Department of Recreation Administration
Community Engagement
The Department of Recreation Administration offers significant ways in which we engage our students within our communities:
The Central California Therapeutic Recreation Symposium
28th Annual Symposium | February 21 2026 | Fresno State Campus
2026 Registration and Session Information - TBA
Sustainable Park and Recreation Community Initiative (SPARCI)
SPARCI is a partnership between Fresno State’s Department of Recreation Administration and parks and recreation agencies in the San Joaquin Valley. SPARCI is a project to engage communities with the broader university community in idea generation and problem solving. If a community is accepted into the program, park and recreation agencies will have access to many faculty and students to focus on needs of the agency.
Students, through their course work, engage in meaningful real-world projects and contribute to the quality of life of residents in a community in the valley. Students from across the University assist local governments with partner-directed projects that address their smart growth, quality of life, parks, recreation programs, and sustainability goals.
Recent projects
Community Involvement / Student Engagement
The City of Kingsburg recently hosted a Community Input Meeting as part of the development of its Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The session, held at the Kingsburg Council Chambers, provided residents with the opportunity to share priorities, needs, and ideas to help shape the future of local parks and recreational services.
Students from Fresno State’s Recreation Administration program played an active role in facilitating the meeting. Their contributions included:
Guiding small-group discussions to identify high-priority concerns.
Collecting feedback on community recreation needs.
Supporting interactive activities to ensure diverse voices were heard.
This collaboration highlights the importance of engaging students in "real-world" professional experiences that directly benefit local communities. By supporting the planning process, students gained hands-on skills in community engagement, facilitation, and recreation planning while contributing to a project that will enhance Kingsburg’s quality of life for years to come.
