Parks, Recreation & Waterfront
The Parks, Recreation & Waterfront Department is committed to administering excellent recreation programs; maintaining our trees, landscaping, and infrastructure; and improving and enhancing parks and facilities through capital improvements.
The Parks, Recreation & Waterfront Department maintains the City’s parks, playgrounds, pools, camps, community centers, and waterfront facilities; provides diverse recreation programs and special events throughout the year; delivers resident camps opportunities for youth, families, and seniors; operates the largest public marina on the Bay; and plans, designs, and constructs capital improvements to our parks, recreation and waterfront facilities and infrastructure.
Recreation Program Registration
Register for a wide variety of City of Berkeley Recreation programs for all ages at our Recreation Centers, Swimming Pools, Parks, Sports Courts, Adventure Playground, Skate Park, and Resident Camps.
Pools and Aquatic Programs
Register online for swim activities in Berkeley’s public pools. Activities range from self-directed exercise such as lap swim to instructor-led classes.
City Trees and the Coast Live Oak Ordinance
The City of Berkeley regulates the pruning, removal, and planting of City trees and enforces the coast live oak ordinance.
Divisions
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Parks
The Parks Division is home to the Landscape Maintenance, Facilities Maintenance, and Urban Forestry Units. The Landscape Maintenance Unit maintains all of Berkeley's parks, street medians, and triangles. The Facilities Maintenance Unit maintains and repairs recreation buildings, pools, sports fields, ball courts, children’s play areas, and water fountains, benches, and other park features. The Urban Forestry Unit responds to tree-related emergencies 24/7 and performs tree maintenance year-round. Tree maintenance consists of pruning, removing, and planting trees; and other tree-related duties.
Contact Information
Address: 1326 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA 94702
Phone: (510) 981-6660 TDD: (510) 981-6903 FAX: (510) (510) 981-6665
Office Hours: 7:00am - 4:00pm
Email: trees@berkeleyca.gov -
Recreation
The Recreation Division provides a variety of programs and classes for all ages ranging from young children to teens, youth and adult sports, summer camps, therapeutic recreation, and adult fitness. The Division also operates the City’s swimming pools, tennis courts and basketball courts, skate park, community centers, and resident camps. The Division hosts multiple large special events for the community throughout the year.
Contact Information
Address: 1720 8th Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
Phone: (510) 981-5150 TDD: (510) 981-6903 FAX: (510) 981-5160
Office Hours: 8:30am - 4:30pm
Email: recreation@berkeleyca.gov -
Waterfront
The Waterfront Division operates the Berkeley Marina and its related facilities, including the docks, pilings, streets, pathways, parking lots, buildings, trails, Adventure Playground, and 1,000 boat and berth rentals. The Division also manages agreements with Waterfront businesses, maintains Waterfront parks and facilities including Cesar Chavez Park, Shorebird Park and Nature Center, and the Adventure Playground, and manages special events.
Contact Information
Address: 201 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94710
Phone: (510) 981-6740 TDD: (510) 981-6903 FAX: (510) 981-6745
Office Hours: Weekdays: 8:00am - 4:00pm, Saturday: 8:00am - 4:00pm, Closed Sunday
Email: marina@berkeleyca.gov -
Capital
The Capital Division plans and manages capital improvement projects at City parks, park buildings, community centers, pools, camps, and the Waterfront. This includes park and facility planning and community engagement, grant acquisition, permitting, environmental review, design and construction management.
Contact Information
Address: 1947 Center Street, 5th Floor, Berkeley, CA 94704
Email: parks@berkeleyca.gov
Contact

Scott Ferris
Director of Parks, Recreation, and Waterfront