California Parks & Recreation, Summer 2024, Vol. 80, No. 2

PARQUE DEL ARROYO VERDE CITY OF PLACENTIA GRAND OPENING

The modernization of Parque Del Arroyo Verde in the City of Placentia was an eagerly anticipated project led by David Volz Design. The new enhanced and expanded playground feature boulder and rope climbing elements and zip lines that promise exhilarating adventures for children and families. Play equipment and site amenities including permanent ping-pong tables and bocce ball were selected to encourage physical activity and to provide exciting challenges for visitors. The new picnic area features a large shade structure with BBQs and plenty of seating. The design team utilized applications to locate, photograph, assess and protect the parks’ mature trees and to integrate them into the new design. The new landscape features water conserving native plantings and pollinators benefiting the local ecology. With this beautifully crafted modernization, Parque Del Arroyo Verde is poised to shine as a vibrant hub for recreational activity.

CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION (ISSN 0733-5326) is published quarterly by the California Park & Recreation Society, Inc., 7971 Freeport Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95832-9701. Opinions expressed in credited articles are those of the author and not necessarily those of the society. Subscription rate is $30.00 per year and is included in membership dues. Individual subscriptions apart from CPRS membership are available only to colleges, and libraries. Single copy price for all other issues is $7.50 for members and $12.50 for nonmembers. Periodicals postage paid at Sacramento, California, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION, 7971 Freeport Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95832-9701. Send manuscripts, query letters and artwork to Alisha Herriott. Advertising materials should be sent to Todd Pernsteiner at todd@pernsteiner.com or call (952) 841-1111. Guidelines for submitting articles and advertising rates are available from same address, or from the CPRS website. (www.cprs.org). ©2024, California Park & Recreation Society, Inc.

Fall magazine will include new Buyer’s Guide pull-out section!

The fall issue of California Parks & Recreation magazine will feature a new, expanded stand-alone Buyer’s Guide. This is a great place to promote your products and services. Current magazine advertisers receive discounted rates on ads placed in the Buyer’s Guide. If you would like to advertise, please contact Todd Pernsteiner at todd@pernsteiner.com or call (952) 841-1111. Visit www.bit.ly/CPRSmagazine or scan QR code to view the 2024 advertising media kit.

PRESIDENT

Kyla Brown, CPRE, AFO (She/Her) Riverside County 951-581-5770

PRESIDENT-ELECT

Cindy Bagley, CPRP (She/Her) City of Rohnert Park 707-588-3452

VICE PRESIDENT

Jenni Worsham City of Fountain Valley 714-593-4447

SECRETARY-TREASURER

Victoria Reyna, CPRE (She/Her) City of Lancaster 661-723-0677

REGION 1

REPRESENTATIVE (Dist 1, 2, 3)

Ashika Lal (She/Her)

Southgate Recreation & Park District 916-428-1171

REGION 2

REPRESENTATIVE (Dist 4, 5, 6)

Tricia Mullan (She/Her) City of Menlo Park 650-330-2225

REGION 3

REPRESENTATIVE (Dist 7, 8, 15)

Mel Johnson (They/Them)

Templeton Community Services District 805-434-4909

REGION 4

REPRESENTATIVE (Dist 11, 13, 14)

Candice Smith (She/Her) City of Ontario 909-395-2020

REGION 5

REPRESENTATIVE (Dist 9, 10, 12)

Aumee Frey (She/Her) City of Mission Viejo 949-859-4348

SECTION REPRESENTATIVES

Administrators, Recreation and Recreation Therapy

Janine Andrade City of Bell 323-773-1596

Aging, Aquatics, Development & Operations and Educators

Nicole McNeil (She/Her) City of San Diego 619-533-6526

Please contact any Board Member with questions or concerns.

CALIFORNIA PARKS

EDITOR

& RECREATION

MAGAZINE

ADVERTISING MANAGER

Stephanie Stephens, CAE Todd Pernsteiner (She/Her) (He/Him) Executive Director todd@pernsteiner.com stephanie@cprs.org 952-841-1111

MANAGING EDITOR ADVERTISING ASSISTANT/ Alisha Herriott DESIGN/PRODUCTION (She/Her) Amy Pinkston Communications and (She/Her) Marketing Manager amy@pernsteiner.com alisha@cprs.org

UN PLAZA, CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO

The UN Plaza in downtown San Francisco had become plagued with crime and unsafe conditions. City leaders proposed a solution to revitalize the area by installing a streetstyle skate park near the BART entry. The area needed to be accessible to non-skaters but provide an optimal layout for skaters. We led a design process along with key consultants to quickly develop a design that incorporated elements from around the City, which also included an exercise space with outdoor equipment. Construction began in October and was completed within a month, much to the surprise of the community. The mayor praised the project for its efficiency and success in rejuvenating the area.

Message from the President Kyla

Brown, CPRS President

Summer is in Full Swing

Summer is in full swing, bringing with it summer camps, aquatics programs, special events, and more. It’s no wonder July is celebrated nationwide as Park and Recreation Month. In California, it’s also Parks Make Life Better® Month! Agencies and their elected officials are proudly proclaiming and celebrating the wonderful work park and recreation professionals do for their communities. In fact, this is why we also celebrate Park and Recreation Professionals Day and World Ranger Day in July!

In this summer issue, we focus on the transformative role of technology in parks and recreation. Our content highlights emerging trends and long-standing practices, offering valuable insights for agencies seeking to enhance efficiencies and service delivery. For decades, systems like reservation management, asset management, customer management, and maintenance-related technologies have been integral to our operations. These technologies have evolved and continue to improve. If your agency hasn’t yet adopted these systems, consider connecting with colleagues through the CPRS website’s “communities.” Fellow professionals

are a great resource for exploring options and finding the best solutions for your needs.

Emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) are increasingly becoming part of our daily operations. From AI assistance in writing reports, speeches, and event outlines to providing quick summaries, analyzing information, and suggesting improvements, AI is revolutionizing our workflow. Virtual meetings are also benefiting from AI, with features like attendee bots, note-taking, and meeting summary capabilities. Whether you’re skeptical or enthusiastic about AI, one thing is clear: managing its use in the workplace is critical for park and recreation professionals.

Despite technological advancements and enhancements, park and recreation professionals remain irreplaceable. Your direct interaction and first-hand engagement with your community members are what make you indispensable. The essence of building community lies in the personal connections and relationships forged by dedicated individuals. Your ability to connect with people, understand their needs, and foster a sense of belonging

is something technology can never replicate. Personal interactions are the cornerstone of a vibrant and cohesive community highlighting the invaluable role of park and recreation professionals like you.

What technological advancements is your agency taking advantage of? At my agency, we’re utilizing drones for marketing, surveillance, and operational planning; AI for various applications; new software for agency-wide work requests; GIS data gathering and tracking; and Power BI for data analysis and communication improvements. I’m eager to learn about the innovations other professionals are implementing. Take your time to explore this issue of the magazine, then join the Pledge for EDge community chat to share your experiences and continue learning from one another. Together, we can harness the power of technology to enhance our parks and recreation services. n

Nominate Your Staff for Park & Rec Heroes!

Is there someone from your team who goes above and beyond the call of duty in their job? Or perhaps your entire team has done something extraordinary that should be recognized. The fall 2024 issue of California Parks & Recreation magazine will honor CPRS Park & Rec Heroes. For more information and to make nominations, visit www.bit.ly/CPRSHeroes2024 and complete the form. Deadline to submit is Friday, September 13th.

Happy Parks Make Life Better!® Month! JULY

The Parks Make Life Better!® campaign is more than just a logo—it’s a movement uniting park and recreation agencies across California. This movement relies on YOU and every park and recreation professional recognizing how their actions shape the brand. We see you contributing to this effort every day!

Irving Collectible Card Challenge

The City of Irvine is celebrating National Park and Recreation Month with an exciting collectible card challenge. Throughout the month of July, residents are invited to collect 17 unique cards representing the City’s nationally ranked parks and facilities, with a bonus card available to residents who ride Irvine CONNECT. Participants who collect a total of eight cards can visit the Information Desk at Irvine City Hall beginning Monday, July 22, to receive an exclusive enamel pin.

Get involved in Monthly District and Section Challenges

Thank you, Parks and Recreation Professionals for Planting Positivity!

We hope you loved your Parks Make Life Better!® seeds and stickers. Share a photo of where you planted your Parks Make Life Better seeds or placed your stickers on your social media.

Post your photos on Facebook or Instagram –the more creative the spot, the better! Use the hashtag #ParksMakeLifeBetter, tag us (Facebook – California Park & Recreation Society, Instagram – cprs_ca), and include your District and Section.

Share the New Parks Make Life Better!® Video

Parks Make Life Better!® - CPRS President Kyla Brown tells us why in a new video. Find it on the CPRS Parks Make Life Better!® webpage and on social media.

City of Chino Hills City of Paramount City of San Gabriel

Cordova Recreation & Park District City of Fountain Valley

Professional Development

ICYMI: 2024 JEDI Academy

By Lauren Oakley, CPRS Director of Professional Development

The CPRS JEDI Counsel hosted the inaugural JEDI Academy May 2-3, 2024, at the beautiful Lake Merritt Sailboat House in the City of Oakland. More than 65 park, recreation, and industry professionals from 35 different organizations attended this two-day professional development event. The Academy aimed to offer attendees “intermediate” education about JEDI principles (i.e., Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) to be implemented in their daily work, within their workplaces, and even in their personal lives as community members. All 2024 JEDI Academy experiences focused on Awareness, Belonging, and Communication.

Generally, the first day of the academy focused on level-setting and philosophical exploration of JEDI concepts followed by more tactical applications on the second day. If you’re curious, you can see the full line up of sessions, speakers, and even photos on the CPRS JEDI page (www. cprs.org/resources/jedicounsel).

It was wonderful to witness participants engage eagerly in group discussions, grappling with the concepts presented. Participants supported each other in cultivating a brave environment to ask difficult questions and broach challenging topics.

Some sessions brought attention to the variety of ways parks and recreation impacts community members. Attendees reflected on their experiences, personal and professional, sharing stories of both joyous success and heartbreaking challenges.

Participants were provided a variety of lessons and tools to help them elevate their work and impact. The JEDI Policy Builder Workshop, for example, had attendees using a step-by-step guide to draft and implement some sample policies (e.g., swim attire).

Every education session offered Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) and every experience provided the opportunity for personal and professional development. We are grateful to every attendee and organization who chose to participate in this inaugural academy!

The Together We Dine Luncheon on the first day was the nexus of the A, B, C’s of the Academy content and the CPRS Strategic CARD Framework. Attendees were split up into diverse groups of about 7 people with a facilitator from Project Unity at each table providing rules for engagement and guidance through the experience. Participants got to practice listening, communicating, and being vulnerable while also being productive and respectful. The shift in energy after the luncheon was significant far beyond simply breaking the ice – it seemed as though the group was truly connecting and cultivating belonging.

Here’s what one attendee had to say:

“Empowering. Poignant. Inspirational. That’s how I would describe the 2024 JEDI Academy. From the sessions, there were a wide variety of experiences, and it was nice to hear the perspectives of other like-minded people. And though we did not all have the same point of view or agree on everything, together we were able to navigate the critical process of discovery and consider strategies for making impacts in our communities. All-in-all, the JEDI Counsel planned and executed an impactful, well-thought-out, insightful, and transformational academy.”

The JEDI Counsel has more in store for the CPRS community in the months ahead. We hope you can join us for a future virtual roundtable discussion and welcome your questions and suggestions for future topics.

For news from the JEDI Counsel check out the CPRS JEDI page (www.cprs.org/resources/jedicounsel) and join the discussion within the “JEDI – Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion” community. n

Community Stories

Prior to the Connections 2024 Conference, we invited members to “tell their story” by highlighting how park and recreation departments help their community thrive while incorporating California Action Plan (CAP) goals. Storyboards were created, printed and put on display throughout the conference. These submissions will be showcased as CPRS Community Stories in upcoming issues of this magazine. Learn more about the CAP goals at www.cprs.org/resources/cprs-positioning/ cprs-cap or scan the QR code to the left.

City of Roseville Region 1

CAP Goal: Natural Resource Protection

Natural Resources Stewardship

in the City of Roseville

Tell us your story...

Since its inception, the City of Roseville has been intentional about protecting and preserving its natural resources. The City’s 35+ miles of bike trails, extensive vernal pools, 4,000 acres of open space, and 74 miles of creeks are among the top characteristics that set Roseville apart and keep residents connected to their environment. Today, the City of Roseville’s Open Space team works under the advisement of biological monitors in difficult-to-access riparian areas to restore flood conveyance and maintain healthy streams. Integrated methods, including goat grazing, are utilized throughout the City’s preserves. Roseville residents have come to know and love the goats and follow their whereabouts on the City’s online “goat tracker” map. To reduce impact to surrounding natural areas, existing

natural trails have been selected and highlighted for residents to connect with nature without undue impact on the environment. Unsheltered camp clean-ups are an additional integral component to the success of Roseville’s natural resource stewardship. The OpenSpace team collaborates weekly with the Roseville Police Department to identify and safely abate unsheltered camp debris that poses a risk to the ecosystem. Consistent with its founders, City of Roseville leadership continues to fortify and enhance the Open Space program, allowing for sustainable natural resource stewardship for generations to come.

Irwindale

Roseville

Laguna Beach

Scan to learn more about the California Action Plan (CAP)

“

I love being outside. I love the different activities ... it just works for me.

- Bert S.

City of Paso Robles Region 3

CAP Goal: Human Development

A Safe Place for Teens

at Centennial Park in Paso Robles

By Heather Stephenson, City of El Paso de Robles Recreation Services

Tell us your story...

In August of 2023, Paso Robles Recreation Services opened a Teen Center at Centennial Park providing a safe space for students to gather, socialize, buy an after-school snack, and play together when their school day has ended. Centennial park is located between the Lewis Middle School and Paso Robles High School, giving students the ability to easily walk to the Center during those after-school hours. The Teen Center occupies an existing underutilized space in the Centennial Park gymnasium complex that was renovated to include a video gaming area with three 70” monitors, highspeed wi-fi and charging stations, air hockey, table tennis, pool table, popular board, and card games, bistro tables and a sofa area for teens to gather. The city’s drop-in gym program, located on the indoor basketball court adjacent to the Teen Center, provides teens with the opportunity to shoot hoops and enjoy a rotating slate of activities including ping pong, volleyball, futsal, and more.

A Teen Center Café (inside of the Teen Center) provides students with prepackaged food items (a cup of noodles is the most popular item), beverages, and tasty homemade goodies for purchase. The café operates in partnership with NC Affiliates, a local non-profit organization which provides training and employment opportunities for community members with intellectual and physical disabilities.

