The Community Services Department is responsible for the programming and operation of the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts; for the continued development and operation of commercial and recreational activities at the City’s 750-acre Shoreline At Mountain View Regional Recreation Area and Wildlife Refuge; for the maintenance and operation of Shoreline Golf Links and of Stevens Creek Trail; for the maintenance of City-owned parks, roadway landscaping, and street trees; and for delivery of recreation programs and services that make Mountain View a better place to live now and in the future.

The Community Services Department was honored to be a finalist for the 2017 National Gold Medal Awards for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management. The award is presented by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA), in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). The Gold Medal Awards program honors communities in the U.S. that demonstrate excellence in parks and recreation through long-range planning, resource management, volunteerism, environmental stewardship, program development, professional development and agency recognition. Applications are separated into seven classes, with five classes based on population, one class for armed forces recreation, and one class for state park systems awarded on odd numbered years. The Community Services Department was one of four finalists in the Class III category, which is for agencies that serve a population of 75,001 - 150,000 residents.

Mission Statement

To create community through people, parks, and programs; provide recreational experiences; promote health and wellness; foster human development: protect environmental and open space resources; strengthen security and safety; support economic growth; facilitate community problem solving; and strengthen community image and sense of place.