities and parks, the Sacramento Softball Complex, and adult sport leagues and tournaments at the Sacramento Softball Complex and throughout City facilities and parks.
The Community Recreation team has completed the Request for Proposal (RFP) process to operate open skate hours at least four days a week at the 28th & B Skate Park. The selected organization will work with city staff to balance the schedule of open skate hours, special events, facility rentals, and leisure enrichment opportunities such as summer skate camps and after school programs to ensure a wide range of program offerings and public access to the park. Open skate hours are expected to begin this year. The park is currently open for facility rentals, seasonal skate events, and leisure enrichment opportunities including after school programs, skate lessons, and summer camps.
In summer 2025, Jr. Giants had 842 youth participants, ages 5-18 with the support of 68 volunteers. At the time of this staff report, Jr. Giants 2026 is underway with 725 youth participants and 140 volunteers. There was a 106% increase in volunteers between 2025 and 2026.
In 2025, the Jr. NBA program supported 197 youth ages 5-14 with the assistance of 11 volunteers. In 2026, the Jr. NBA program supported 250 youth ages 5-14 with the assistance of 12 volunteers. In 2025, the NFL Flag program supported 235 youth ages 5-14 with the assistance of 12 volunteers. Registration for NFL Flag 2026 opens on August 5th, 2026, at noon.
The Youth Program Scholarship Fund (YPSF) is available for Jr. NBA and NFL Flag. In 2025, 9.6% of the 197 youth enrolled in Jr. NBA utilized the scholarship (19/197). In 2026, 56% of the 250 youth enrolled in Jr. NBA utilized the scholarship (140/250). In 2025, 50.2% of the 235 youth enrolled in NFL Flag utilized the scholarship (118/235).
Current offerings in Adult Sports include softball leagues (men’s, women's, and coed teams), Softball Complex tournament rentals, Softball Complex sand volleyball rentals, batting practice events, and special events for all ages at the Sacramento Softball Complex. Batting Practice field rentals at the Sacramento Softball Complex are available (pending reservation/ field availability), Monday through Friday from 8am to 12pm or 5pm to 9pm. Adult softball leagues run in the spring, summer, and fall seasons at the Sacramento Softball Complex, Grant Park, and Tahoe Park. 5,820 adults participated in softball leagues in fiscal year 2025, and 6,360 adults participated in softball leagues in fiscal year 2026. Staff managed 40 softball tournament rentals at the Sacramento Softball Complex in the calendar year of 2025. Volleyball rentals are popular at the Sacramento Softball Complex with the use of the four lighted sand volleyball courts. 647 rentals occurred in fiscal year 2025, and 632 rentals occurred in fiscal year 2026. The weekend tournament calendar is fully booked annually (mid-February - mid-December, weather permitting).
Community Recreation also partnered with community-based organizations to provide special events and programming including:
• SkateMD
• YASKATE & Drum Lessons
• Rob Skate Academy
• Project Lifelong
• USA Softball
• Giants Foundation
• Los Rios Community Colleges District
• National Academy of Athletics
• RCX Sports
• CSUS
Access Leisure is a program area within YPCE which provides specialized recreation opportunities for youth, teens, and adults with disabilities as well as inclusive programming departmentwide. The combined team is comprised of a Recreation General Supervisor, two Program Coordinators, and 15 part-time Adaptive Recreation Leaders.
Background
YPCE’s Access Leisure program has provided specialized and inclusive opportunities for all ages and abilities since the 1960s. Through goal-oriented and person-centered enrichment, a dedicated team provides quality recreation activities for community members with disabilities through accessible programs and inclusive services. Specialized programs include a variety of recreational and competitive sports, social and leisure activities, music, community outings, after-school programming, aquatics and sensory swim days, and day camp opportunities. Activities are offered throughout the city, including public community settings, the River Cats Independence Field (wheelchair accessible baseball/ softball field), YPCE Community Centers, YPCE pools, YPCE parks, the Hart Senior Center, and the Southside Clubhouse.
Participation
In FY26, Access Leisure hosted 179 social opportunities for youth ages 5-17 and 127 social and sport opportunities for adults ages 18+. A total of 3,496 individuals were served. Participation rates have continued to grow over the last three fiscal years (1,635 in FY24, 2,744 in FY25, and 3,496 in FY26). 100 volunteers supported Access Leisure programs in FY26.
Access Leisure specialized and adaptive recreation programs in FY26 included Adaptive Cycling, Adaptive Swim, Adult Aqua & Social Swim, Aqua Aerobics for Teens, Sensory Swim for Youth, Adaptive Pickleball, Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Rugby, Wheelchair Softball, Goal Ball, Paint Nights, Arts & Crafts, Game Nights, Formal Dances, Line Dancing, Zumba, Yoga, Movie Nights, Community Outings (such as River Cats games and trips to local museums), Baseball for All, and the afterschool Teen Hangout at Southside Clubhouse. Program Coordinators provide goal-oriented and individualized enrichment opportunities for each participant during all Access Leisure programs.
Access Leisure hosts monthly Inclusive Play Dates in the spring and summer seasons in FY26 (April, May, June, July, August). Inclusive Play Dates are inclusive play opportunities designed for youth of all abilities ages 3-12 and their families to enjoy the park and create new friendships. Staff offer organized activities and focus on facilitating new friendships, connections, and group play skills in a park setting. Inclusive Play Dates are free to attend and typically are held on select Saturdays in the late spring and summer months, weather permitting.
A new offering in FY26 included three weeks of Summe Oasis week-long day camps held at the Southside Clubhouse in collaboration with Access Leisure’s community-based partner, Music to Grow On. Each week served a different age group. Week 1 included 17 adults with intellectual and/ or developmental disabilities, week 2 included 16 teens and transition age youth with disabilities, and week 3 included 10 youth ages 6-12 with disabilities.
The Access Leisure Fun Pass is a $150 scholarship available for current Access Leisure participants and city residents who are signing up for Access Leisure programming. This scholarship is funded out of the Access Leisure Gifts to Share fund. In FY26, participants utilized $5,583. In FY25, participants utilized $3,232 of the Access Leisure Fun Pass.
Inclusive Recreation
YPCE is committed to ensuring meaningful access to programs, services, activities, facilities, and parks to benefit individuals of all ages and abilities. YPCE staff from all program areas work together to support participants seeking reasonable accommodations to participate in all YPCE programs. An inclusion request can be made when signing up for a YPCE activity. Access Leisure staff, including two Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists, offer direct assistance to YPCE staff to ensure that reasonable accommodations are implemented on a case-by-case basis.
YPCE staff will continue to work together on outreach to the community about the opportunities for both specialized and inclusive opportunities for participants of all ages and abilities.
Community Partners
Access Leisure also partnered with community-based organizations to provide special events, camps, and programming including:
• Music to Grow On
• California State University, Sacramento
• The WELL (CSUS)
• ALTA Regional Center
• Sacramento Area VIP Games
• Sacramento VA Medical Center
• UCP of Northern California
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PolicyConsiderations
Policy Considerations: Not applicable.
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EconomicImpacts
Economic Impacts: None.
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EnvironmentalConsiderations
Environmental Considerations: Not applicable.
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Sustainability
Sustainability: Not applicable.
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Commission/Committee Action
Commission/Committee Action: Not applicable.
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RationaleforRecommendation
Rationale for Recommendation: Youth, Parks, & Community Enrichment provides annual updates to commission on Community Centers and Community Recreation.
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FinancialConsiderations
Financial Considerations: Not applicable.
LocalBusinessEnterprise
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.
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