The Teen Center was designed with input from community surveys with members of the Paso Robles Youth Commission being instrumental in

contributing to the vision and creation of the teen-centric facility. The Paso Robles Youth Commission is a youth-led organization that seeks to provide opportunities and representation for youth through collaboration with local government in order to enrich the lives of the youth in the Paso Robles community. Since the grand opening of the Teen Center at Centennial Park last August, approximately 90 students visit the Center daily. Both students and parents often express their gratitude for this new gathering space. One of the regular teen visitors to the Center shared that before the Teen Center, he would sit in his dad’s car for four hours each day after school waiting for his dad to finish work. Many teens would spend the afterschool hours alone at home. Support and enthusiasm from the community for the Teen Center have been effusive with comments such as “I am thrilled to know that our city cares enough about our youth to offer them a safe place to hang out with their friends.”

In January of 2024, the Teen Center at Centennial Park welcomed Congressman Jimmy Panetta to tour the Teen Center, visit with the Youth Commissioners, and interact with the teens. The congressman enjoyed the visit thoroughly, shooting hoops, playing pool and even purchasing a Taylor Swift “Midnights” inspired friendship bracelet from an entrepreneurial teen.

Following the visit, Congressman Panetta commented: “During my recent visit to the Teen Center at Centennial Park, I experienced an amazing amount of positive energy from the young men and women who were gathered there after school. It really is a safe place where young people of all ages can go outside of the classroom and home to learn, play, socialize, and expand their horizons. Visiting this teen center in Paso

Robles, seeing all that it has to offer to our students, and speaking with the young leaders of the Paso Robles Youth Commission made me confident that the Teen Center will play an integral role in our continued progress as a community and optimistic for the future of our 19th Congressional District.”

As for the future of the Teen Center, the Paso Robles Recreation Services team is looking forward to continuing renovations and expansions of the

City of San Marcos Region 5

CAP Goal: Natural Resource Protection

Teen Center in 2024 with plans for more areas for teens to gather and expanded monthly program opportunities in the works.

The Teen Center at Centennial Park was made possible with funding from the City of Paso Robles, the Paso Robles REC Foundation (a local

non-profit organization), a donation from Townsend Public Affairs, and a community grant from Justin Vineyards & Winery LLC.

Learn more about the Teen Center at Centennial Park here: Teen Center | Paso Robles, CA (prcity.com)

Jack’s Pond Nature Center

The Hidden Gem of San Marcos

Tell us your story...

In recent years, the transformation of San Marcos’ hidden gem, Jack’s Pond Nature Center, has been truly remarkable. The journey began with a vision to revitalize this cherished community asset, and through collective efforts, it has evolved into a hub of environmental education and community engagement.

Situated near California State University San Marcos, Jack’s Pond Nature Center resides within a repurposed barn with a fascinating history. Originally constructed in

the 1930s by the California Conservation Corps to provide water for reforesting burnt areas, the pond, and surrounding land later became home to the Moffett Chicken Ranch, managed by Jack Neiswonger and his family. A barn was built during this time to accommodate the working animals for the ranch. In 1990, Jack’s Pond was identified as a future San Marcos City Park site, setting the stage for its transformation.

Fast forward to 2000, and the once animal-occupied barn was converted into the city’s first Nature Center.

While it initially showcased broad scientific themes such as world habitats and weather systems, the focus shifted in 2018 to highlight San Marcos-specific flora and fauna. With the support of a $6,000 grant from the Friends of San Marcos Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to enhancing local parks and recreation programs, city staff embarked on a journey to reimagine the Nature Center’s rooms.

The objective was to create an immersive space that would captivate visitors and foster a deeper connection to their local natural habitat. Each room was thoughtfully designed with engaging activities corresponding to its theme, showcasing whimsical paper trees, interactive murals, live animals, and more.

Despite facing challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, renovations continued, resulting in the Grand Re-Opening of the Nature Center in January 2023. Led by city leaders and bolstered by the Friends of San Marcos, the event celebrated the unveiling of ten newly designed interactive rooms. These renovated spaces serve as gateways to exploration, highlighting the power of community collaboration and environmental stewardship. Former horse stalls were transformed into themed rooms reflecting San Marcos’ biodiversity and conservation efforts. Visitors can now immerse themselves in freshwater habitats, observe nocturnal animals, learn about local bird species, study insects and reptiles, discover native flora, explore the city’s rich history, learn about traversing trails, and gain insights into sustainability and conservation efforts.

In addition to the informative indoor experience, Jack’s Pond Nature Center is complemented by a 23-acre park featuring a native plant garden and hiking trails down to the pond. Interpretive hikes offer visitors the chance to discover a variety of plant life and observe common wild animals in their natural habitat. After the hikes, guests are encouraged to explore the Nature Center to get

a closer look at the flora and fauna they encountered when on the trail.

Jack’s Pond Nature Center has become a focal point for promoting the appreciation and enjoyment of nature, offering a wide range of programs. Thanks to our dedicated volunteers, it’s open free to the public every Sunday from 10 am to 1 pm, drawing an average of 100 visitors daily. Weekdays feature curriculum-based field trips for grades Kindergarten through fifth, regardless of school district affiliation. Additionally, our center hosts the city’s annual Junior Ranger Day, a free community-building event offering hands-on activities highlighting local flora, fauna, and nature education. To use the facility to its full potential, we’re excited to introduce a brand-new private birthday party program in the barn. Though the grant-funded renovations are complete, Nature Center staff continue to improve displays, exhibits, and programs to captivate visitors, both new and returning.

Together, the community has breathed new life into Jack’s Pond Nature Center, ensuring its enduring legacy as a beacon of environmental education and community involvement for future generations. n

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Professional Development

The Journey to Becoming a Certified Park and Recreation Executive (CPRE)

Our Members Share Their Stories PART 2 OF 2

The National Recreation and Park Association’s (NRPA) Certified Park and Recreation Executive (CPRE) certification establishes a national standard for managerial, administrative, and executive parks and recreation professionals. This mastery-level credential focuses on the practical knowledge and current real-world skills necessary in today’s changing park and recreation environment.

In the last issue and this issue we are featuring CPRS members who have completed the CPRE program. Ready to take your career to the next level? To learn more about how becoming a CPRE can benefit you and advance your career in parks and recreation management visit https://www.nrpa.org/ certification/cpre/become-a-cpre/ or email NRPA at certification@nrpa.org.

Victoria Reyna

Assistant Director of Arts and Community Services, City of Lancaster

Embarking on a path less traveled, my journey within the parks and recreation sector commenced with humble beginnings as a volunteer for the City of Rancho Cucamonga. This early exposure instilled in me a profound appreciation for community service and the intricate workings of local park systems. It wasn’t merely a volunteering stint; it was the

foundation of what would become a lifelong commitment to enhancing community spaces and services across California.

The trajectory from a volunteer to a recognized Certified Park and Recreation Executive (CPRE) holder in California wasn’t linear. It was a journey marked by diverse experiences across various municipalities and a special district, each contributing a unique piece to the puzzle of my professional development. Transitioning from Rancho Cucamonga, I lent my skills and passion to other cities,

including Riverside and Fontana, where the challenges varied but the goal remained consistent: to create and maintain vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable recreational spaces and experiences for all community members.

My tenure with the Jurupa Community Services District offered a distinctive perspective on special district operations (it’s a water company!), further enriching my understanding and appreciation for the multifaceted nature of parks and recreation management. This role underscored the importance of specialized

services and the need for tailored approaches in meeting community recreational and service requirements to a very new and growing community in the City of Eastvale.

Today, as an Assistant Director for the City of Lancaster, my journey through the parks and recreation landscape has matured into a role that not only embodies a wide array of experiences, challenges, and successes but also resonates with the depth of impact I can imbue in this community. This position has granted me the privilege to apply the cumulative knowledge and insights gained from years of dedicated service across various facets of parks and recreation management. More profoundly, it has positioned me to significantly influence the future of parks and recreation management in a strategic and impactful manner.

In this capacity, I have the distinct honor of overseeing operations that extend well beyond traditional parks and recreational facilities. My responsibilities encompass the stewardship of the Lancaster Performing Arts Center, a cornerstone of cultural and artistic expression in the city. This venue not only showcases diverse talents from across the globe but also serves as a beacon of community engagement, bringing people together through the power of performance art.

Similarly, my oversight extends to The Museum of Art and History

(MOAH), another pivotal institution within Lancaster. MOAH is not just a museum; it’s a vibrant hub of historical preservation and contemporary art, reflecting the rich tapestry of our community’s past, present, and future. My role involves ensuring that MOAH continues to offer dynamic and educational exhibits that engage, inform, and inspire visitors of all ages, fostering a deeper appreciation for the arts and history within our community and the Antelope Valley. Furthermore, my duties encompass the management of the Community Services Divisions, which are crucial in promoting community well-being

and enrichment. This division offers a spectrum of services and programs designed to enhance the quality of life for all Lancaster residents. From recreational activities and health and wellness programs to community events and environmental stewardship initiatives, my aim is to ensure that these services not only meet the diverse needs of our community but also contribute to its growth and vibrancy.

The CPRE certification is more than a professional accolade; it’s a testament to the commitment, expertise, and vision required to lead and innovate within the parks and recreation field. My journey, from a volunteer to an Assistant Director and CPRE holder, exemplifies the diverse pathways to success in our sector. It underscores the idea that there’s no singular route to achieving professional excellence and impact in parks and recreation.

In sharing my story, I hope to inspire future CPRE candidates to embrace their unique journeys, to seek out diverse experiences, and to continually strive for excellence in their contributions to our communities. The paths we take are as varied as the parks and communities we serve, but each is vital in weaving the rich tapestry of California’s parks and recreation narrative.

Tiffany White-LaPierre

Senior Planner, MIG, Inc.

In December 2021, I became a Certified Park and Recreation Executive (CPRE), marking another milestone in my professional

journey. Seeing the “pass” result was such an amazing experience and one that came after years of exploration, preparation, and service. Since high school, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in recreation and sport, and during my undergraduate program at the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign studying Recreation, Sport and Tourism, I decided to focus on starting my career in community

recreation where I envisioned myself eventually serving as a Director and then retiring to become a parttime professor and consultant in the field. With these goals in mind, I made a professional development plan that included continuing my education, engaging in professional development, getting varied work experiences, and earning my professional credentials. I felt that all of these things combined would adequately prepare me for leading a parks and recreation agency or department while bridging the gap between theory and practice as a professor, and eventually working as a consultant after retirement. While things have gone a little out of order professionally, I will say that I am exactly where I want to be right

CRANE ARCHITECTURAL GROUP

now, and my preparation was in fact, essential for getting me to where I am now, serving as a Senior Planner at a consulting firm. I also recently earned my doctorate and am making plans to become an adjunct professor in the fall. While, Director, has not yet come into fruition, it may be in the cards for me in the future, but for now, I am putting into practice my various professional and educational experiences into helping agencies create long-range plans for their parks and recreation systems.

Professionally, I have served in various capacities in agencies across the country including Florida, Illinois, Texas, and California where I have worked in community & recreation center operations, resort & commercial recreation, special events, youth & adult sports, cultural & fine arts, membership, senior programming, day & overnight camps, and everything in between.

In addition to my professional service, I have also continued participation as a volunteer in my state associations and with NRPA. Through NRPA, I served as a member of the Job Task Analysis Committee (JTA) in 2015 that helped to reshape the CPRP exam content and also served two terms on the National Certification Board (NCB) including holding the office of Board Chair twice. It was through my volunteer service on the JTA and NCB that really solidified my commitment to maintaining my certifications and earning my CPRE. My CPRP opened the door to more exciting volunteer opportunities on the national level and earning my CPRE has demonstrated my aptitude and has placed me into an elite group of parks and recreation professionals across the country who have dedicated their professional lives to excellence and continued learning and development. I have achieved so much as a young professional and look forward to seeing what the next few decades have in store for me. n

Professional Development

Back to School

Maintenance Management School (MMS)

Every year, 150+ park and recreation professionals, representing over 60 public agencies, arrive at stunning Lake Arrowhead to participate in the five-year Maintenance Management School. The program teaches a systematic approach for determining the resources needed to maintain a public facility, with lifelong professionals providing knowledge and opportunities not available anywhere else. Whether it’s your 1st year attending, 2nd year learning with us, or you are ready for the Grad Forum, there is place for you at Maintenance Management School!

CPRS Magazine spoke to three Maintenance Management School participants to learn more about their experiences in the program.

Tara Gee City of Roseville, Lead Regent for the Grad Year Forum

1. Could you highlight some unique opportunities and experiences that attendees can expect at MMS?

The program provides unique opportunities to network with peers as well as Directors/ Administrators of other parks & recreation professionals in a setting that is safe to share and conducive to collaboration. These networks become life-long partners and collectively help the entire profession to evolve and find solutions to new and old challenges.

A comment I hear often was, “I never knew. I thought our agency issues were unique. It’s great to know we are not the only ones.” As for the Grad Forum, this focuses on leadership and provides an opportunity for attendees to grow both professionally and personally. This experience is unique to MMS as no other training spends a full week discussing various aspects of leadership.

2. What benefits do participants gain from attending multiple years of the program?

The program is progressive. The curriculum provides an overview of not only learning how to develop a maintenance management plan, but also shows what can happen and

the benefits of having a plan when challenged by budget cuts, resident concerns and decision-maker inquiries.

3. Can you share any success stories or examples of how professionals who attended MMS have implemented the knowledge gained in their respective roles?

I have seen many applicants list receipt of the MMS certificate on their resumes. This shows an extra effort and is seen as an advantage in an application. Many graduates who have successfully completed the program and who have implemented it it at their agencies have been promoted or have moved into a promotional role in another agency.

4. Are there any specific events or activities that encourage collaboration and relationshipbuilding among attendees?

Events are sprinkled throughout each year’s curriculum. In many cases, attendees don’t even realize that collaboration and relationshipbuilding is happening until many days into the program. Attendees are so engaged with the assignments and the training that this happens naturally. The great thing is that the collaboration continues outside of the class setting and extends beyond the one week at MMSl.

5. What are your best memories of MMS?

So many! In a nutshell, it’s so great to see how strong a bond is developed by the attendees. I see people who have attended in other CPRS trainings and conferences and the overarching theme is that their week(s) attending has changed their lives in a positive way.

6. What can participants, both new and returning, look forward to at MMS 2024?

Even more of the same learning opportunities, sessions, and networking experiences!. For the Grad Forum, this year we will be focusing on Leadership and Management skills. This will include topics like negotiation, delegation, time management, communications and more.

7. How have you as regents benefited from their involvement in the school, and what advice would you offer to future attendees?

