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The County of Santa Cruz Department of Parks, Open Space and Cultural Services mission is to provide safe, well-designed and maintained parks, and a wide variety of recreational and cultural opportunities for our diverse community.
We envision a healthy and vibrant county where everyone is able to be active, explore, learn, play and connect, and where our diverse natural and cultural resources are celebrated and protected for generations to come.
Today the County Parks Department manages:
Administration staff provides support and customer service to all Parks staff and customers, and oversees the department budget, finances, human resources, and office operations. Reservations staff administers the use and rental of all park buildings, beaches and park sites; manages concessionaires; provides oversight of community gardens and horse-boarding facilities; works closely with maintenance staff to maximize the use and enjoyment of public facilities.
Recreation program staff administer an extensive list of programs including youth programs, interpretive nature programs, adult and senior programs, cultural services and arts programs. Recreation and Cultural Services staff also conduct annual special events, such as the Holiday Art and Craft Faire.
Aquatics staff manage the Simpkins Family Swim Center and the extensive aquatics programs offered there. Swim Center visits exceed 180,000 per year. Staff continues to develop new program opportunities to meet the needs of the community and increase participation at the Swim Center.
Maintenance staff provide maintenance to all park locations, beaches and facilities. In addition, staff maintains the landscaping around certain County government facilities. A partial list of responsibilities include mowing, minor construction projects, trash pick-up, restoration of natural resources, building maintenance, and pool maintenance at the Simpkins Family Swim Center. Maintenance staff also assists Reservations staff in preparation, set up and clean up for events.
Planning staff oversee the implementation of the Parks Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects, develop plans and studies for components of the County Parks system, and oversees park construction projects. The Planning and Development section works with specialists from a variety of disciplines and members of the public to develop short, medium and long term plans such as feasibility studies, acquisition studies, park master plans, environmental review documents, design and construction documents, and permits for park projects. Staff lead the submission and administration of grant applications for County Parks projects.
Jeff Gaffney has served as Parks Director for Santa Cruz County since 2015, guiding the department through a decade of growth, innovation, and community-focused improvements. His public service career began in 1990 in Gilroy and progressed through leadership roles with Santa Clara County Parks and California State Parks, where his work culminated in securing more than 24,000 acres of critical habitat for preservation and recreation in eastern Kern County. In Santa Cruz County, Jeff has prioritized collaboration, climate resilience, recreation access, strategic planning, and modernization of the County’s park infrastructure.
Jeff provided departmental leadership and sponsorship for the opening of LEO’s Haven at Chanticleer Park in 2019, Santa Cruz County’s first all-inclusive playground, advancing equitable access to recreation for children of all abilities. He also led the acquisition and opening of Valle del Pajaro Park in Watsonville in 2025, the first new park added to the County Parks system in over 20 years, representing a landmark investment in land acquisition, geographic equity, and expanded recreational access in the Pajaro Valley. In addition, Jeff has played a key leadership role in championing and implementing the voter-approved Measure Q, positioning the department to deliver on long-term community priorities.
Throughout his tenure, Jeff has strengthened the department’s reputation with land trusts, conservancies, and stewardship partners, reinforcing Santa Cruz County Parks as a trusted collaborator in conservation and public access. He has also focused on growing and stabilizing the department’s leadership team, emphasizing long-term organizational resilience and the capacity needed to manage an increasingly complex park system. Jeff is active in the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and the California Park and Recreation Society (CPRS) and remains committed to keeping Santa Cruz County’s parks thriving, equitable, and resilient.
(831) 454-7901
Monday – Friday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, except holidays
parksinfo@parks.santacruzcountyca.gov
Our physical office is open, but staff availability is limited.