2025 FORPD Review

2025 YEAR IN REVIEW

FAIR OAKS RECREATION & PARK DISTRICT

Phone 916-966-1036

Address 4150 Temescal St., Fair Oaks

Website forpd.org

FORPD PROFILE ABOUT US

VALUES

Fair Oaks residents have a long history of dedication to parks and recreation. In 1945, the District was formed to provide recreation and park facilities, and programs, for the 2,300 citizens of the District. The District soon began to acquire and gain title to a number of park properties and recreation facilities, beginning with the Fair Oaks Plaza in 1947.

Currently, FORPD serves an estimated 35,000 residents in an 11-square-mile area. Its 11 parks and recreation services operate exclusively within the Fair Oaks community.

A wide range of recreation programming, including Special Events, Summer & Specialty Youth Camps, Adult & Youth Sports Leagues, Senior Activities, Youth Programs, and Leisure Enrichment Classes, are operated year-round.

INTEGRITY Exhibiting trust and transparency in all our actions.

HEALTH & WELLNESS Providing and promoting healthy lifestyle opportunities.

SAFETY Ensuring safe and secure environments.

SUSTAINABILITY A sustainable park system supported by realistic services, maintainable infrastructure, and efficient land management.

INCLUSION Removing barriers so that all people have an equal opportunity to enjoy the benefits of parks and recreation.

MISSION Enriching lives through exceptional parks and recreation opportunities that strengthen our community.

VISION To be the primary recreation provider of choice for the Fair Oaks community.

Phone 916-966-1036

Address 4150 Temescal St., Fair Oaks

ADVENTURE Add excitement and enjoyment for our customers through programs and events to improve their quality of life.

INNOVATION Implement new technology, promote creativity, communicate a shared vision, and recognize trends by being responsive and adaptive.

Website forpd.org

VILLAGE PARK GRAND OPENING Village Park & Performing Arts Facilities – Grand Opening and Commencement of Operations (Measure J: 2018–2025) Successfully completed the grand opening and commencement of operations for Village Park and the District’s new performing arts and community facilities, marking the culmination of a multi-year effort initiated by voter approval of Measure J in 2018.

While each program division contributed to facility activation and service delivery, the Administrative Division held primary responsibility for achieving public occupancy and authorizing the start of operations. Administrative responsibilities included final construction closeout coordination, regulatory compliance and approvals, certificates of occupancy, interdepartmental sequencing, risk management, staffing readiness, and implementation of operational policies.

The successful opening transitioned the project from construction to daily public use and represents the District’s largest capital investment to date.

PARKS UPDATES Completed tree trimming throughout every park within the District.

Completed turf maintenance program in spring.

Eliminated 35 potential trip hazards in pathways throughout the District.

Re-conditioned most playground safety surfacing to extend lifespan. Remaining playgrounds to follow in the new year.

Supported American River Girls Softball Association to help restore La Vista school fields to ideal state.

Improved drainage in key areas of Phoenix Park.

Maintained staff training and safety levels throughout year to achieve 365(+) days without injury to staff.

Performed lighting renovations on the maintenance shop and most public restrooms.

Installed new concrete pad and picnic table at Fair Oaks Bike Park.

Planted 10 new trees throughout the parks, including a Memorial Tree at Miller Park.

Re-striped Bannister Park parking lot.

Repaired all vernal pool signage and restored barriers surrounding entire site.

Through regular safety inspections, identified and repaired a myriad of safety surfacing rips and tears prior to them becoming safety hazards, replaced three slides which were cracking due to age, repaired suspension bridge on playground which was degrading to a hazardous point. Overall, park staff maintained high levels of safety throughout all playgrounds in District.

Repaired seven irrigation main-line breaks as well as numerous other breakages and malfunctions in existing irrigation systems.

Successfully supported Recreation and Arts & Entertainment staff through all events.

Repaired all vernal pool signage and restored barriers surrounding entire site.

COMMUNITY EVENTS Concerts in the Park: In 2025, the District welcomed back a full nine-week Concerts in the Park series.

While originally scheduled to take place at the Village Park Bandshell, construction delays required the series to be relocated to Fair Oaks Park. The District utilized an awarded Arts in California Parks grant totaling $22,771.54 to help offset program costs. The series drew more than 2,000 attendees who gathered throughout the summer to enjoy live music in a community setting.

