The mission of the Livermore Area Recreation and Park District is to provide the people of this area with an outstanding system of parks, recreation areas and facilities, and to provide recreation programs that will stimulate, educate and enrich the lives of people within the District.

The Livermore Area Recreation and Park District is a multifaceted agency that was created in 1947 by a vote of the public. It provides recreation and parks for the 245 square mile area bounded by Contra Costa County to the north, San Joaquin County to the east, Santa Clara County to the south and the cities of Pleasanton and Dublin to the west. The LARPD boundaries are very similar to those of the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District (LVJUSD).

LARPD is governed by a five-person, elected Board of Directors, each of whom serves a four-year term.

The agency provides 28 neighborhood parks ranging from 2-12 acres in size, two community parks with such amenities as an equestrian center and rodeo grounds, sand-based, all weather soccer fields, and soccer and ball fields; four regional parks totaling 1,360 acres; and 10 special use parks. Rental facilities include the Rober Livermore Community Center, Ravenswood Historic Site, Carnegie Building, Veterans Building, The Barn, May Nissen Swim Center, group picnic areas at May Nissen, Almond Avenue and Veterans parks, and the equestrian center and all-weather ball fields.

LARPD also provides preschools, school-aged child care to youngsters in kindergarten through grade eight at all 12 elementary schools and at all four middle schools, teen programs, fee classes, youth-adult sports, aquatics, environmental education, special events, senior services and an adult day support center.

As part of a joint bond measure with the City of Livermore and the LVJUSD, LARPD built a $22 million community center at Robert Livermore Park on East Avenue at Loyola Way. The 71,000 square foot facility includes a teen center, senior center, numerous meeting and activity rooms, a full-sized gymnasium, a 500+ seat ballroom/banquet room, and two outdoor pools. The facility opened in March of 2005.

The independent special district’s 2006-2007 budget is $20,513,797. The bulk of the money comes from program fees, property taxes and a special tax.The agency also obtains money through the City of Livermore’s parkland dedication or in-lieu fees for new park development.

LARPD has operated under particularly difficult financial constraints since 1992 when the State of California began taking half of its property taxes as Education Revenue Allocation Funds (ERAF). In all, LARPD has lost more than $47 million to the state in this way and continues to lose approximately $6.3 million annually.