Mission

The mission of the Red Oak Parks & Recreation Department is to develop and maintain a park and recreation system that will enhance the quality of life in our community by providing recreational and leisure opportunities with exceptional customer service.

Vision

The Red Oak Parks & Recreation Department envisions an innovative, inclusive, and interconnected system of parks and trails which allow for recreation opportunities that will promote leisure, recreation, health, and a sense of community as integral to a high quality of life in Red Oak.

Department Functions

Planning 

The department formulates, supervises, and administers community planning efforts as they relate to the development of parks and recreation. The Parks, Recreation, and Trails master plan serves as a framework to guide the development of the department.

Maintenance 

The department is responsible for the preventative and routine maintenance of the facilities, parks, and associated equipment entrusted to the department. Maintenance plays a crucial role to ensure the perpetual and continual function and operation of the parks, trails, and recreational services provided by the department. High-level maintenance is crucial to exceed the expectations of the community while keeping our visitors safe.

Development 

The Department will perpetually seek a way to come up with innovative and new ideas and approaches to Parks and Recreation. The community-based needs assessment will be provided by the 2020 Parks, Recreation, and Trails Comprehensive Master Plan. Providing new facilities and amenities will be guided by the master plan. The youthfulness of the department will not overshadow the ability to provide new and exciting recreational facilities, trails, and parks. A function of the department is to identify, prioritize, and develop amenities for the people of Red Oak.

Essential Services

The Parks and Recreation Department provides many forms of essential services for the community. Just as water, sewer, and public safety are considered essential public services, parks, and recreation services are vitally important to establishing and maintaining the quality of life in a community, ensuring the health of families and youth, and contributing to the economic and environmental wellbeing of a community and a region.

Community Engagement

Community engagement is the process of working collaboratively with individuals and groups to achieve specific goals. For parks and open spaces, community engagement allows mayors and public officials to directly involve their constituencies in the ongoing design, planning and management of these resources. This process results in informed and engaged residents that feel better connected to their communities. While sometimes contentious, but more often productive and rewarding, community engagement is an essential ingredient of making successful urban open space.