The Hayward Area Recreation and Park District (H.A.R.D.) has been awarded the District Transparency Certificate of Excellence by the Special District Leadership Foundation (SDLF), an affiliate of the California Special Districts Association (CSDA). This recognition honors special districts that demonstrate a strong commitment to open government, accountability, and organizational transparency.
To earn this distinction, H.A.R.D. met a rigorous set of standards that reflect the highest levels of transparency and good governance. Requirements included:
- Full compliance with state transparency laws
- Adoption of key operational policies
- Maintenance of an accessible, up-to-date website
- Completion of regular financial audits and public posting of meetings
- Ethics and Brown Act training for all Board members
“This achievement reflects the District’s ongoing commitment to ensuring our community has access to information and confidence in our operations,” said Board of Director President Louis Andrade. “Transparency is essential to building and maintaining public trust, and we are proud to be recognized among California’s leading special districts for these efforts.”
The SDLF is an independent nonprofit organization formed to promote good governance and best practices among California’s special districts. Receiving this certificate places H.A.R.D. among a distinguished group of agencies recognized statewide for organizational transparency.
This accomplishment highlights the collaborative effort of staff across departments to ensure that H.A.R.D.’s operations remain open, accessible, and accountable to the public. The District looks forward to building on this momentum and continuing to serve the community with integrity and transparency.
Media Contact: For more information, please contact: Hayward Area Recreation and Park District’s Public Information Officer Nicole Espinoza Roa at 510.888.0111 or RoaN@HaywardRec.org
About Hayward Area Recreation and Park District: The Hayward Area Recreation and Park District, known locally as “H.A.R.D.,” is an independent special use district created to provide park and recreation services for over 309,000 residents. Our boundaries encompass a 100-square-mile area, which includes the City of Hayward and the unincorporated communities of Castro Valley, San Lorenzo, Ashland, Cherryland, and Fairview. For more information, visit HaywardRec.org.