I go back because no matter how long I’ve been in the industry, I learn as much as I give. I return to work refreshed and energized. There is nothing like this for our Park Professionals.

Melanie Goss Orange County Parks, 2nd Year Regent

1. Could you highlight some unique opportunities and experiences that attendees can expect at MMS?

There are so many. Attending MMS gives you the opportunity to not only learn, but to participate in ways that you may not get to in your every day career. You are encouraged to share your thoughts, your ideas, ask questions-without the fear of being embarrassed or ignored. Everyone is equal at MMS now matter their career title.

2. What benefits do participants gain from attending multiple years of the program?

The program is well rounded in the sense that it leads you thru the operations side of parks, to the

WHERE safety MEETS fun

management realm and into personal/ professional growth. You get to learn all sides of the profession. For lower-level employees, it gives the opportunity to understand how things are done and why. For upperlevel employees, it gives them the opportunity to connect with staff at all levels and to refresh their passion for their role.

3. Can you share any success stories or examples of how professionals who attended MMS have implemented the knowledge gained in their respective roles?

Robert Sustaita was a Maintenance Worker who felt like he had stalled out. He was cantankerous and didn’t really care who knew it. Robert started attending MMS and we noticed he was starting to change. He was becoming more confident, more personable and he even made a big decision to transfer out of a park that he had been at for many years so that he could get a fresh start. With

in a year, Robert was promoted to Maintenance Supervisor I. He became a regent with MMS and now he runs his own park. He has said many times that MMS helped to shape him into the employee he is today.

4. How does MMS foster a sense of community among participants, and what role does networking play in the program?

There are so many benefits to working with professionals from other agencies. Talking to them about their agencies, their issues and successes and their career paths, gives you the opportunity to understand that maybe the things you are dealing with aren’t unique. Many times, the conversations lead you to a new way of looking at a situation or give you an idea of how to handle an issue. You form relationships with the other attendees, both professional and personal. For me, this has been one of the biggest take aways from MMS.

5. Are there any specific events or activities that encourage collaboration and relationshipbuilding among attendees?

Meal times. By having open seating during the meals, you are able to sit with attendees from any of the years and it is a casual setting where you can chat and get to know people from other organizations.

6. What are your best memories of MMS?

Again, so many! When I attended first year I was having a tough time in both my career and my personal life. I had no idea what to expect or what the school was about. My Ranger at the time insisted I attend and so I nervously headed up the mountain. That week was so eye opening and refreshing for me. I had met so many people, from many different areas and roles, who not only welcomed me and accepted that I was “only an extra help groundskeeper” but showed me that my role was important. I came

BOTTLE FILLING STATION

Being able to connect with radically different agencies, from other areas of the state but with the same fundamental duties was enlightening.

down the mountain with a whole new perspective and outlook. I couldn’t wait to return the next year.

7. What can participants, both new and returning, look forward to at MMS 2024?

For second year, we will be working on the new content that we added last year, making a few changes and adding things that we may have missed. Continued excellence from the Regents and the CPRS Staff.

8. How have regents benefited from their involvement in the school, and what advice would you offer to future attendees?

Working with the other regents has expanded my view of the profession and of my role in it. The knowledge that I have gained from observing their methods, talking to them and getting advice, watching their leadership skills and the way that they approach people, has been invaluable to me. I feel blessed to call them colleagues and friends. To future attendees: Embrace the moment. You may never have an opportunity like this again. The knowledge that the regents share with you will help to carry you thru your career. The relationships that you will build with carry you through your life.

Levi Winebrenner

City of Hanford

Parks & Community Services

1. Could you highlight some unique opportunities and experiences that attendees can expect at MMS?

As an attendee, I found a couple of key experiences especially surprising. They were networking with other staff and agencies and a break from traditional training or educational experiences.

Being able to connect with radically different agencies, from other areas of the state but with the same fundamental duties was enlightening. While we shared similar challenges, other aspects were approached in a dramatically different approach. This break from my region’s approach gave me new and fresh ideas on how to address some difficult issues back home with a fresh approach.

The all-inclusive approach at MMS is surprisingly refreshing while at the same time adding rigor and focus to the training. Most of my past trainings were located at the same facility for both lodging and class work. However, everyone eating, sleeping, and learning in one space allows for

ARCHITECTURAL DOG PARK PRODUCTS

more in-depth conversations, and deeper and richer connections being made between the participants and regents.

2. What benefits do participants gain from attending multiple years of the program?

As stated above since we are in one space at the same time working on similar content, we stop and talk about the information in a deep meaningful way in a natural and transferable way. This allows a second or grad year to help ease the concern of a first who may be struggling with a topic while the advanced students get reenergized by seeing all the newer staff growing in the field.

The knowledge base of the multipleyear format allows participants to take the info home and apply it for a while then come back and build on that base knowledge with real-world application while also extending the skills by adding in the next level of information.

3. Can you share any success stories or examples of how professionals who attended MMS have implemented the knowledge gained in their respective roles?

I was able to bring a sense of order and clear expectations to an agency that had been following the “what we

have always done” approach. This did not result in a radical adjustment to funding or personnel. I did give the agency a clear understanding of what was being asked of staff and resources, allowing for more meaningful conversations and expectations to be developed.

4. How does MMS foster a sense of community among participants, and what role does networking play in the program?

The ability to connect with others in similar positions, doing the same kinds of work, and working in the same field but in slightly different political, financial, or social environments allows for crosspollination of ideas and solutions to common issues experienced in the maintenance and operations side of the industry.

This cross-pollination can result in fresh new and more robust approaches to how we do our jobs back home. Additionally, the fellowship of kindred spirits over the years allows participants to become more than just colleagues they become friends, compadres,

that the parts (meals together, team building exercises, training time, guest speakers, and so on) add up to something much larger than the sum of the individual pieces.

6. What are your best memories of MMS?

As a student, the team building was notably memorable. From getting completely wronged as a first year in the softball game to a complete vindication as a second year (6 years apart).

The time spent at meals talking with advanced students, my counterparts, and regents getting to know them on a personal level, and hearing that I wasn’t alone in my struggles.

Learning to step back and let others be out front during certain teambuilding activities and that the team is almost always much smarter than the individual.

7. What can participants, both new and returning, look forward to at MMS 2024?

More of the same familial communitybased instruction, while hopefully connecting to other like-minded individuals.

most agencies don’t use it or cherrypick info from it and ignore the rest. This information has allowed me to grow my skills/ abilities and be promoted to another agency at a higher level. I now lead with an MMP and can demonstrate the value of the work being done in the field on paper with hard data and not just an opinion or my story.

I have also gained a very good group of colleagues that I can call on for input or insights into issues that I come across or when I am looking for that extra boost of motivation of people doing the right work for the right reasons. n

8. How have regents benefited from their involvement in the school, and what advice would you offer to future attendees?

The most obvious is the content. An MMP is a radically effective way to manage maintenance and operations for any facility or space. In my region,

Maintenance Management School

November 4 - 8, 2024

UCLA Lake Arrowhead, CA

Hosted by CPRS HQ and MMS Regents

Learn more at cprs.org/ education/mms

LIGHTS, CAMERA, PARKS!

FILMING IN CA COMMUNITIES

By Alisha Herriott, Communications and Marketing Manager, CPRS

Article input provided by:

Meghan Stebbings, Recreation & Community Services Coordinator, Culver City Parks, Recreation & Community Services Department

Janice Lopez, Film Permit Officer, City of Palm Springs Department of Parks and Recreation

Nicole Espinoza Roa, Assistant to the General Manager/ Public Information Office, Hayward Area Recreation & Park District

Amanda Bassett, Community Services Supervisor, City of Mission Viejo Recreation & Community Services

California’s diverse landscapes and communities have long been a magnet for film and TV producers, with each County offering unique backdrops to tell their stories. We spoke with four distinct parks and recreation agencies across the state to uncover how they manage filming activities and showcase their wonderful open spaces through film. These agencies play a crucial role in coordinating with production companies to ensure that filming runs smoothly while balancing the needs of the community of that space.

What movies, TV shows, or commercials have been filmed in your area?

City of Culver City

• Major Films, TV shows, Commercials, and Music Videos

• Notable TV shows: HBO’s Barry, Modern Family, The Goldbergs, Insecure, and The Flight Attendant

• Commercials by Facebook, Apple, Vans and Geico

City of Palm Springs

• Magazine shoots to blockbuster films

• Notable Film productions: Don’t Worry Darling, A Star is Born, Behind the Candelabra

City of Mission Viejo

• Commercials for Neugenix and Nalu Medical

• An episode of The Real Housewives of Orange County

City of Hayward

• Commercials featuring Stephen Curry for Kaiser and Damian Lillard for Modelo

Who from your city coordinates filming in the community?

Film permits are managed by several employees within multiple departments. For all Parks & Recreation-related film shoots, a PRCS Coordinator oversees all filming. This includes park and facility permits, location walk-throughs, and coordination on the day of shooting. PRCS works with the Culver City Police Department to coordinate film shoots and ensure all permits are completed.

As Film Permit Officer, I work alongside the City of Palm Springs’ Special Events Planning Team and oversee filming coordination. Our team includes representatives from each city department, ensuring a seamless process. We handle film permits, coordinate with community services, and facilitate communication between production companies and local authorities.

As a special park district, the filming permit is managed by our customer service department. The fee is negotiated by our General Manager’s Office staff, and the

insurance is approved by our risk management company. Staff is assigned on-site to ensure the filming team follows the established rules, and additional lifeguarding staff is present during any water filming.

First contact with a prospective filming company comes down to the Supervisor who oversees the requested filming area. Should the space be available, staff direct the individual to Community

Development where a film permit can be issued. This process includes an application, a filming fee of $100$400, and the collection of insurance documents. Once the filming permit is in place, staff can book the space. For the Felipe Tennis and Recreation Center, the Supervisor books the filming rental and provides support items as needed on a case-by-case basis. In this instance, the

The Palm Springs set of Don’t Worry Darling

Photos supplied by the City of Palm Springs

film crew needed extras, a standin instructor to feed balls, paddles, and equipment, and background players to occupy courts, so our staff worked with available resources to meet these needs where possible. If additional services are requested such as police or security, and the costs are passed onto the filming company.

How long has your community hosted film shoots?

Palm Springs has a rich history with Hollywood, dating back to 1938. Over the past 15 years, I have managed numerous film permits, encountering celebrities such as the Beverly Hills Housewives and Actress and Director, Olivia Wilde. A memorable experience involved navigating COVID-19 guidelines while keeping the production of “Don’t Worry Darling” under wraps to avoid attracting large crowds. Despite our efforts, fans discovered the filming location and flocked to catch a glimpse of Harry Styles. The enthusiastic crowd caused such a commotion that we had to extend road closures by several blocks, as the director could hear the fans’ screams during filming.

Which locations in your community are popular for filming?

Culver City is home to 13 parks, four recreation facilities and numerous businesses that draws in producers and location scouts

frequently. Our spacious parks are the home of many movies and tv scenes, as well as the iconic Veterans Memorial Building. Downtown Culver City has been the backdrop in film and small screen productions, as well as the Culver City Steps. In the past 3 years our parks have been the number one filming location request!

Palm Springs offers diverse filming locations, including residential neighborhoods, the convention center, local restaurants— whatever they need, we try to make it happen. The city is unique in having a checkerboard of tribal land within our limits, and we ensure film production companies coordinate with the tribe. Their beautiful land is also frequently used in films and commercials. Each location provides unique backdrops, enhancing the visual appeal of various projects.

Two commercials have been filmed at Hayward Area Recreation and Park District. The first featured Stephen Curry for Kaiser at the Hayward Plunge, focusing on mental health and training. The scenes shot at this location included Curry dribbling a basketball in the locker room, an interview on training the mind, and in-water.

The second commercial featured Damian Lillard for Modelo. The scenes captured Lillard hosting the annual Damian Lillard Brookfield Picnic for his East Oakland neighborhood. This community event is held where Lillard honed his basketball skills, highlighting his dedication to giving back to his Oakland roots.

Does your city promote film and video production locations?

The City of Palm Springs promotes filming through our tourism department, leveraging various events, magazine advertisements, and TV commercials. Our reputation and proximity to Los Angeles make it an attractive location for filmmakers.

The City of Mission Viejo encourages commercial filming and commercial still photography city wide. Our city website lists general information, including film permits and ordinances related to filming within the city. Permits are required for use of public-owned parks, parkways, and facilities. The application is available online to community users.

Who typically contacts you to request filming permission?

Generally, the production company who has been hired to shoot and record the footage and oversees the actual filming, initiates contact with the city to secure the venue. While others may be copied on correspondence, the production company books the venue. In all of our filming permits, the people we worked with were the individuals actually coming onsite to do the filming which made communication easier.

Requests typically come from location managers or project producers. The specific point of contact can vary depending on the project’s structure.

Palm Springs is no stranger to hosting tv, film and commercial productions; Susan Sarandon (left), Olivia Wilde (middle), and Nate Berkus (right) have all filmed there.

Location scouts will reach out to negotiate the time frame, cost, and other details for the studio staff. They typically serve as the primary point of contact for the District and are responsible for ensuring that all necessary information is provided to us promptly.

Has filming activity increased or decreased in the past decade? What about the past 3 years?

Prior to the 2023-2024 actors/writers’ strike we had numerous film shoots throughout the city. In 2022 we had 19 film shoots within 7 months, and a steady amount of smaller filming during the first half of 2023. Culver City is home to numerous studios, Sony, Amazon, Culver Studios, HBO and smaller local companies that has allowed the city the unique experience of being the Heart of Screenland!

Over the past decade, filming activity has generally been stable. However, the past three years have seen a decline due to industry strikes and challenges posed by AI advancements. Still photography remains strong, driven by the area’s stunning weather and landscapes.

Any tips for cities looking to welcome film crews?

Palm Springs’ strong connection with Hollywood is a testament to our commitment to facilitating film productions. The recognition we’ve received, such as the California Filming on Location Awards’ Public Employee of the Year, highlights our dedication. We welcome filmmakers and are prepared to ensure their projects are successful while respecting our community’s integrity.

Our staff takes pride in knowing that a commercial was filmed at their workplace. One staff member always tells her family that the Modelo commercial was shot at a H.A.R.D. park whenever it airs. Observing how they transform an ordinary space with the addition of smoke, screens, and lighting, transporting viewers to entirely different realms, is like witnessing magic. The meticulous effort poured into every aspect of creating a commercial makes the experience truly remarkable.

