The Park is a performing arts center, with the mission of providing joy and connection in the Hayward area through the enjoyment of the arts. In a diverse year-long schedule, the Park hosts events in many genres of the arts, including music, theater, film, dance, variety shows, comedy, the visual arts and the written word. The Park strives to make the arts accessible to all and does this by offering low-priced student tickets and admission-free “First Thursday” concerts each month and providing youth arts organizations a venue for performance. The Park is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, operated and staffed solely by volunteers.

To provide a home base for local theater and performing groups.

To provide a location for multicultural performances and events.

To provide an educational outreach component for youth and adults.

To provide an exhibit area for visual arts.

To raise the level of awareness of the value of 'arts' in the lives of citizens.

The Park had always been a movie theater, but now it's also a performing arts center. Opened in 1948, the Park marquee has been a part of Hayward's gateway for 60+ years. The first movie shown on the Park's fixed screen was "Romance On the High Seas!" The theater was built in what was known as Whitten Park. The decor was described as 'decorative modernism'.

“Playing the Park Center is like coming home, no matter where you’re from.” —John SonofMel

“The folks running the theatre are wonderful and I consider them friends. The acoustics of the venue are great and the two albums we recorded there turned out perfectly. It's so great to come to a joint and be able to focus on entertaining the people. I love Park Center!” — Jimmi of Jimmi and the Band of Souls