Summary of Services
The Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Affairs Department (PRNA) provides recreational opportunities for Tallahassee and Leon County citizens, provides liaison assistance for neighborhood associations, and operates the Animal Service Center. The department has 227 full-time staff and hundreds of seasonal part-time employees. Nine major areas comprise PRNA: administration, parks, recreation, athletics, special events, tennis, animal services and control, senior services, and neighborhood affairs.
Named "Best in America" by the National Recreation and Park Association in 2004, the nationally recognized department operates and maintains 3,602 acres of well-managed parkland, ranging from neighborhood playgrounds to regional parks. The City's park system runs the gamut from "active" recreational complexes with various athletic facilities to "passive" parks, where visitors may enjoy the quiet natural surroundings. The park system features over 70 miles of trails, five dog parks, two skate parks, three disc golf courses, and a Miracle League Baseball field. A team of landscape designers, horticultural experts, and maintenance crews work year-round to keep parkland clean, attractive, and accessible for the thousands of people who enjoy the parks.
Program offerings include arts and crafts classes, fitness classes, adult and youth sports, organized summer camp playground programs, and specialty programs for disabled citizens. The department also plays a leading role in staging Tallahassee's special events, ranging from Springtime Tallahassee to the Asian Festival. The Special Events unit also serves as the lead coordinating agency for the area's largest nighttime event, the hugely popular Winter Festival and Celebration of Lights, and the Celebrate America event on July 4 at Tom Brown Park.
The Animal Services division oversees the Animal Service Center. Responsibilities and programs include enforcing animal control ordinances for the City, sheltering stray/homeless pets, adoption services and foster care for homeless animals, low-cost rabies and microchip clinics, and reuniting owners with their lost pets. The goal is to provide resources for owners to keep animals in their homes.
The Neighborhood Affairs division liaises with neighborhood and homeowners' associations. The division assists various City departments in direct community outreach to these groups, such as facilitating the Neighborhood Leadership Academy, the Neighborhood of the Year Program, and the Neighborhood PREP Program.
FY26
In FY26, the Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Affairs Department will continue to provide high-quality facilities, recreational activities, and well-maintained and welcoming park spaces to our community.
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Strategic Objectives
Target 5.5.1 - Number of attendees at disaster preparedness events (PREP events)
Target 5.5.2 - Number of neighborhoods with PREP plans in place or in development
Target 7.1.1 - Percent of residents living within a 10-minute walk to a park or open space
Target 7.1.2 - Number of participants in Parks and Recreation programs
Target 7.2.1 - Number of listed neighborhoods with updated current contact information
Target 7.2.2 - Number of neighborhoods with updated current contact information in the Southside
Target 7.2.7i - Facilitate citizen-led improvement projects in the Southside
Target 7.2.8i - Facilitate neighborhood entry signage and placemaking projects
Target 7.3.1 - Increase the number of visitors at the Riley House