CREATIVITY IN DESIGN AND EXCELLENCE IN CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR THE PARKS & RECREATIONAL PROFESSIONALS OF CALIFORNIA

Phil and Nell Soto Park Pomona, CA

Vila Borba Park Chino Hills, CA

Desert View Conservation Area Joshua Tree, CA

Hamilton Park Pomona, CA

Uptown Park Yucaipa, CA

Carol Channing (left) hugs Palm Springs’ Janice Lopez between film takes

HARDLY A HOSTILE TAKEOVER ”:

ANIMAL PERFORMERS & VENICE BEACHGOERS SHARE ACCESS AT LA COUNTY BEACH

By Cindy Matta,

It’s easy to be entranced by the spectacle of three majestic horses, seemingly ridden by a trio of apes, walking along Venice Beach. And yet, that was exactly the view these animal performers gave onlookers while filming their cameo appearance in Disney’s blockbuster “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.” Many beachgoers stopped in their tracks to record this unexpected sighting of apes on horseback for their social media reels. At the same time, it’s a sure bet that those marveling at this rare occurrence against a well-known beach backdrop didn’t realize what it took to pull off this stunt.

Let’s start with the animal actors… Handled by accomplished riders, the horses used in this scene spent two full days in preparation, which included

acclimating the animals to the ape costumes. Horses are prey animals, so it was crucial that during the shoot the horses never felt threatened by their rider’s appearance to allow the stunt rider to mount/dismount and ride safely without incident. Their trainer, Scott Davis, said the horses were chosen for their temperament, experience in a public setting as parade horses and trained to ensure the safety of the crew and talent.

While trainers are hired to make sure production gets the desired performance out of the animal actor, the American Humane or Animal Protection Agency (APA) consultants look out for potential hazards and become the voice for the animal. According to Jone Bouman from the APA, “When you’re there to protect

the animal you are also protecting the cast and crew who work with them.” Because the beach remained open to the public during filming, additional safeguards were put in place, such as having extra handlers on location, and guide-horses in front of and behind the picture animals.

So, how did it all come together?

First, production searched for the ideal landscape which served as the vision of the project. For “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” production representatives reached out to FilmLA Reservations regarding any restrictions LA County Beaches might have that would prohibit horses on the beach. Since Los Angeles County considers horses to be domesticated animals, LA County Animal Care & Control doesn’t require an animal

Production Planning, FilmLA

Photos:

permit for domesticated or “farm” type animals only for exotic animals such as big cats and birds of prey.

However, Venice Beach is also located within the City of Los Angeles, which requires all working animals on film sets to have an Animal Film Permit, so the production company obtained one through the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services.

Once a date was selected, a reservation was booked through FilmLA’s Reservation System, then a walk through was scheduled with the Venice Beach lifeguard captain, the team from Experiential Supply who produced the shoot, and the locations team to map out the logistics and safety plan for the day. This was essential since LA County requires all productions to allow public access to their beaches during filming. For more information on rules and restrictions when filming at Venice Beach visit our “Area Requirements” page.

A reservation confirmation was issued by LA County Beaches & Harbors, so production could submit their FilmLA permit with plenty of time to iron out any issues in the planning process. FilmLA permit deadlines for both the City and County of Los Angeles are 10 a.m. – three full business days prior to filming. (Additional time is needed for high impact activities. Holidays will also affect deadlines.) A FilmLA production coordinator was assigned to handle this project which required approvals from the LA City Film Unit (LAPD), LA County Beaches & Harbors and LA County Public Works. There were some safety specific terms added to the permit in compliance with the requirements from both jurisdictions.

Fast forward to shoot day…

The Horses arrived from Piru, CA. in a trailer and were saddled up and ready to go just before 10 a.m. While the riders were being fitted in their ape costumes, APA site representative Jami Lovullo spoke with FilmLA about her duties, which involved being the voice for the animals, making sure they sustained no cuts or injuries, and keeping a keen eye that the animals seemed comfortable in their surroundings. She was on set to make sure the animals willingly partook in the filming activities. Production’s approved plan was to have the riders in ape costumes on horseback for

one hour, with an hour-long break in between rides.

Then, off they went…

As the horses and riders calmly took their sandy stage, you could sense the excitement from the film crew as well as the faces in the crowd, everyone eager with anticipation for… what would happen next?

After safely crossing the bike path, the horses walked leisurely along the beach with the ocean breeze wafting through their manes. As Venice Beach patrons delighted in being a part of the background in “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” you can be rest assured that “No Animals Were Harmed” in the making of this movie! n

TECH 4 REC

Embracing the Future: The Impact of AI on Parks, Recreation, and Community

By Matthew L. Milde, MS, CPRP, Recreation Supervisor, City of Healdsburg Community Services Department

Disclaimer: This article benefited from the use of Grammarly for spelling assistance and ChatGPT for sentence rephrasing to enhance clarity. AI tools did not contribute substantively to the content creation process. The article is the result of over a year-long professional investment in the subject matter.

Throughout history humans have feared what we do not understand. Misunderstanding early electrical systems like electric lights and power lines contributed to apprehension and resistance to their adoption. When Benjamin Harrison became the first US President to live in an electrified White House he was reluctant to touch the light switches due to the newness of electricity and fear of electric shock. White House staff handled turning the lights on and off. Similarly, advancements such as the telephone, manned flight, motor vehicles, and the internet have introduced new ways of interacting with the world that have sparked apprehension at their inception.

Many of us have experienced such fears firsthand. On December 31,

1999, I found myself on Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena, CA, celebrating the New Year with thousands of others who camped overnight to watch the Rose Parade. While the atmosphere was mostly festive, I couldn’t shake the uncertainty highlighted in news reports in the preceding weeks about the Y2K bug. Fearing a computer crash, I unplugged it before leaving home. Media speculation ranged from stock market failures to airplane accidents and unintended nuclear missile launches. Surrounding me were people brandishing “THE END IS NEAR” signs, vocalizing their Y2K fears. However, after the countdown, life resumed as normal, and the perceived threats proved unfounded. In retrospect, these concerns were comical, but it hasn’t stopped the

next generation of concerns for some including the fear that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will lead to job loss and humans will become subservient to AI robot overlords. However, given our history of exaggerated fears, these concerns may be unfounded.

What is AI?

AI is a technology that allows computers to solve problems or respond in numerous ways by simulating human intelligence. It is important to know that there are many classifications of AI: Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI) which is a classification of AI that represents all existing AI currently in use only functioning as they are programed and includes; (1) Reactive

Machines, A system that has a fixed memory, or respond to a set combination of inputs and don’t have the ability to learn; and (2) Limited Memory AI, which uses memory to learn and improve responses such as self-driving cars, virtual assistants (i.e., Siri, Google Assistant, and Alexa), and Generative AI (GAI) such a ChatGPT, Bard, Canva’s Magic Design, LogoAI, and DeepAI.

Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) which is a hypothetical classification of AI where machines have the ability to function like a human with the ability to learn and make independent decisions and includes; (1) Theory of Mind, where AI could understand emotions and interact with humans in a natural way. An example would be a robot that could make predictions and respond based on how the user acts (i.e., if the person is laughing the machine could infer that the user is happy); and (2) Self-Aware, where AI would have human-like intelligence and self-awareness (i.e., Rosey, from The Jetsons; C-3P0, from Star Wars; and HAL, from 2001: A Space Odyssey).

Artificial Superintelligence (ASI) which is the zenith of all AI that is far more capable and intelligent than humans. Like the Six Million Dollar Man, machines would be better, faster, and stronger. For those concerned about robot uprisings, encountering a T-1000, or contemplating living in an underground shelter due to “The Singularity,” rest assured, there is ongoing debate regarding the feasibility of humans ever achieving ASI in machines and is purely speculative.

Parks and Recreation can benefit from AI

What relevance does AI have to our roles in parks, recreation, and community service? Perhaps more than we realize. One late evening in December 2022 I stumbled upon a LinkedIn article titled How to Use ChatGPT for Event Planning. Before I knew it, I found myself diving into the endless possibilities and immediate applications of Artificial

Intelligence (AI) in both my personal life and my career, particularly GAI. Until that moment, I had dismissed AI as something primarily for tech companies. However, secretly, harboring a hope that I could one day cruise around in a Pontiac Trans Am with the intelligence of K.I.T.T. from Knight Rider.

While AI technologies have been used for years (e.g., self-driving cars, Siri, Alexa, and predictive text), ChatGPT emerged as the first GAI tool to use Big Data. Essentially, the creators of ChatGPT captured a comprehensive record of the entire internet at a moment in time. By inputting prompts or questions into ChatGPT, users can receive immediate responses assembled from this record. Within seconds, ChatGPT can generate stories, screenplays, emails, reports, schedules, and data analyses. Moreover, it can even generate content from different perspectives. For instance, users can compose emails in the style of William Shakespeare or write screenplays with an M. Night Shyamalan twist. This capability, coupled with unprecedented computer power and storage capacity now accessible in this century, alongside emergent capabilities not intentionally built into GAI, marks a significant advancement in AI technology.

GAI stands to revolutionize the delivery of parks and recreation services, offering assistance in various areas such as program marketing, flyer design, instructor sourcing, swim schedule creation, report writing, social media content, and my personal favorite, responding with poise to resident complaints. Additionally, other AI technologies can be utilized within parks to analyze usage patterns, identify popular features, assess accessibility gaps, detect gunshots, and to combat wildlife poaching. As we continue to explore the practical applications of these technologies, they are reshaping societal norms and paving the way for future advancements. Therefore, it is crucial for us to actively engage in the conversation surrounding the implementation of AI in our communities, as it has

the potential to enhance parks, recreation, and community services, making our efforts more efficient and impactful.

Challenges with AI

Before incorporating GAI into tasks like drafting a City Council staff report, it’s essential to consider several factors. As previously mentioned, ChatGPT relies on Big Data. It’s crucial to question the credibility of this data. Drawing knowledge from the vast expanse of the internet poses inherent challenges due to the presence of copyrighted material, misinformation, bias, and hate speech. Consequently, generating personal histories of figures like Frederick Law Olmsted, Ida B. Wells, or Sir Ernest Shackleton may not yield the most accurate results. What ChatGPT and similar GAI tools offer users is not necessarily the correct answer, but rather the most probable answer. Its algorithm prioritizes text and patterns, meaning the outcomes may not always be entirely factual. However, the generated content often appears clear, articulate, and factual, leading users to perceive it as accurate. Naturally, there are Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) considerations to consider. For example, researchers at King’s College in London discovered that self-driving cars utilizing Limited Memory AI, specifically machine learning models, were 20% more proficient at detecting adults than children and 7.5% more precise in identifying light-skinned pedestrians. This discrepancy largely stemmed from the AI models being trained on images predominantly featuring individuals with light skin. Moreover, biases got significantly worse in low-contrast and low-brightness situations.

These challenges become evident when using AI image generators, you’ll notice striking patterns when inputting certain prompts: “A doctor in a doctor’s office” typically generates images of older white males, “A CEO of a company” usually results in images of young

“The future has not been written. There is no fate but what we make for ourselves”.

- John Connor

to middle aged white males, “A swimmer in the pool” tends to depict predominantly fit individuals, often white, and “A poor person on the street” predominantly portrays individuals of color. Unfortunately, this only scratches the surface as there have been reported bias in facial recognition software, lack of people of color being represented in training data, issues in photo tagging and moderation systems, and the list continues.

While some companies using GAI acknowledge these issues and claim to be addressing bias and equity concerns by incorporating guardrails, this problem is significant. Big Data contains an immense amount of information beyond what any individual could comprehend in multiple lifetimes. How does one effectively remove bias, stereotypes, and inaccurate portrayals of people within this vast dataset? Who, or what, decides what is inaccurate? Until these issues can be addressed, we need to be aware that these issues exist and be extra critical of AI generated content prior to release. For instance, if using photos for marketing purposes, ensure that imagery used is representative of your community.

Embrace the Future

Communities stand to significantly benefit from AI advancements despite existing and potential

hurdles. While AI is still in its early stages, overcoming challenges is possible by maintaining proficiency in these technologies. This involves understanding their functioning, ensuring quality data sources, eliminating bias, ensuring inclusivity, verifying outcomes, and establishing robust and flexible policies. One resource, provided by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, is a Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights to steer the development, use, and implementation of automated systems, to safeguard American rights.

For a California case example of AI practices and policies, the City of San Jose has developed materials worth examining. They have made substantial investments in comprehending AI’s municipal applications, crafting GAI policies, and addressing data privacy concerns. Additionally, joining initiatives like the GovAI Coalition, the City has been joined by 100+ supporters for responsible AI use in the public sector. This coalition provides support and resources in navigating the AI landscape. Even without extensive resources, implementing informal guidelines within your department can contribute positively, such as refraining from using personal data in chatbots, verifying AI-generated information for accuracy, and incorporating disclaimers.

Many people have asked themselves, “Will AI take my job?”. While AI may or may not directly replace specific jobs, it will significantly alter job roles, generate new ones, and reshape every other industry around us. Just as computers revolutionized industries, as AI technologies improve we will see a reformation of job roles, functions, and how we collect and use information in our work. Those that wish to remain relevant and desirable by employers will need to embrace this next chapter of change and learn to use AI effectively. This doesn’t imply using AI to create a stellar resume and cover letter to mask shortcomings. Instead, it entails pursuing excellence, mastering the skills this profession requires, and following the example set by successful parks and recreation professionals: continually learning new skills to meet the demands of the profession to better serve our communities. These will be crucial steps we will need to take for our profession to thrive in the AI era. Finally, it’s essential to recognize that AI complements rather than substitutes human interaction. We must leverage AI’s potential while acknowledging the enduring importance of interpersonal and physical engagement in our work. AI is here to stay, and we must not forget our core principles as we advance our industry and communities by embracing the future.

Managing Your Other Duties As Assigned... Social Media

By

In today’s digital age, social media has become an essential component of organizational strategy. Yet, for many parks and recreation professionals, social media management falls under the ambiguous category of “other duties as assigned.” This seemingly secondary responsibility can often feel daunting, especially when balancing primary job duties. However, effectively managing social media can enhance your organization’s visibility, engagement, and overall success. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to the role, these tips will help you navigate the complexities of social media. In this article, we will discuss the growing need for social media in parks and recreation and how to make social media more manageable. Join us as we discuss how to make this “other duties as assigned” task an influential tool for your organization!

Different Budgets & Resources Available

Parks and Recreation Departments across California vary in terms of resources and funding. However, social media is a fantastic FREE way to market your programs and events regardless of the budget you have. Utilizing social media allows Parks and Recreation Departments to connect and engage with their community no matter the size of their budget.

For most agencies or those just starting in social media, the budget for equipment is limited and, in some cases, non-existent. With the advancement of technology in cell phones, photography, and videography are already in the palm of your hands. Finding other resources outside of your agency, such as grants and scholarships, is a great way to fulfill your equipment needs. One potential resource that we’ve utilized is the Public Education and Government Fund (P.E.G. Funding). It is different for each agency. The money and qualifications vary as well. P.E.G Funding includes things for audio and visual equipment upgrades. Your city’s public information office may have more information on qualifications or if your city is eligible.

