What Have We Made Possible?

PARKS AND RECREATION BALLOT QUESTION

In 1997, Henderson voters approved a 12-cent property tax override dedicated to Parks and Recreation.  The 12 cents are part of the City’s total property tax rate of $0.77 per $100 of assessed valuation.  This override currently funds approximately 40% of the department’s operations and maintenance.  This term of the bond and property tax levy was in place for a period of 30 years and will sunset in 2027 unless it is renewed.

On the June 2026 primary election ballot, Henderson residents will decide:

o Whether to continue this funding for 30 more years
o Or to end this funding after 2026. Existing homeowners still have to pay the same tax amount, but the 12 cents currently allocated to Henderson Parks and Recreation would then be redirected to Clark County for its discretionary use.

Understand the facts about the ballot. 

Henderson Parks & Recreation Highlights

With 74 stunning parks and more than 300 miles of scenic trails, our City is a canvas of connection, discovery and vitality. In neighborhoods with parks nearby, families are healthier, communities are safer and property values rise. Parks build stronger cities from the ground up. These spaces are more than just places—they are where memories are made, where communities grow stronger and where lives are enriched every day.

2024/2025 Summer Camp/Youth Program enrollment: 13,500+ Students enrolled in swim lessons: 7,210 ➤ Learn More

Enrolled in Youth Sports: 1,703    Enrolled in Adult Sports: 4,608 ➤ Learn More

Attendance in 2023-2024: 450,000 people Large City Events: 12 Concerts & Festivals: 27 ➤ Learn More

Annual recreation center visitation: 647,346 Quarterly registration featuring a variety of interests for all ages. ➤ Learn More

Annual park visitation: 6,543,963 Designated Tree City with 32,000+ trees. ➤ Learn More

Opportunities for seniors to engage in social activities and foster connections. Programs, classes and events specifically tailored for seniors to suit their interests and needs. ➤ Learn More

Served over 470,000 meals annually to Henderson seniors and children ➤ Learn More

Reduced annual water consumption by 83% compared to 6 years ago. 8,816,885 gallons of water conserved annually with grass removal (Equivalent to 13 Olympic sized pools). ➤ Learn More

"Reel" Fun with Parks and Recreation

Did You Know?

• the City of Henderson manages 74 parks, 8 recreation centers, 105 athletic fields and over 300 miles of trail?  

• the City of Henderson serves over 470,000 meals annually to Henderson seniors and children?

• that over the past 2 years, the City of Henderson hosted 4,944 sports tournaments which amounted to $108 million dollars of economic impact?

• that property values increase by 8-10% based on its proximity to a park?

• City has added more than 60 parks through smart partnerships - at no cost to taxpayers? This has generated hundreds of millions of dollars in park assets for the Henderson community.

• that access to nearby parks and trails has saved the Henderson community an estimated $40 million in health care costs?

Beyond the Playground: Real Impact

We are proud to announce we have been selected as a Gold Medal Award finalist by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AARPA) in partnership with the National Recreation Park Association (NRPA). This prestigious award recognizes parks and recreation agencies in the United States that demonstrate excellence in community and organization operations.

Congratulations to our hard-working Parks and Recreation staff for providing outstanding services, programs, and events for all residents to enjoy.

The finalist award and Grand Award winner will be presented in September at the National Gold Medal Gala in Orlando, FL. 

Previous wins: 1999 and 2014

Ranked Top 25 in the Nation

We are proud to announce our parks were ranked top 25 in the nation by the Trust for Public Land's ParkScore® index — a national gold-standard comparison of park systems across the 100 most populated cities in the United States. Each year, the index measures park systems according to five categories: access, investment, acreage, amenities and equity.

Congratulations to our Parks and Recreation team for their commitment to enhancing the quality of life for our residents.

National Recognition for Quality

The City of Henderson Parks and Recreation Department has been reaccredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) for the Fourth time, making it the only agency in Nevada to hold this prestigious designation and one of only 222 CAPRA accredited agencies in the United States.

Through compliance with 37 fundamental and 31 non-fundamental standards of excellence, CAPRA accreditation assures policy makers, department staff, and the public that an accredited park and recreation agency has been independently evaluated against established benchmarks as delivering a high level of quality. The City of Henderson demonstrated 100% percent compliance with all 68 standards.

Additional Info & Resources

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Explore key programs that help the City meet our mission to provide services and resources that enhance the quality of life of those who live, learn, work and play in our City while striving “To Be America’s Premier Community".