Home is more than a house. It’s your neighbors, your village. It’s the community around you. And the city of San Rafael understands that. Based in California’s affluent Bay Area, San Rafael offers various community centers to bring neighbors and community members together. The community centers offer books, educational services, pools, playgrounds, and more. They serve as recreational spots for members of the San Rafael communities to gather, socialize, and share in leisure experiences.
Pickleweed Park Community Center and Library
The Pickleweed Park Community Center and Library is a renovated 24,000 sq. ft. building with a 6,000 volume library. It services the youths of San Rafael through facilities meant to assist in studying and other school work, with spare classrooms, a homework center, computer lab, and art room. Social activities are promoted with the Community Center’s teen lounge, gymnasium, and a community room that can service up to 300 people. It is often used for community meetings, events, and after school programs.
This particular community center is located at 50 Canal St. San Rafael, CA 94901. It can be reached at (415) 485-3077.
Terra Linda Community Center
The Terra Linda Community Center is located in the Northern San Rafael area and caters to a wide variety of social and recreational activities. Unleash your inner athlete on the outdoor basketball court, or get in touch with your crafty side in a convenient ceramics studio. Families may enjoy the outdoor playground, with picnic areas and nearby barbecues. A community rental hall, prep kitchen, and outdoor stage also make this community center an ideal venue for large events and/or parties.
Like the Pickleweed Park Community Center and Library, the Terra Linda Community Center aims to promote higher educational values, and has five classrooms with room for 30 people in each. However, unlike Pickleweed, and unlike the San Rafael Community Center, the Terra Linda Community Center also boasts a public pool, with scheduled hours for adults, children, exercise, and swim lessons. With an open season that spans from April to October, access is gained through a seasonal pass or through payment of a drop-in fee. The pool can also be rented out for parties during public hours, and offers private and semi-private swimming lessons for a certain fee.
For more information on both either the pool or community center, call (415) 485-3344. The address is 670 Del Ganado Rd. San Rafael, CA 94903. They are across the street from the Terra Linda Shopping Center.
San Rafael Community Center
Finally, there is the San Rafael Community Center. It is the city’s largest community center, and located in the downtown area. Like the others, it has an auditorium with a maximum 400 person capacity for meetings, assemblies, and other sizeable gatherings. There are also five smaller rooms that can seat between 25-40 people, and are there in place of the classrooms found at the smaller community centers. There is also a lounge, a gated garden, commercial kitchen, and theatrical stage. These are accompanied by a P.A. system for instant, widespread communication, and portable wet bars for general refreshment.
This community center is in the middle of an urban hub, with various services, from grocery stores to yoga studios, located nearby. Within the same block is Albert Field Park, which features a playground, tennis courts, and bocce ball courts. The address for the San Rafael Community Center is 618 B St. San Rafael, CA 94901. For more information, they can be contacted at (415) 485-3333.