Another funding source that we utilized early on to help fund equipment needs for our social media budget was to minimally raise the price of a specific camp or special event by a few dollars. When we found the need to purchase our first real camera, we raised the costs of our in-house summer camp program by $1 each week. With just over 100 kids registered each week for the 10week program, we made over $1,000 dollars by the end of the summer to purchase our first camera and start producing higher-quality photos.

When purchasing equipment such as cameras, gimbals, microphones, and drones, the key is to find what best meets your department’s needs, as there are various options to suit any budget and will get the job done. Let’s start with cameras. With so many choices available, selecting the right one can be challenging. First, you have to determine your primary use: will you focus more on photography or videography? For a versatile option that excels at both, consider the Nikon Z6II or the Sony A7IV. While cameras are neat and cool, they are not necessary. Keep in mind that your cell phone can be an excellent alternative, as modern smartphones are equipped with high-quality cameras and video stabilization. There are also a variety of editing apps for iPhone and Android, such as CapCut and Premiere Rush, for users to create reels that even have built-in templates to make them super easy and affordable.

Video stabilization becomes important as you move into the area of video content creation. For a cell phone, the DJI Osmo Mobile 6 is an excellent choice at $100. For a more advanced option, the DJI Pocket series costs around $300. The DJI RS3 Pro, priced at $869, provides professional-grade support for camera stabilization.

Sarah Valentine, Recreation Specialist, and Frankie Nelson, Senior Recreation Coordinator, City of Folsom Parks & Recreation

Where To Start

Maybe you have all the equipment but don’t know where to start. That’s totally okay. We’ll go through the methods we have used and what has worked for us. The first thing we do is create a blank calendar for the entire year. We then have a list of our special events that we want to promote. From there, we write bullet points about what we want to post and any ideas we have. After we have a list, we start at the first event of the year and build out our postings working backwards from the day of the event. In order to collaborate and involve our community partners, especially those who are active on social media, we always include a thank you post on the day of the event followed by a video recap the following Tuesday. This engagement helps us further market the event and possibly bring in new participants and partners for the next year. In addition, we have set posts we do every year: like a call for volunteers and vendors, but the rest we post is where the creativity comes out.

Tip: Start off small and then add more posts as you get more comfortable with the format.

Photography

We all know that having your photo taken during a program or event may be uncomfortable for most participants, especially for social media. In an effort to break down the barrier, we have our photographers wear reflective vests that clearly state that they are event photographers. In addition, our social media marketing team creates special stickers for the

events that are handed out to the participants they take photos of. These stickers have become wildly popular, which further promotes our events, and creates a special connection for our content creators.

While anyone can snap a photo with the click of a button, there is much more to the art of photography. We will cover essential tips and tricks for both camera and cell phone photography. Our goal is to help you streamline your process, saving you time and reducing the need for editing apps or other efforts on social media.

Framing

When taking a photo, be mindful of the entire scene. Consider whether there is a sign or landmark you want to include. Pay attention to elements like leading lines, as seen in the medal photo below, which can help draw the viewer’s eye to the focal point of the image. Additionally, check for any inappropriate objects or trash in the background. Being thorough during the shot will save you time in postediting and result in cleaner, more polished photos.

Tip: Turn on gridlines for your cell phone camera to make sure you aren’t cutting the top of someone’s head off.

Negative Space

Have you ever taken a photo and noticed after the fact that the background has something that is distracting to the eye? A way to avoid this and to save yourself time is to utilize negative space. Negative space can effectively highlight your subject and eliminate background distractions. By incorporating negative space, you ensure that there are no elements, such as other people or objects, that could divert attention away from the main subject. This technique enhances focus and clarity in your photos.

space

While anyone can snap a photo with the click of a button, there is much more to the art of Photography.

Color coding your social media calendar shows who is doing which projects, keeping the whole team on task

Framing examples

Negative

examples

Rule of Thirds

When you are thinking about taking a photo try changing up where the subject is being placed. Positioning the subject or focal point within the right or left third of the frame creates

more dynamic and visually engaging photos. This technique, known as the rule of thirds, adds variety and interest compared to centered compositions. Incorporating photos that follow the rule of thirds is particularly useful for creating compelling signage and Facebook headers.

Recruiting Allies

Experiencing a creative block or feeling stuck is common. If this happens, don’t be afraid to ask for assistance or ideas from colleagues within the department. Their perspectives can provide fresh insights and stimulate creativity. This collaborative approach not only enhances the potential for innovative ideas but also fosters enthusiasm and engagement among team members regarding the campaign.

Instagram

Reels:

Utilizing Instagram Reels is an effective way to reach an audience outside of your current followers. The Instagram algorithm favors accounts that have Reels. People are drawn to authentic content featuring real faces, voices, thoughts, and emotions. For Parks and Recreation departments, people want to see what your agency is offering. Showcasing actual participants in your programs, rather than stock

Rule of Thirds examples

images, enhances relatability and engagement. When community members see themselves in photos or videos, they are more likely to share the content with their friends, increasing your reach.

Stories:

One effective strategy we use for our Instagram account is to create an Instagram Story highlighting the post from the previous day. This serves as a reminder for followers who may have seen the post but scrolled past it. Additionally, it ensures that our followers have a second opportunity to see the post, especially if it was initially missed due to Instagram’s algorithm. Instagram stories also offer potential for real-time marketing and feedback through the use of polls, Q & A’s, links, and more that the Instagram app has to offer. Stories also provide an opportunity for your agency to show sneak peaks of the

marketing campaigns you have or even a day in the life of a camper at summer camp. This can build up excitement and offers another way to boost engagement. Lastly, stories create an avenue for your followers to get a visual of what an event looks like, which could lead them to register or attend an event.

H ighlights:

Instagram Highlights are an excellent tool to leverage. We use them to showcase highlights from each event and popular programs. Highlights serve as a convenient archive for Instagram Stories or posts we’ve created, allowing followers to quickly access information. This feature eliminates the need for endless scrolling, making it easy for viewers to find past event details without having to sift through a year’s worth of content. By organizing content into Highlights, we enhance user

experience and ensure important information is readily accessible. We know that social media can be challenging at times and the need to come up with ideas and marketing strategies can be overwhelming but by utilizing your parks and recreation team, the photography tips, posting calendars, budgets, Instagram tips, and tricks, it will only get easier. Social media has quickly become a growing need for agencies to utilize. Whether you are just starting out or have been managing it for years we hope at least one of these tips helps make your job easier so you can get back to checking off other items on your to-do list.

If you have any further questions about social media or any of the topics, we covered in the article please feel free to reach out to us! svalentine@folsom.ca.us or fnelson@folsom.ca.us.

social media can be challenging at times and the need to come up with ideas and marketing strategies can be overwhelming but by utilizing your parks and recreation team, the photography tips, posting calendars, budgets, Instagram tips, and tricks, it will only get easier.

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Fitch Mountain Dog Park and Trail Improvements Completed in Healdsburg

Key updates provide BETTER ACCESSIBILITY

By Tom Campbell, Project Manager, City of Healdsburg

The long-anticipated Fitch Mountain Public Access Improvements project in Healdsburg officially opened on Saturday, May 4 with a ribbon cutting ceremony that included a keynote speech by State Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire, a Healdsburg native and longtime advocate for the protection of Fitch Mountain. Other stakeholders and residents were also on-hand to celebrate the re-opening of the Fitch Mountain Park & Open Space Preserve and adjacent Villa Dog Park despite the rainy weather. Attendees and their furry friends arrived via the “Bark And Ride” tram car for a tail waggin’ good time.

Fitch Mountain Park & Open Space Preserve is a 173-acre City-owned property that encompasses the entire 991-foot peak of Fitch

Mountain – the highest point in the vicinity of the city of Healdsburg – and its surrounding slopes. Prior to the improvement project, the preserve lacked a formal entrance.

Visitors navigated a narrow dirt track on a steep slope that was prone to erosion and traversed a seasonal steam before connecting to the preserve’s fire road. The Villa

City of Healdsburg staff and guests at the May 4th ribbon cutting

Dog Park, originally constructed by volunteers, also suffered from erosion issues and was not ADA accessible.

The Public Access Improvements project constructed a new trailhead and 454-foot accessible trail with interpretive signage. Two pedestrian footbridges now span the seasonal creek and erosion control measures will protect the streambed and surrounding area where over 2,000 native plants were installed. At the summit, artist Johanna Grawunder and fabricator Paco Prieto installed new public artwork entitled Summit Variations.

dogs and their best friends, drainage improvements and erosion control, a new shade structure, benches and picnic tables.

The reconstructed dog park includes a redesigned entrance area with ADA access, water fountains for

Funding for the project came from multiple sources including the California State Coastal Conservancy,

Proposition 68 Per Capita, Sonoma County “Measure M” Regional Park Funds, and the City of Healdsburg.

For more information, see the city’s web page at healdsburg.gov/880/ Fitch-Mountain-Improvement-Project.

Healdsburg Villa Dog Park Improvements

An important component of the overall Fitch Mountain Access Improvement Project included improvements to the Villa Dog Park to address ADA accessibility, ongoing erosion issues, and general aging of the facility. The work included:

• Redesigning the entrance area with new ADA access, signage, people water fountains, and associated improvements

• Installing ADA accessible walkways

• Relocating and improving the pet water fountain area

• Drainage improvements and erosion control

• New commercial-grade shade structures, benches, and picnic tables

Walnut Creek Aquanuts Train Future Olympians

The Artistic Swimming Club has called the City of Walnut Creek’s Heather Farms home for more than five decades

By Todd Pernsteiner, Creative Director, Pernsteiner Creative Group

As 2024 Summer Olympians converge on Paris, we wanted to highlight an artistic (synchronized) swimming club that has been creating quite a splash in their own right. The Walnut Creek Aquanuts (WCA) have produced 17 Olympic athletes in the City of Walnut Creek’s pools for more than 56 years.

The WCA are a world-renowned artistic swimming club that has developed athletes from novice to elite, building both bodies and minds and instilling skills that serve swimmers throughout their lifetime. Through a long-standing rental agreement with the City of Walnut Creek, WCA students and team members learn and train in three Walnut Creek area pools, Clarke Memorial Swim Center at Heather Farms, Larkey Swim Center, and Diablo Valley College (Pleasant Hill). In turn, for their long-standing partnership with the Aquanuts, the City of Walnut Creek helps support & promote the club’s spring and fall swim shows which draw audiences in the thousands annually.

WCA began in 1968 when Sue Ahlf was approached by the City of Walnut Creek to form a city-sponsored synchronized swim program. WCA began with only two swimmers – one of them being Ahlf’s daughter, Gail Emery. Emery led the club for more than 30 years, building the roster to more than 80 athletes and creating the powerhouse they are today.

The Walnut Creek Aquanuts are highly acclaimed both nationally and internationally; considered by many to be the most prestigious artistic swimming club in the world. The club’s numbers are impressive:

• 19-time National Champions with over 200 National and World titles

• Consistently places athletes on National Teams each year

• Trains over 100 competitive athletes and introduces artistic swimming to more than 300 young girls and boys a year (ages 5-18)

• Conducts a skills camp that draws artistic swimmers from all over the world, including athletes with disabilities

The Aquanuts coaching staff knows what it takes to compete on the international level. Heather Olson, WCA PR manager, coach, and 1996 Olympic gold medalist, said “Our staff is made up of current and former Olympians. Even Anita Alvarez, who is making her third Olympic team appearance this summer in Paris, has helped coach at the club. Five other current coaches have appeared in Olympic appearances between 1996-2016.”

In addition to having produced eight Olympic Champions and 17 U.S. Olympic Athletes, the Aquanuts have trained over 30 Olympians from countries all over the world including Japan, Korea, Czech Republic, Brazil and Mexico. Athletes from all over the world come to Walnut Creek to practice among elite athletes and train under a world-renowned coaching staff.

“This summer, the Junior National Artistic Swimming team is using the Walnut Creek facilities to train,” explained Olson. “Seven of our current swimmers have qualified for Junior or Senior National Artistic Swimming teams and will be relocating to Los

Angeles to train this fall in preparation for the 2028 LA Olympic Games.”

National Artistic Swimming teams are broken into two levels - Junior level members range from ages 15-18 and Senior level swimmers (ages 15+). Senior team members represent the U.S. at the World Championships, Pan American Games and ultimately the Olympics.

“WCA coaches work to help train exceptional people who will be confident, hardworking and successful in life in and out of the water. Aquanut swimmers make lasting friendships and many have the opportunity to travel nationally and around the world through sport,” explained Olson. “Community outreach is also very important to the club. We get our athletes involved in projects like community service day where they ended up shoveling bark side-by-side with the Mayor of Walnut Creek!” Learn more about the Aquanuts at www.bit.ly/WCAquanuts.

Photos: Walnut Creek Aquanuts

Artistic Swimming Fun Facts

J In a four-minute routine, most experienced artistic swimmers can hold their breath for a minute or longer without coming up for air.

J During a performance, while swimmers are completing gravity-defying moves, they never touch the bottom of the pool.

J Synchronized swimming was first demonstrated as a sport in the Olympics in 1952; it became an official Olympic sport for the first time in LA in 1984, with solo and duet events.

Do you know a 2024 summer Olympian who got their start in your park and recreation programs? Or do they currently train at your facility? We’d love to hear about them for a possible feature story in the fall magazine. Contact Alisha Herriott at alisha@

Q: How long have you been employed at Port Hueneme?

A: I’ve been a seasonal employee since summer of 1999. I’ve been in my current role since 2020.

Q: Could you share a little about yourself?

A: I grew up locally, in Port Hueneme where I learned to swim at Hueneme High School (same pool we run our swim lessons in though it has been remodeled). I grew up surfing/swimming in the ocean and progressed through the Jr. Lifeguard Program as well. I began lifeguarding seasonally in 1999 before working as a paramedic on the ambulance. I had a significant snowboarding injury in 2019 which left me in a wheelchair. After a bit of rehabilitation, I began my duties in my current position in February 2020.

Q: What types of projects do you oversee in your role?

A: As an employee of a small beach town with a population just over 20,000 people, our recreation department wears a variety of hats. With my co-workers, at the direction of the deputy city manager, we manage our community center rentals, tennis/pickleball reservations, movies at the beach/park, tree lighting, as well as involvement in other city-funded or sponsored festivals/events. My focus during the Spring/Summer months is our Ocean Lifeguard Program, Jr. Lifeguard Program, as well as a newly created Learn to Swim program run in connection with Hueneme High School. Perhaps most significantly in my tenure, with help from many other departments in the city as well as the support of the city council, we were able to secure an 8.5 million dollar grant to renovate “Bubbling Spring Park”.

