Surveys with the City

We are always seeking feedback on various Citywide topics to better serve our community. By sharing your thoughts, suggestions, and concerns, you are directly contributing to improving our City. Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback.

Why so many surveys? Surveys are essential for gathering valuable feedback from the community. They enable informed decision-making by providing data that reflects residents' needs and preferences. By engaging our community, surveys help identify key issues, measure satisfaction with services, and set priorities for resource allocation.

While we wish we could speak to everyone in person to reach a large portion of our community equitably, we rely on surveys, questionnaires, and feedback forms to hear from you. Overall, surveys ensure that the voices of the community are heard and integrated into our Citywide work.

*Survey Available Now! Parks and Recreation

Current Surveys

2026 Community Needs Assessment

The Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation Department, in partnership with PolCo, is launching a comprehensive Community Needs Assessment to better understand how our parks, facilities, and programs are serving the community, and where we can grow.

As part of this effort, randomly selected Santa Cruz households will soon receive a postcard in the mail with instructions on how to access a confidential survey. If your household is selected, we encourage you to take part. Your feedback will directly inform decisions about parks, trails, recreational programs, and future investments across the City.

In addition to the mailed survey, a second online survey will be available citywide, so all residents have an opportunity to share their thoughts.

If Your Household Received a Postcard

Your participation is especially important, as only a limited number of households were selected to complete the statistically representative survey.

A few things to keep in mind:

Your responses are completely confidential and will not be connected to you or your address.

To ensure a diverse and accurate sample, adults (18 or older) in your household should complete the survey.

If you received a mailed survey packet, you may return your completed survey in the postage‑paid envelope provided.

If you have already completed the survey online, thank you, please do not participate a second time.

The Community Needs Assessment is an important tool that helps the City understand:

How residents currently use parks, facilities, and recreation programs

Priorities for future improvements and investments

Areas for improvement to access, amenities, and services

Your input helps guide real decisions that shape the future of recreation in Santa Cruz.

Take the Survey Here!