20th Annual Fair Oaks Chicken Festival: The District’s signature event, the Fair Oaks Chicken Festival, celebrated its 20th anniversary with commemorative merchandise, roaming entertainment, and an egg drop. The festival also marked the launch of a successful new partnership with the Bella Vista Band Boosters. Through this event, local nonprofit organizations collectively raised more than $20,000 in net proceeds, reinforcing the festival’s impact on the Fair Oaks community.

Fair Oaks Tree Lighting: The Fair Oaks Tree Lighting returned to Village Park after several years at Fair Oaks Park due to construction. The beloved community tradition drew strong attendance, with guests enjoying photo opportunities with Santa, the Grinch, and Elsa; children’s activities; community performances; festive snowfall in the Plaza; and a memorable tree-lighting program that kicked off the holiday season.

RECREATION Camp Fair Oaks: The Camp Fair Oaks program saw over 200 campers over 17 weeks of camp programs for ages 3 – 15. The Counselor in Training program saw a new revival of its application and interview process, allowing teens the chance to gain valuable skills, develop their leadership, and learn hands on skills that they can apply in future endeavors. Summer Camp saw a wide variety of field trips, on site trips to the library and farmer’s market, as well as dozens of engaging activities, crafts, and games!

Fair Oaks Preschool: The Fair Oaks Preschool program has had 65 participants between the two school years in 2025. Based on growing interest in expanding the program, staff decided to adjust the format to offer multiple class time options to cater to families with a desire to involve their children in a slightly longer day. Children in the program built on social skills, learned essential cognitive and developmental skills to prepare them for their future, and made friendships to last a lifetime. Throughout the school year, Fair Oaks Preschool has had several regular special class parties, field trips to local attractions, and much more! Through the support of the school from parent volunteers, FOPS continues to be a paramount program that is beloved in the community.

FOYAB: This year, the Fair Oaks Youth Advisory Board made a positive impact in their community by volunteering at a wide variety of local community events, partnering with local organizations to complete service projects, providing 50+ necessities kits to people in need, and gained valuable lifelong skills - with eight student members participating last year and ten students planned for the upcoming year Rachel Anne Gray Memorial Scholarship: Two high school seniors, Edgar Tellez Perez and Sophie Fares were awarded $1,500 and $1,000 respectively for their work done in the community and their effort and impact throughout their high school careers which brought the total financial impact of the scholarship to over $40,000 since it’s inception in 2014.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Garden Gala for the Arts: The event welcomed 128 attendees. Through auction items, A&E raised $10,766 for the Fair Oaks Recreation Foundation in support of arts programming and facility activation. Featuring live performances, visual art, and local creatives, the Garden Gala strengthened partnerships, increased visibility of the Performing Arts Center, and established a repeatable model for future arts-focused fundraising events.

Grand Opening: A&E delivered a multi-day Grand Opening celebration that introduced the community to the new performing arts spaces and drew approximately 2,000 attendees. The department managed 19 performances and activations across four major events and successfully coordinated artists, staff, volunteers, and front-of-house operations during this high-visibility launch. This effort generated strong early momentum for ticketed programming and positioned the department as a key cultural hub within the district from day one.

Theatre Production & Technical Operations: In 2025, A&E strengthened the District’s technical theatre operations by building a pool of 11 skilled theatre technicians who supported a high volume of performances in a condensed timeframe. The team produced 34 shows and executed over 1,000 lighting cues while maintaining consistent safety, quality, and professionalism across events. These technical efforts established the venue as a reliable, flexible performance space that fosters entertainment, creativity, and connection for the community.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Shows at FOPAC: Below is a snapshot of Fair Oaks Performing Arts Center sales from our soft opening on Oct 4, 2025, through the last show on Dec 22, 2025.

$87,537.90 in ticket sales from Oct 4 – Dec 22.

3,200 tickets sold through VBO Platform. $13,755 total in concessions sales from Oct 4 – Dec 22.