Q: What led to your advocacy in expanding accessibility?

A: As a newly adaptive surfer, getting access to the ocean is very difficult in a wheelchair. I found this out my first day out of hospital rehabilitation when I rolled my chair onto

Ocean Safety is a difficult task. The ocean is a beautiful place, but we have no shortage of potential ways to be injured while enjoying it.

the sand to the water and required assistance from family to get back up the sand berm. Accessibility/ access for someone like me who is active and recently injured but still wants to get to the water is difficult. Additionally, the cost of installing ADA-compliant access to the beach is a real obstacle. While amazing when installed, they are extremely costly, require upkeep due to the changing beach environment, and only get mobility-limited users so close.

Q: In your role overseeing ocean safety, what are some of the most common safety concerns or challenges you encounter, and how do you address them?

A: Ocean Safety is a difficult task. The ocean is a beautiful place, but we have no shortage of potential ways to be injured while enjoying it. Our beach has a Pier & Jetty each of which can pose a hazard to those swimming too close. Barnacles/ Muscles are attached/growing on both rocks and the pier. Rip Currents, which are essentially strong intermittent currents of water, make swimming near them hazardous. Fishing Line with hooks is often lodged between the piling or on the

rocks posing an additional potential for injury. On the sand, broken glass, buried coals, or even driftwood can injure those walking barefoot. These hazards are in addition to the obvious risk water poses, especially considering that many in our community have never learned to swim.

Education and prevention are the best ways to address all aspects of safety in an ocean environment. Our lifeguards at the beach perform both tasks. They are essentially educators who advise the public as to current conditions and hazards. The preventative aspect is a bit more involved. With the support of the City Council and Oxnard Union High School District, our recreation department has been successfully developing a local learn to swim program which has thus far provided over 400 lessons.

Q: Could you describe a particularly memorable or rewarding project or event that you have been involved in during your time as Recreation & Ocean Safety Supervisor?

A: During Covid, all group activities were curtailed if not eliminated. Many local beaches were forced to

cancel Jr. Lifeguard Programs which expose the youth to aspects of ocean safety, lifeguarding, competition, and foster respect for the environment. To comply with county and state regulations during this period, an application was submitted to our local health department. To comply with regulations, the entire design of the program was altered. Group sizes were reduced, additional check-in and cleaning protocols were implemented, and we were able to continue operations. This was a testament to the hard work of the Jr. Lifeguard instructors to be flexible and offer an outlet to our community allowing for a semblance of normalcy.

Q: How do you work in partnership with other departments in the city, as well as external organizations, to achieve your objectives? Can you share an example of a successful collaboration and its impact on the community?

A: Partnership is essential in any organization. The best example of this would be securing the Prop 84 grant for the “Bubbling Springs Renewal Project” which we broke ground on this year. Our recreation department compiled the required application pieces, our public works/

facilities put in significant work getting the project out to bid, and community development went through the vigor’s of navigating CEQA. It was a heavy, prolonged lift that no one department would have been able to complete independently of each other.

Q: Looking ahead, what are your goals for the future of recreational programming and ocean safety in Port Hueneme? How do you envision your role evolving to meet the changing needs of the community?

A: As I continue in my position, I’d like to expand the learn to swim program, continue to advocate for adaptive sports and beach access for all. As for ocean safety, continuing to train and equip new lifeguards annually will in the foreseeable future continue to require much of my time leading up to the summer season. It is difficult to see my role evolving currently, but city government can be dynamic in the ebbs and flow of city council and management. Objectives and directions can change but I’m excited for each challenge that arises.

Q: What advice would you give other Parks & Rec departments when looking to make outdoor programs more accessible?

A: The beauty of increasing accessibility is that everyone benefits. Moms with strollers, the elderly who fatigue, and even able-bodied individuals gravitate toward the paths when they are out. We recently secured “Accesstrax” for beach access which we deploy at our movies in the park, some of which are located on the sand at the beach. They are versatile and can be easily deployed at local parks as well. n

“Services are about time well saved while experiences are about time well spent. To stage a true distinctive experience, you have to get customers to value the time they spend with you.” Joe Pine

Have you always wanted to know how to apply elements of experience design to your agency’s traditional programs, events, and services? Do you want to know how to differentiate conventional program planning and experience design? And, do you want to dive into how to describe the conceptual basis of experience design. Keep reading to discover how to create engaging and immersive experiences for your agency!

The Experience Economy

Joe Pine and Joseph Gilmore in 1998 wrote a book titled The Experience Economy in which the authors described the importance of experiences and how to design and stage meaningful encounters. The authors present a compelling framework for understanding the progression of experiences. This framework categorizes offerings into commodities, goods, services, and experiences, where each represents a distinct stage of economic offerings with increasing value. For instance, eggs from farms as commodities are now marketed and sold in grocery stores as goods, such as conventional, cage-free, and organic eggs. When eggs are used to create high-protein meals in a cafe, it elevates its role from an ingredient to a key part of

Creating Engaging and Immersive Experiences

By Dr. Ye (Sandy) Shen, Dr. Keri Schwab, and Dr. Marni Goldenberg, Experience Industry Management Department, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

a service. Then, services related to eggs, like cooking classes or farm tours, enrich the consumers’ engagement with the product, turning a simple purchase into a memorable event. This shift exemplifies how businesses can successfully transform the most basic commodities into essential parts of engaging and interactive experiences. While the book refers to business settings, the principles are clearly applicable to recreation, parks, and leisure services. The Experience Economy has served as a jumping off point for many leisure scholars to explore the broader field of experience and what it means for us as a discipline, and practitioners.

The Four Realms of an Experience

The Experience Economy is about service providers co-creating experiences with customers. To help understand what an experience is, Pine and Gilmore (1998) created a four-part model, “The Four Realms of

an Experience.”

https://hbr.org/1998/07/welcome-tothe-experience-economy

The four realms provide a framework

for understanding different aspects that can enhance the memorability and engagement of an experience. Being absorbed, according to Pine and Gilmore, is more a viewing act –like watching a fabulous horse race.

Are you mentally absorbed? While on the other end, being immersed in an activity means you are physically there, taking in and perhaps feeling the sights, sounds, and smells.

In other examples, watching a film in a theater with surround sound and perhaps surround visuals, is more immersive. While watching a film at home is more absorbing - you are paying attention, but you do not have a physical sense of being in the theater.

Along the continuum are the poles of passive and active participation. Active participation means the participant has an effect on the outcome. Passive participation means the person has little to no impact on the outcome.

Knowing those poles helps experience providers understand what kind of experience is meant by each quadrant. Entertainment is when someone is mentally absorbed and has no impact on the outcomes, such as watching a play from a distance in one of many seats in a theater. An educational experience is one in which the participant is mentally absorbed in the ideas and has an impact on the outcome. Think of yourself in a class – you are hopefully mentally absorbed and know that you can control the outcome of class – by contributing to the discussion, asking

a question, or engaging in ways that will impact your learning. Escapist can also be educational, but is more immersive, meaning you are physically taking part in the experience and have an impact on the outcome. Actively hiking into the Grand Canyon, for example, is escapist – one is physically immersed in the scene and actively participating in the experience. But viewing the Grand Canyon from the edge is more esthetic, the next quadrant. In this realm, participants are physically immersed in a beautiful place or setting but have no impact on the outcomes. Thus, viewing gorgeous scenery is an esthetic experience.

The sweet spot of the 4 realms of the experience economy is when an experience meets all areas (entertainment, educational, escapist, and esthetic) during the overall experience.

T.H.E.M.E.

The acronym T.H.E.M.E. was created by Pine and Gilmore (1998) to help apply basic principles to any event. It is easy to remember and apply. The letters stand for Theme the experience, Harmonize positive cues, Eliminate negative cues, Mix in memorabilia, and Engage the 5 senses. Each makes for a simple way to enhance a recreation or leisure experience.

Theme the experience. A theme is more than just a category, such as St. Patrick’s Day and Valentine’s Day. A theme is a tangible or intangible set of cues that indicate a different time, place, or set of circumstances. Theming the experience creates another world for your guest. Extend the usual theme by adding the next four elements of the acronym. These offer suggestions for adding or changing details we often ignore and moving your participant into an extraordinary experience.

Harmonize Impressions with Positive Cues

Positive cues are those that “affirm the nature of the experience,” (Pine & Gilmore, 1998) and support the theme. Positive cues are helpful

additions in the environment and reaffirm the theme. These cues make the guests’ experience feel seamless and delight their senses, sometimes without them knowing.

For example, instead of saying “the weights are over there” you can have staff say, “you’re just a flex away!” While it might feel silly, it reinforces the otherwise ordinary theme of ‘gym’. Other positive cues that simply enhance customer service include using guests’ names, having staff wear coordinated uniforms, staff nametags, and perhaps a detail about them. Other positive cues include clear signage to indicate where to park, where to check in, order, place bags, a clear path to the locker room, elevators, or restrooms.

In the same vein, the next tactic is to eliminate negative cues Confusing signage is one of the most common negative cues. By negative, the authors mean the item or experience detracts from the theme, and is not helpful, affirming, or enjoyable. Instead, it leaves a negative impression on the guest. Approaching the front desk to find it empty is a negative cue – does no one here care about the guest? Finding trash in the locker room or on the trail are also negative cues and can ruin an experience. Having to search for a towel to wipe off sweaty equipment is a negative cue. Similarly, noise ‘pollution,’ from loud music or constant voice over announcements can be considered negative cues as they interrupt the guest or customer experience.

Mix in Memorabilia. Selling or giving away merchandise is the M in Theme. Provide opportunities for your guests to show their love of your service or product by purchasing or being given memorabilia. This ‘merch’ can be bought at a store or online, given as part of the registration or participation, or bestowed at a postevent celebration. If your guests are willing to buy your memorabilia or wear it in photos or for social media posts, this is a sign of how much they love your service or experience. Providing hats, T-shirts, key chains, bags, or other small items that visitors can take away with them to remind

them of the experience, and that fits with the Theme, is a smart and simple way to enhance the experience. Finally, engage all five senses. For a participant to be immersed or absorbed in an experience, they must also have all five senses engaged in positive ways or at a minimum, at ease with neutral sounds, smells, and sights. Intentionally adding sounds

and smells that support your theme and provide a positive cue can greatly enhance the guest experience. In a gym, the smell of foot odor and sweat is not a positive cue for visitors, but neither is a strong chemical scent that reminds guests of how germy the space could be, and harsh chemicals used to sterilize it. Instead, use cleaning products with mild smells that hint at recent cleanliness, but do not overwhelm the senses. Lighting that enhances the theme – be it a disco ball or soft, colored lights, can subtly add to an experience. Smells, such as freshly baked goods or bright, cheery florals are also gentle reminders of the theme of ‘home’ or ‘spring’. Gentle music playing can also enhance a theme. But in contrast, a starkly silent bathroom allows for somewhat unpleasant sounds to echo through the stalls. Why not play music in the restrooms to engage users with positive sounds (and distract) from any negative noises. Sounds, lighting, all play a role in how immersed one can feel in an experience.

Conclusion

Overall, the Four Realms of an Experience—Entertainment, Educational, Escapist, and Esthetic— offer a robust framework to evaluate and enhance the experiences we create. The T.H.E.M.E. model (Theme, Harmonize Impressions with Positive Cues, Eliminate Negative Cues, Mix in Memorabilia, Engage all five senses) provides practical steps to further enrich these experiences. Embracing the principles of the Experience Economy enables parks, recreation, and leisure services to upgrade traditional offerings to engaging experiences. Through intentional design and thoughtful execution, we can transform everyday encounters into memorable experiences, making each moment count.

References

Ellis, G. D., & Rossman, J. R. (2008). Creating value for participants through experience staging: Parks, recreation, and tourism in the experience industry. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, 26(4), 1-20. Pine II, B. J., & Gilmore, J. H. (1998). Welcome to the experience economy. Harvard Business Review, 97-105.

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www.archnexus.com 930 R Street Sacramento, CA 95811

Architerra Design Group, Inc. (909) 484-2800

www.architerradesigngroup.com 10221-A Trademark Street Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730

Atomic Technology Solutions (714) 368-3600

www.atomicts.com

14252 Culver Drive, A900 Irvine, CA 92604

B SAFE Playground Inspection Services, Inc. (916) 850-5071

10349 Ormond St Sunland, CA 91040-1413

BCI Burke Co, LLC (920) 933-6711

www.bciburke.com

P.O. Box 549 Fond Du Lac, WI 54936

Beginners Edge Sports Training, LLC (623) 748-9453

bestsportsca.com

24654 N Lake Pleasant Parkway Peoria, AZ 85383

Berliner Seilfabrik Play Equipment Corporation (864) 627-1092

www.berliner-playequipment.com 96 Brookfield Oaks Dr. Suite 140 Greenville, SC 29607

BFS Landscape Architects (831) 646-1383

www.bfsla.com

425 Pacific Street, Suite 201 Monterey, CA 93940

BMLA Landscape Architecture (951) 737-1124

www.bmla.net

310 North Joy Street Corona, CA 92879

BrightLife Designs (714) 326-8326

1 https://www.brightlifedesigns.com 6351 Gothard St., Suite C Huntington Beach, CA 92647

