The Recreation and Community Services Department provides many of the city's human and social services. Among its responsibilities: city-owned parks, preserves, entertainment facilities, pools, marinas and waterfront facilities.
The department offers programs that enhance the quality of life for everyone in Jacksonville, and it manages, maintains and publicizes facilities and events throughout the city. It is also responsible for programs targeted specifically at meeting the unique needs of seniors, crime victims and the disabled.
The department is comprised of five divisions.
The department also houses the Office of Special Events, which produces musical events, fireworks displays and parades of all sorts, the Ritz Theatre and LaVilla Museum, which supports a vital part of Jacksonville's heritage, and the County Extension Office, which provides trained professionals and volunteers in agriculture, family and consumer sciences and 4-H youth development.