Quality of Life
One of the main purposes of local government is to improve the citizens’ quality of life by satisfying their needs, including those in the economic and social spheres. One way Salinas is doing this is through Open Data. By increasing the availability of data, this creates an opportunity to implement innovative solutions that improve the quality of life. Open data is not solely about transparency and accountability; it also gives cities and citizens new insights and tools for finding solutions to persistent problems. In many ways, local governments cooperate with other stakeholders in the field of city logistics to improve the residents’ quality of life.
Where are our Libraries, Recreation Centers, and Parks?
- Map data © Library & Recreation Services
The Library and Recreation & Community Services Department is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in the community by providing a broad spectrum of recreational activities, library programs, and direct services for people of all ages. The Salinas Public Library has three branches: John Steinbeck Library, Cesar Chavez Library and El Gabilan Public Library. The Recreation & Community Services offers Neighborhood, Parks, Sports and Volunteer Services.
Salinas Public Library
Total Library Visits (2017 and 2018)
The Salinas Public Library has proudly served the community since 1909 when it first opened its doors as a Carnegie Public Library. Today, there are three libraries in the system open to the public 7 days a week: John Steinbeck Library, Cesar Chavez Library, and El Gabilan Library. On a daily basis, over 1200 residents visit one of our libraries. The collection includes more than 151,122 books, magazines, movies and recordings in our physical collection and 753,015 ebooks, downloadable audiobooks, music, movies or TV programs available through our digital services. A separate Steinbeck Collection of more than a thousand books, articles, and historical items is also shared with the National Steinbeck Center. Each month, more than 2,000 residents attend the wide variety of programming offered in all three locations, including story times and playgroups for preschool children, homework help, art and science programs for young students, STEM workshops for teens, ESL, GED, workforce development and citizenship programs for adults, as well as book groups and reader’s advisory services for all ages.
Recreation & Community Services Department
The Recreation & Community Services Department offers a variety of youth sports programs throughout the year. These programs utilize a number of athletic facilities located in Salinas, including local school facilities. Parks & Community Services strives to improve the quality of life of Salinas’s residents through programs that foster teamwork and build self-esteem and leadership skills, while providing an outlet for physical activity and socialization.
Discover public art installations with Story Maps!
Story Maps is an interactive online mapping too, created by the City of Salinas GIS department, that combines text and multimedia information layered within the map of the city. The interactive feature of Story Maps provide information and education on the various points of interest in the city. Please click on the image below to view Story Maps of parks, recreation centers, libraries and public arts in the City of Salinas.
Help Shape the Future of Salinas’s Parks, Recreation Centers and Libraries!!
Parks, Rec & Libraries Master Plan
The Parks, Recreation, & Library Master Plan is a part of Visión Salinas, a unified coordination effort between various planning initiatives, with the goal of a citizen driven focus for the future of Salinas. The new Master Plan will guide the City's efforts and establish a path forward for continuing to provide high quality, community-driven parks, recreation facilities and programs and library services serving the Salinas community. The Plan will include a vision for the park, recreation and library system, goals and objectives, a capital investment program, and implementation strategies for parks, programs, and services.
In November of 2016, the City of Salinas initiated a master planning process for its Parks, Recreation Centers and Libraries. Community engagement and feedback played an important role in identifying current community priorities, and the City of Salinas conducted an extensive, broad, and varied public outreach program. A variety of public outreach methods were used, including:
- Mail & online surveys in both English and Spanish
- 8 community meetings
- 57 pop-up meetings/events
- 7 focus group discussions
The City reached over 2,000 residents through its community engagement efforts. Please explore our data in the link below for demographics of the residents who participated through this effort.
El Gabilan Library Project
Completed!!
On May 15th, 2018, the City Council approved the funding plan to build a 21,000 square foot library in North Salinas. After more than a year of public feedback and analysis, the Council's vote promises to usher in a new chapter for the Salinas Public Library. The new library broke ground the summer of 2018, to build a much-needed library that will replace the small El Gabilan Library. Construction of the new 20,800 square feet library building on the same site as the previous 4,000 square foot library was completed within 18 months. The grand opening of the builfing was February 22, 2020. The building was design by Anderson Brulé Architects with sustainability features that maximize natural lights, utilize highly efficient LED lighting and ventilation systems, and include native plants for outdoor landscaping. The construction was completed by Griffin-Swinerton developer and made possible through the public-private partnership between the City of Salinas with Public Facilities Group. The new library building has dedicated spaces for children, teens, and adults, in addition to an outdoor reading deck, multi-functional community room, group study rooms, a digital classroom, and a new makerspace.. Click here to learn more about El Gabilan Library Project.