BrightView Design Group (949) 238-4900

www.brightview.com/services/design 8 Hughes, Suite 125 Irvine, CA 92618

Brock USA (303) 544-5800

www.brockusa.com

3090 Sterling Circle Boulder, CO 80301

California Dinner Adventure (714) 690-1497

www.piratesdinneradventure.com

7600 Beach Blvd. Buena Park, CA 90620

California State Soccer Association South (714) 778-2972

www.calsouth.com

1029 S. Placentia Avenue Fullerton, CA 92831

Callander Associates (CALA) (916) 985-4366

www.callanderassociates.com

12150 Tributary Point Drive, Suite 140 Gold River, CA 95670

Calsense (760) 438-0525

www.calsense.com

2075 Corte Del Nogal #P Carlsbad, CA 92009

Capital Program Management, Inc. (916) 553-4400

www.capitalpm.com

1851 Heritage Lane, Suite 210 Sacramento, CA 95815

The Christmas Light Guy Company (562) 824-0542

www.thechristmaslightguyco.com 1083 Bennett Avenue Long Beach, CA 90804

CivicPlus (888) 228-2233

www.civicplus.com

302 S. 4th Street, Suite #500 Manhattan, KS 66502

Coast Recreation Inc. (714) 619-0100

www.coastrecreation.com

3151 Airway Avenue, Suite A-3

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Columbia Cascade Company (503) 223-1157

www.timberform.com PO Box 1039

Camas, WA 98607-0039

Community Works Design Group (951) 369-0700

www.comworksdg.com

4649 Brockton Avenue Riverside, CA 92506

Counsilman-Hunsaker (310) 734-2282

www.chh2o.com

10733 Sunset Office Drive, Suite 400 Saint Louis, MO 63127

Crane Architectural Group (714) 525-0363

www.cranearchitecturalgrp.com

110 E Wilshire Ave # 300 Fullerton, CA 92832-1934

Custom Canopies Intl, Inc. (562) 464-4766

www.customshadecanopies.com 11815 Burke Street

Santa Fe Springs, CA 9067

Dahlin Group Architecture | Planning | Ineriors (925) 251-7200

www.dahlingroup.com 5865 Owens Drive Pleasanton, CA 94588

Dave Bang Associates, Inc. (800) 669-2585

www.davebang.com

P.O. Box 1088 Tustin, CA 92781

David Evans and Assoc. Inc. (909) 481-5750

www.deainc.com

4141 E. Inland Empire Blvd. Suite 250 Ontario, CA 91764

David Volz Design Landscape Architects, Inc. (714) 641-1300

www.dvolzdesign.com 151 Kalmus Drive, Suite M-8 Costa Mesa, CA 92626

DeltaPlan Systems, Inc. (424) 444-8214

deltaplansystems.com 9010 Owensmouth Avenue Canoga Park, CA 91304

Disc Golf Landscape Architecture (DGLA) (775) 301-3721

www.discgolfla.com 975 Starlake Avenue South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150

DuMor, Inc. (800) 598-4018

www.dumor.com

P.O.Box 142 Miffilntown, PA 17059-0142

Eco-Counter (514) 849-9779

www.eco-compteur.com/en/ 3981 St. Laurent Blvd. Suite 604 Montreal, Quebec H2W 1Y5

ELS Architecture and Urban Design (510) 549-2929

elsarch.com

2040 Addison Street Berkeley, CA 94704

EventHub (310) 405-9447

eventhub.net

6523 California Ave SW, Ste.148 Seattle, WA 98136

First Serve Productions, Inc. (925) 872-1359

firstservepro.com

1550 Ridgemore Drive Meadow Vista, CA 95722

FirstService Residential (949) 338-1908

LaderaLife.com

28192 O’Neill Drive Ladera Ranch, CA 92694

Flexground (916) 275-3588

www.flexground.com

2029 Opportunity Drive, #3 Roseville, CA 95678

Gama Sonic USA Inc. (678) 736-8303 x116

gamasonic.com

6185-F Jimmy Carter Blvd Norcross, GA 30071

GameTime (800) 235-2440

www.gametime.com

150 PlayCore Drive Fort Payne, AL 35967

Gold Bug Park and Mine (530) 642-5207

www.goldbugpark.org

2635 Gold Bug Lane Placerville, CA 95667

Grand Slam Safety, LLC (315) 301-4039

www.Grandslamsafety.com 9793 Bridge Street, P.O. Box 35 Croghan, NY 13327

Great Western Recreation (435) 245-5055

www.gwpark.com

975 S. State Hwy 89 Logan, UT 84321

Greenfields Outdoor Fitness (888) 315-9037

www.greenfieldsfitness.com

2617 West Woodland Drive Anaheim, CA 92801

Gro-Power, Inc. (909) 393-3744

www.gropower.com 15065 Telephone Avenue Chino, CA 91710

Group 4 Architecture Research + Planning, Inc. (650) 871-0709

www.g4arch.com 211 Linden Ave South San Francisco, CA 94080

GSM Landscape Architects, Inc. (707) 255-4630

www.gsmlainc.com

1700 Soscol Avenue, Suite 23 Napa, CA 94559

HAI, Hirsch & Associates, Inc. (714) 776-4340

www.hailandarch.com

2221 E. Winston Rd. #A Anaheim, CA 92806

Hermann Design Group, Inc. (760) 777-9131

www.hermanndesigngroup.com

77899 Wolf Road, Ste.102 Palm Desert, CA 92211

Hunter Industries (760) 744-5240

www.hunterindustries.com/contact-us 1940 Diamond St. San Marcos, CA 92078

Imagen (626) 593-9618

www.imagenagency.com

421 E Route 66 Glendora, CA 91740-3502

Innovative Playgrounds Company (877) 732-5200

www.innovplay.com

12407 East Slauson Avenue, Unit D Whittier, CA 90606

Insane Impact (515) 221-2924

insaneimpact.com

2480 Berkshire Pkway, Suite A Clive, IA 50325

Inspector Playground (888) 293-7889

www.inspectorplayground.com

P.O. BOX 16654 Encino, CA 91416-6654

Integra Planning & Landscape Architecture (707) 852-0500

www.integrapla.com 1506 4th Street

Santa Rosa, CA 95404

Interwest, A SAFEbuilt Company (714) 899-9039

www.interwestgrp.com

1 Jenner, Suite 160 Irvine, CA 92618

iZone Imaging - Sign Solutions Wayfinding • Interpretive • Park Signage (888) 464-9663

www.izoneimaging.com PO Box 368 Temple, TX 76530-0368

JetMulch (866) 306-8524

www.jetmulchinc.com

P.O. Box 1667

Capitola, CA 95010

CPRS Company Members

Jones & Madhavan

(805) 777-8449

www.jmae.com

100 E Thousand Oaks Blvd Ste 211 Thousand Oaks, CA 91360-8134

Kasa Construction (909) 457-8260

www.kasaconstruction.com

15148 Sierra Bonita Lane Chinco, CA 91710

Kay Park-Recreation (319) 987-2313

www.kaypark.com

1301 Pine Street

Janesville, IA 50647-0477

Kimley Horn (619) 234-9411

www.kimley-horn.com/markets/ parks-recreation

401 B Street, #600 San Diego, CA 92101

King Plastic Corporation (941) 493-5502

www.kingplastic.com

1100 N. Toledo Blade Blvd North Port, FL 34288

KOMPAN Playgrounds (800) 426-9788

www.kompan.com

605 West Howard Lane Austin, TX 78753

KTU + A Planning & Landscape Architecture (619) 294-4477

www.ktua.com

3916 Normal Street San Diego, CA 92103

KYA (714) 659-6477

www.KYASurfacing.com

1800 East McFadden Ave. Santa Ana, CA 92705

Landscape Structures, Inc. (763) 972-5200

www.playlsi.com

601 7th Street S Delano, MN 55328

Lincoln Aquatics (925) 687-9500

www.lincolnaquatics.com 2051 Commerce Avenue Concord, CA 94520

LPA, Inc. (408) 780-7203

www.lpainc.com

60 South Market Street, Suite 150 San Jose, CA 95113

Mack5 (510) 595-3020

www.mack5.com

1000 Broadway Suite 260 Oakland, CA 94608

Malmsten Inc. (602) 818-4791

malmsten.com/en-US

8270 S Kyrene Road, Suite 104 Tempe, AZ 85284-2118

Melton Design Group, Inc. (530) 899-1616

www.meltondg.com

820 Broadway Street Chico, CA 95928

MIG, Inc. (510) 845-7549

www.migcom.com

506 SW Sixth Ave, Suite 400 Portland, OR 97204-1525

Miracle Playground Sales/Miracle Recreation (800) 264-7225

www.miracleplayground.com

1101 California Avenue, Suite 209 Corona, CA 92881

Miracle Playsystems Inc. (800) 879-7730

www.MiraclePlayGroup.com PO Box 263 Alamo, CA 94507

Most Dependable Fountains, Inc. (901) 867-0039

www.mostdependable.com

5705 Commander Dr. Arlington, TN 38002-0587

Motz Group (513) 533-6452

themotzgroup.com

1 Motz Way Cincinnati, OH 45244

MRC (800) 922-0070

www.mrcrec.com

2130 Route 35 Bldg B, Suite 222 Sea Girt, NJ 08750

Musco Sports Lighting (949) 754-0503

www.musco.com

3002 Dow Avenue, Suite 504 Tustin, CA 92780

My Bark Co., Inc. (209) 786-4042

www.mybark.net

P.O. Box 932 Linden, CA 95236

MyRec.com-Recreation Software (802) 465-9732

www.myrec.com

P.O. Box 16997

Salt Lake City, UT 84116

National Academy of Athletics (707) 541-2365

NationalAcademyofAthletics.com 1260 North Dutton Suite 243B Santa Rosa, CA 95401

NGI Sports a Division of River City Athletics (775) 544-6306

www.ngisports.com

2807 Walker Road Chattanooga, TN 37421

Noll & Tam Architects (510) 649-8295

www.nollandtam.com

729 Heinz Avenue, Suite 7 Berkeley, CA 94710

NUVIS (714) 754-7311

www.nuvis.net

20250 SW Acacia Street, Suite 260 Newport Beach, CA 92660

O’Dell Engineering (209) 571-1765 x102

www.odellengineering.com 1165 Scenic Drive, Suite B Modesto, CA 95350

Omnify Inc. (650) 800-3732

www.getomnify.com 800 West El Camino Real Mountain View, CA 94040

OpenCounter (800) 216-7360

131 Dartmouth Street, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02116

Opti-Fit International Inc. (916) 939-3690

www.opti-fit.com

P.O. Box 6716 Folsom, CA 95763

Oriental Trading (800) 228-2003

www.orientaltrading.com

4206 S. 108th Street Omaha, NE 68137

OTTO APP (404) 668-4242

2100 Fairfax Drive Alpharetta, GA 30009

Pacific Park and Play/Little Tikes Commercial (714) 846-4885

www.PacParkPlay.com 1747 Colgate Drive Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

Paddock Pool Equipment Co. (803) 324-1111

www.paddockindustries.com/ 555 Paddock Parkway Rock Hill, SC 29730

Pape Machinery (916) 891-8293

construction.papemachinery.com/ locations/california/sacramento 2850 El Centro Rd Sacramento, CA 95833-9602

ParkInk (800) 423-8478

www.advisorsmarketing.com

7040 Avenida Encinas #104 Carlsbad, CA 92011

Parkitect AG LLC (dba - Parkitect US) (206) 384-8188

1116 N J Street Tacoma, WA 98403

PDPlay (760) 597-5990

www.PDPLAY.com

2235 Meyers Avenue Escondindo, CA 92029-1005

Play & Park Structures (800) 727-1907

www.playandpark.com

544 Chestnut St., Suite 310 Chattanooga, TN 37402

PLAYCE Studio, Ltd (716) 695-1987

65 Zimmerman Street North Tonawanda, NY 14120

PlayCore (423) 425-3168

www.playcore.com

544 Chestnut Street Chattanooga, TN 37402

Playcraft Systems LLC (888) 571-7640

www.playcraftsystems.com

123 North Valley Dr. Grants Pass, OR 97526

Playgrounds Unlimited (408) 244-9848

www.playgroundsunlimited.net 980 Memorex Drive Santa Clara, CA 95050

Powerland Equipment, Inc. (760) 749-1271

www.powerlandequipment.com 27943 Valley Center Road Valley Center, CA 92082

Premier Aquatics (949) 716-3333

www.swimoc.com

6 Journey, Suite 200 Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

Productive Parks, LLC (630) 765-4252

674 Rochelle Terrace Lombard, IL 60148

Public Restroom Company (888) 888-2060

www.publicrestroomcompany.com 2587 Business Parkway Minden, NV 89423

R. E. Schultz Construction, Inc. (714) 649-2627

www.reschultzconstruction.com 1767 N. Batavia Street Orange, CA 92865

R.J. Thomas Mfg. Co./Pilot Rock (800) 762-5002

www.pilotrock.com

P.O. Box 946

Cherokee, IA 51012-0946

Re-Tek West (502) 744-9946

retekproducts.com

P.O. Box 22015 Louisville, KY 40252

Rec Technologies (415) 910-9224

www.rec.us

2474 Great Hwy San Francisco, CA 94116

RecStaff (250) 884-2126

8541 Bexley Terrace North Seenich, BC V8L 1M3

RecWest Outdoor Products, Inc. (818) 735-3838

www.recwest.com

31316 Via Colinas, #118 Westlake Village, CA 91362

RHA Landscape ArchitectsPlanners, Inc. (951) 781-1930

www.rhala.com

6800 Indiana Avenue, Suite 100 Riverside, CA 92506

RJM Design Group, Inc. (949) 493-2600

www.rjmdesigngroup.com

31591 Camino Capistrano San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

Robertson Industries, Inc. (800) 858-0519

www.totturf.com 1027 W. 9th Street Upland, CA 91786

ROMTEC, Inc. (541) 496-3541

www.romtec.com

18240 North Bank Road Roseburg, OR 97470

Ross Recreation Equipment Company, Inc. (707) 538-3800

www.rossrec.com

100 Brush Creek Road #206 Santa Rosa, CA 95404

Royston, Hanamoto, Alley & Abey (415) 383-7900

www.rhaa.com

225 Miller Avenue Mill Valley, CA 94941

RRM Design Group (805) 543-1794

www.rrmdesign.com

3765 South Higuera Street, Suite 102 San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

RRM-CLM Services, LLC (602) 569-2333

www.clm-services.com

11811 N Tatum Blvd, Ste 4095 Phoenix, AZ 85028

Ruff Ruff Poop Bags (949) 243-0623

www.ruffruffpoopbags.com

3160 E. La Palma Avenue, #D Anaheim, CA 92806

S.R.Smith LLC (503) 266-2231 x2278

thermalpoolcover.com 1017 SW Berg Parkway Canby, OR 97013

Safe 2 Play - Certified Matters (925) 999-0117

PlaygroundSafetyInspections.net PO Box 945

Leander, TX 78646

Schmidt Design Group, Inc. (619) 236-1462

www.schmidtdesign.com 1310 Rosecrans Street, Suite G San Diego, CA 92106

Shade ‘N Net (800) 290-3387

www.shade-n-net.com 5711 West Washington Phoenix, AZ 85043

Shaw Sports Turf (706) 879-3643

www.shawsportsturf.com

185 S. Industrial Blvd Calhoun, GA 30701

Sky Elements Drone Shows (817) 286-3400

www.skyelementsdrones.com

3819 Rufe Snow Drive, Unit 203 North Richland Hills, TX 76180

Smart Rain (801) 295-3339

smartrain.net 1343 West 75 North Centerville, UT 84014

SofSurfaces Inc. (800) 263-2363 x230

www.sofsurfaces.com

4393 Discovery Line Petrolia, ON N0N 1R0

Southern California Municipal Athletic Federation (626) 448-0853 x16 www.scmaf.org