Volunteer Usher Program: In 2025, the A&E Department built a volunteer usher program with a pool of 45 ushers who support front-of-house operations across shows, festivals, and special events. Clear training, scheduling, and communication systems were developed to ensure volunteers felt prepared and supported while providing a consistent and welcoming experience for patrons. This program created a sustainable volunteer pipeline that strengthens theatre operations and fosters a sense of community ownership of the arts.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT First Annual Folk Festival: Launched the first-ever Fair Oaks Folk Festival, creating a new annual cultural tradition. Expanded the department’s reach beyond traditional theatre audiences and into festival-style programming. Strong positive feedback and interest in future iterations.

Integrated live music, community gathering spaces, and arts engagement Estimated ~500 attendance throughout the day 8 Bands performed, activating all of Village Park with live music - 3 bands on Plaza Side, 3 on Bandshell Side, and 2 bands in the Amphitheater 8 Vendors selling artisanal products and all reported strong sales Chair Dedication Donors: In 2025, the Chair Dedication Donor program generated $11,000 in revenue for the Fair Oaks Recreation Foundation through the support of 18 dedicated donors. This initiative provided a meaningful way for community members to invest in the Performing Arts Center while directly supporting arts programming and long-term facility sustainability.

New Arts Classes: Generated $29,336 revenue in 2025. A&E introduced 17 new visual and performing arts classes, including youth theatre and specialty workshops designed to be beginner-friendly and accessible. Popular offerings such as Paint Your Pet, Lettering with Lindsay, Paint and Sip, and the return of Ceramics classes drove strong enrollment, reactivated the Arts and Crafts Building, and strengthened relationships with teaching artists. These classes increased community engagement and social media growth. New programs like Family Music Class expanded arts access for families with young children and activated the 20s–30s age group, further positioning the District as a welcoming hub for creativity and connection.

ADMINISTRATION Fiscal Management: Completed the fiscal year with a surplus of approximately $352,000 through conservative budgeting practices, disciplined expenditure management, and ongoing financial monitoring during a major facility transition period.

Labor Relations: Adopted a new three-year Memorandum of Understanding with the Employees’ Association, supporting labor stability and predictable cost planning during a period of organizational growth and expanded operations.

Policies and Governance: Adopted multiple District policies to strengthen governance, consistency, and transparency, including the Donation, Donor Recognition, and Gift Policy; Public Art Policy; Chair Dedication Policy; and Tree Protection Policy. Updated the District’s Conflict of Interest Code to ensure continued compliance with state requirements and reinforce public trust.

Public Communication Improvements: Implemented a public communication platform to provide timely updates regarding Dog Park and Bike Park closures and reopenings, improving transparency and reducing front-desk call volume.

Grant Administration: Provided administrative oversight and coordination for multiple local, state, and federal grants, including compliance, reporting, and alignment with Boardapproved priorities.

Foundation and Donation Infrastructure: Established PayPal and Venmo accounts to improve donation accessibility and support District-affiliated fundraising efforts and community initiatives. Approved revised Foundation bylaws to modernize governance structure and establish a new Board of Directors, with the seating of the new Foundation Board anticipated in 2026.

Risk Management and Safety: Created and implemented a District-wide Workplace Violence Prevention Plan to improve preparedness and enhance employee safety protocols across all District operations.

AWARDS Best of Fair Oaks Received awards for: Best Recreation Best Entertainment (Concerts In The Park) Best Children’s Activities / Center Best Park (Fair Oaks Park) Best Event of the Year (Chicken Festival)

FORPD BY THE NUMBERS 11

23,700+

Parks (over 120 acres of park space)

Event Attendees at 30+ Events

1

626.25

Dog Park

Volunteer Hours

8 Tennis / 1 Pickleball

310k/154K

Courts

FORPD & FOPAC Website views

1

7.3k+

Bike Park

Facebook Followers

1

8

National Natural Landmark: Phoenix Park Vernal Pools

Fair Oaks Youth Advisory Board Members

3,200

35k+

Tickets sold for FOPAC

Fair Oaks Population

2

19

Community Gardens

Full Time Employees

2,991

$ 3,676,759

Class & Program Participants

Annual Budget (FY 24-25)

Phone 916-966-1036

Address 4150 Temescal St., Fair Oaks

Website forpd.org