823 Lexington-Gallatin Road South El Monte, CA 91733

SpectraTurf (951) 736-3579

www.spectraturf.com

555 S. Promenade Avenue, Suite 103 Corona, CA 92879

Spohn Ranch, Inc. Custom Skate Parks (626) 330-5803

www.spohnranch.com

6824 S. Centinela Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90230

Spurlock Landscape Architects (619) 681-0090

www.spurlock-land.com

2122 Hancock Street San Diego, CA 92110

CPRS Company Members

SSA Landscape Architects, Inc. (831) 459-0455

www.ssala.com

303 Potrero Street, 40-C Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Stand Out Merch (415) 425-1824

www.standoutmerch.com

35688 Cathedral Canyon Dr., Ste 208 Cathedral City, CA 92234

Stover Seed Co. (213) 626-9668

www.stoverseed.com

P.O. Box 1579 Sun Valley, CA 91353

StructureCast (661) 833-4490

www.structurecast.com 8261 McCutchen Road Bakersfield, CA 93311

SVA Architects, Inc. (949) 809-3380

www.sva-architects.com

6 Hutton Centre Drive, Suite 1150 Santa Ana, CA 92707

SyberTech Waste Reduction Ltd. (888) 888-7975

www.swrl.com

P.O. Box 3009 - 33191 1st Avenue Mission, B.C. V2V1G0

TinyMobileRobots (404) 595-1145

tinymobilerobots.us 1634 Cobb International Blvd NW Kennesaw, GA 30152

TMT Enterprises, Inc. (408) 432-9040

www.tmtenterprises.net

1996 Oakland Road San Jose, CA 95131

Toro Tents Banners & Displays Corp (747) 316-1975

www.torotents.com

1302 Monte Vista Avenue, #17 Upland, CA 91786

Trueline (951) 817-0777

gotrueline.com 12397 Doherty Street Riverside, CA 92503

Turf Renovation Machinery, Inc. (562) 696-5780

www.turfrenovationmachinery.com

19858 Eyota Road Apple Valley, CA 92308

Turf Star, Inc. (800) 585-8001

www.turfstar.com

2255 Meyers Avenue Escondido, CA 92029

Turf Tank (877) 396-4094

www.turftank.com/us/ 1110 Allgood Industrial Ct Marietta, GA 30062

USA Shade & Fabric Structures (707) 257-7296

www.usa-shade.com

PO Box 3467 Coppell, TX 75019-3406

Verde Design, Inc. (408) 985-7200

www.verdedesigninc.com

2455 the Alameda, Suite 200 Santa Clara, CA 95050

Via Promotionals, Inc. (661) 254-4910

www.viapromos.com

25845 Railroad Avenue, Unit 6 Saugus, CA 91350

Vineyard Rock Products (831) 637-6443

www.vineyardrockproducts.com

1781 Limekiln Road Hollister, CA 95023

Vortex Aquatic Structures Intl. (877) 586-7839

www.vortex-intl.com

3500 South Dupont Highway, Suite EP-101 Dover, DE 19901

Water Odyssey By Fountain People, Inc. (512) 392-1155

www.waterodyssey.com

P.O. Box 807, 4600 Hwy. 123 San Marcos, TX 78667-0807

Waterline Technologies (714) 564-9100

www.waterlinetechnologies.com 620 Santiago Street Santa Ana, CA 92701

West Coast Arborists, Inc. (714) 991-1900

www.wcainc.com

2200 E. Via Burton Street Anaheim, CA 92806

West Coast Turf (760) 340-7300

www.westcoastturf.com

P.O. Box 4563

Palm Desert, CA 92261

Western State Builders (760) 270-8639

www.westernstatebuilder.com 2141 Orange Avenue Escondido, CA 92029

Who Built Creative Builders Inc. (707) 763-6210

www.whobuilt.biz

P.O. Box 1568

Shafter, CA 93263

Willoughby Stainless Fountains - WSF (317) 875-0830

www.wsf-usa.com

5105 W. 78th Street Indianapolis, IN 46268

Wood Rodgers, Inc. (916) 341-7760

www.woodrodgers.com 3301 C Street, Bldg. 100-B Sacramento, CA 95816

Wyatt W. Underwood & Associates (213) 279-2455

www.wyattunderwood.org

19360 Rinaldi Street - 150 Northridge, CA 91326

Youth Evolution Activities (805) 202-8620

www.youthevolutionbasketball.com 191 S Oak Park, Suite 11 Grover Beach, CA 93433

Zasueta Contracting, Inc. (619) 589-0609

www.zasuetacontracting.com

P. O. Box 866 Spring Valley, CA 91976

ZGolf Food & Beverage Services, LLC dba Wedgwood Weddings (951) 491-8110, Ex. 326

www.wedgewoodweddings.com

43385 Business Park Drive #210 Temecula, CA 92590 Fall magazine will include new Buyer’s Guide pull-out section! The fall issue of California Parks & Recreation magazine will feature a new, expanded stand-alone Buyer’s Guide. This is a great place to promote your products and services. Current magazine advertisers receive discounted rates on ads placed in the Buyer’s Guide. If you would like to advertise, please contact Todd Pernsteiner at todd@pernsteiner.com or call (952) 841-1111. Visit www.bit.ly/CPRSmagazine or scan QR code to view the 2024 advertising media kit.

Thank You Advertisers!

A-G Sod Farms 800-233-5254 agsod.com Page 9

Callander Associates (CALA) (916) 985-4366 callanderassociates.com Page 23

Aqua Source (209) 745-6401 aquasource.com Inside Back Cover

Columbia Cascade Company (503) 223-1157 timberform.com Page 24, Back Cover

Greenfields Outdoor Fitness (888) 315-9037 greenfieldsfitness.com Pages 7, 13

Kimley-Horn (619) 234-9411 kimley-horn.com/markets/ parks-recreation Page 59

Public Restroom Company (888) 888-2060 publicrestroomcompany.com Page 17

Gyms for Dogs (800) 931-1562 gymsfordogs.com Pages 26-27

Most Dependable Fountains, Inc. (901) 867-0039 mostdependable.com

Page 25

RHA Landscape Architects - Planners, Inc. (951) 781-1930 rhala.com Page 48

Turf Star Western (800) 585-8001 turfstar.com Page 59

Aquatic Design Group (760) 438-8400 aquaticdesigngroup.com Inside Front Cover

Crane Architectural Group (714) 525-0363 cranearchitecturalgrp.com Page 20

Hirsch and Associates (714) 776-4340 hailandarch.com Page 40

Architerra Design Group, Inc. (909) 484-2800 architerradesigngroup.com Page 31

David Evans and Associates Inc. (909) 481-5750 deainc.com Page 61

BrightView Design Group (844) 235-7778 brightview.com Page 45

David Volz Design Landscape Architects, Inc. (714) 641-1300 dvolzdesign.com Page 3

Integra Planning & Landscape Architecture (707) 852-0500 integrapla.com Page 33

My Bark Co., Inc. (209) 786-4042 mybark.net Page 51

RJM Design Group, Inc. (949) 493-2600 rjmdesigngroup.com Page 39

Verde Design (408) 985-7200 verdedesigninc.com Page 5

PCI Ecological Design & Planning (707) 824-4600 pcz.com Page 43

ROMTEC, Inc. (541) 496-3541 www.romtec.com Page 42

Water Odyssey By Fountain People (512) 392-1155 waterodyssey.com Page 21

Reach park & recreation decision-makers!

Contact Todd Pernsteiner at todd@pernsteiner.com or call (952) 841-1111 to advertise, or visit bit.ly/CPRSmagazine to view the 2024 advertising media kit. Parks

iZone ImagingSign Solutions (254) 778-0722 izoneimaging.com Page 61

NUVIS (714) 754-7311 nuvis.net Page 24

Schmidt Design Group, Inc. (619) 236-1462 schmidtdesign.com Page 11

CITY OF MENIFEE

Menifee Hosts Second Annual Wildlife Appreciation Day CPRS Spotlights

“If we can teach people about wildlife, they will be touched. Share my wildlife with me. Because humans want to save things that they love.”

– Steve Irwin

There exists an organic bond between humans and the natural world around them. By showcasing nature’s beautiful diversity and educating our communities, we can truly show appreciation for our wildlife and native plants. Once we open our hearts to something, we often feel compelled to protect and save it for future generations to come.

Over the course of several months, the City of Menifee’s Park Ranger team partnered up with the Recreation Division to plan the city’s second annual Wildlife Appreciation Day. On Saturday, March 2, 2024, the community gathered for a wildlife meet & greet, talked to conservation specialists, learned about habitat restoration, explored nature exhibits, and enjoyed local food vendors. Conservation specialists and organizations included California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the

Sierra Club Santa Margarita Group, Riverside County Habitat Conservation Agency, and the Nature Education Foundation.

Hundreds of attendees, donned in rain jackets and umbrellas, braved the cold rain to come out to the grand opening of Quartz Ranch Park. Excited kids were greeted by different opportunities to touch aquatic animals provided by Traveling Tidepools, feed a tortoise, hold snakes and reptiles, and interact with a variety of other creatures from Wild Wonders in their temporary habitats. Families were also able to visit different booths promoting education and awareness about local wildlife and native plants, including efforts to preserve and protect them. Additionally, Menifee youth learned about a whole new world of career opportunities in the field of nature, parks, and conservation, many of

which are available within their own community.

Throughout the year, Menifee Park Rangers host a variety of events and activities to encourage nature exploration. Since January 2024, Park Rangers have already directly reached over 1,500 Menifee youth and families through their community programs and events and conducted over 1,750 park visits. Families can attend a Park Ranger Campfire with a different weekly theme to collect stamps on their Junior Park Ranger passport for an opportunity to win Ranger swag. The annual Arbor Day planting event, Family Campout, monthly Gale Webb “Kids-R-#1” Action Sports Park dig and ride sessions, and the Adopta-Park/Trail Program are among other opportunities to engage in the city-wide effort to learn, explore, and preserve our native environment. n

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CPRS Spotlights

CALIFORNIA PARK & RECREATION SOCIETY

Stephanie Stephens Honored as CalSAE’s ‘Association Executive of the Year’

The California Park & Recreation Society (CPRS) is proud that our esteemed Executive Director, Stephanie Stephens, has been awarded the ‘Association Executive of the Year’ by the California Society of Association Executives (CalSAE). This accolade, presented at the CalSAE Elevate Annual Conference on April 29th, 2024, celebrates exceptional leadership and dedication within the association community.

Stephanie’s remarkable tenure, spanning over a decade, has been marked by her commitment to CPRS. Her strategic leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic ensured that CPRS continued to thrive, with membership numbers continuing to grow and educational offerings becoming more diverse and inclusive.

Among her many achievements, Stephanie has been instrumental in the development and implementation of key initiatives such as JEDI Counsel and the Impact Calculator. The Impact Calculator, in particular, is a transformative tool that helps members demonstrate the economic benefits of parks on local housing markets and surrounding areas.

THIS AWARD IS A TESTAMENT TO STEPHANIE STEPHENS’ EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP, VISIONARY STRATEGIES, AND TIRELESS DEDICATION TO BOTH CPRS AND THE BROADER ASSOCIATION COMMUNITY.

Beyond her invaluable contributions to CPRS, Stephanie has served on the CalSAE Board since 2018, including two years as Chair. Her leadership extended to the Capital Region, where she chaired the group and contributed for over four years. Her expertise and insights have been shared widely through numerous speaking engagements and educational sessions, including the “Maximize Your Membership” meetings.

This award is a testament to Stephanie Stephens’ exemplary leadership, visionary strategies, and tireless dedication to both CPRS and the broader association community. We celebrate her success and look forward to her continued contributions and inspiring leadership. n

HAVE SOMETHING EXCITING TO SHARE?

CPRS Individual and Agency members are invited to submit Spotlight articles for inclusion in a future issue of the magazine. Send your news briefs (up to 500 words) and images to: Alisha Herriott | alisha@cprs.org | 916-665-2777

Stephanie also celebrated her 10 year work anniversary in May 2024

Stephanie (center) with Lauren Oakley , Director of Professional Development (left) and Tammy Campos, Director of Finance & Operations (right)

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GUIDING LIGHTS

SAGE ADVICE FROM RETIRED CPRS PROFESSIONALS

Guiding Light: Kevin Miller

“Often when you think you are at the end of something you’re at the beginning of something else.” These are sage words from Mr. Fred Rogers.

I have been blessed to work with many professionals in Parks and Rec and local government who approached their duties and responsibilities of delivering service to their community with passion, excellence, creativity, and excitement. The key to a successful retirement journey starts with a similar mindset, excitement, anticipation, passion, planning, and commitment.

other pension and investment plans. A critical factor in the timing of your retirement is understanding your personal financial goals to assure that you and or your family are comfortable and secure in retirement life. Keep an emphasis on how important your financial situation will carry you over the long term.

Focus on these elements for a healthy retirement. Continue to set personal goals and keep in mind the importance of your physical, spiritual, and intellectual growth while developing relationship growth with new and old friends.

for, something you’re excited about spending time with.

Decline – Say yes to the things you want to do and no to those for which you have no interest.

Going back to work after Retirement

Some retirees choose to work in some capacity perhaps for additional income or due to boredom, but retirement presents so many opportunities for an engaged, new, and different lifestyle than the day-today duties and responsibilities. When you retire you have a solid financial situation that will carry you through your golden years. Going back to work is an option, but I would suggest getting involved in other activities, volunteering, and service clubs.

Retirement planning cannot start too early. In Foster City, we had quarterly retirement brown bag lunches for anyone interested in discussing retirement. I started to attend around five years before I retired. It was beneficial and insightful. Start to build your “retirement binder” on all retirement-related issues, for example, finances, interests, new adventure pursuits, travels, etc. Also include retirement challenges, health insurance options, and a complete understanding of the Public Employment Retirement System or

Keep these components in mind while planning your retirement life:

Socialize – Step into new adventures among people with different backgrounds and experiences than you. There is so much to learn and share.

Contribute – Sharing your skill sets can be beneficial in new scenarios if you choose to also stay involved with CPRS as a retiree.

Volunteer – Volunteer for an organization that you feel a passion

I did go back as City Manager for eight months but with a specific purpose and a set date for my duties to conclude. I returned to provide stability to the organization I loved. As an interim CM, it was demanding yet I found it very rewarding. The legacy you leave is a solid organization that can continue in excellence after you have retired.

Retirement is a fabulous next stage of your life, embrace it and your mind, body, and spirit will continue to flourish! n

I HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO WORK WITH MANY PROFESSIONALS IN PARKS AND REC AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT WHO APPROACHED THEIR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF DELIVERING SERVICE TO THEIR COMMUNITY WITH PASSION, EXCELLENCE, CREATIVITY, AND EXCITEMENT.