Landscape Architects and Park Planners
LIONS PARK PLAYGROUND
CITY OF COSTA MESA GRAND OPENING
The grand opening was on July 17th, 2021 and is a great addition to the current infrastructure for all residents within Costa Mesa and surrounding areas. The City of Costa Mesa wanted to renovate their existing park and playground south of their new Donald Dungan Library. The directive for Lions Park was to remove and replace the restroom building and preserve the mature trees as well as install a new playground and retain a vintage fighter jet play structure in place. The program for users would be for ages 2 to 5 years and 5- to 12-year-old children including universal access. The aircraft carrier rubberized surfacing pattern in between the structure and jet lent the deck of the aircraft carrier to be utilized as a runway for a zipline feature that allows the users to imagine flying over the deck. Additional program elements are swings and accessible seesaw and round-a-bout for all completing the playground. The mature tree canopies allowed families to have instant shade provided while their children engaged the site.
Fall Trainings Just a Small Part of the Upcoming CPRS Calendar
by Frank Carson • CPRS PresidentThis fall looks to be a very exciting time for our regions, districts and sections. So many outstanding trainings and local events returning inperson. The Leadership Summit on September 15 in Burlingame will be led by our state board President-Elect, Doug Grove. There will be the School of Rec at the end of September hosted by the Recreation Section in West Hollywood. The Aquatics Section will be hosting the California Aquatic Management School (CAMS) in Lake Arrowhead mid-October. The always popular Maintenance Management School in Lake Arrowhead in November will be successfully returning in-person.
So many things to be excited about! The month of August in the City of El Cajon we recognize that staff may start getting a little fatigued from summer full-day programs, so we try and surprise them with #AugustAmbush. I first learned of this concept attending the NRPA’s Director’s School. It’s where parks and recreation administrators go out into the field and surprise staff with treats and thank you for working so hard throughout the summer. We have a large hashtag sign and the staff really appreciate the ice cream treats.
Over the past seven years this has become so popular that staff talk amongst themselves and guess when I and their parks and recreation managers will come out with treats and for a photo with them to post on our social media. It’s a good reminder also that staff want to be recognized. A few other agencies in the region have copied this concept, such as Mark Nix
with the City of Mission Viejo. He created #SeptemberSurprise with the hashtag sign and everything. It is important that we celebrate our staff’s successes. We need them to be as successful as we are. Side note, just make sure you have staff present before you go. I may have made that mistake once.
I want to thank Mark Brunner, President of CPRS District 2, for being the first CPRS District to host a Frank 5K. If you remember, my plan is to visit all 15 Districts within CPRS and run, walk or hike a 5K in their district in an informal setting. Mark and a group of folks from District 2 met with me in the Auburn Area in June to hike the Forresthill Bridge and Lake Clementine Dam. To say it offered amazing sites is an understatement. If you are an avid hiker, the Forresthill Bridge is the tallest bridge in California and it offers great views hiking under it.
There is some exciting news from our A-Team with Cindy Bagley as the Chair working with our Lobbyist Doug Houston. CPRS sponsored AB 1789, where money has been designated for trails for local agencies. This is a big feather in our cap, so to speak. This can open new doors for us to have greater conversations and lead greater efforts to secure more funding to expand and reinvigorate our services.
There is also CPRS’ JEDI Counsel with Tiarra Warner, Adam Chow and Doug Grove representing the state board along with members of CPRS. JEDI: Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. We are very excited for the work that is coming from this group and look forward to their continued
continued on page 50
Frank Carson is the 2022-23 CPRS President and the Director of Parks & Recreation for the City of El Cajon.
2022-2023 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT
Frank Carson City of El Cajon 619-441-1756 fcarson@cityofelcajon.us
PRESIDENT-ELECT
Doug Grove, RLA, ASLA, LEED AP RHA Landscape Architects 951-781-1930 dougg@rhala.com
VICE PRESIDENT Kyla Brown Riverside County Regional Park & Open Space District 951-955-4306 kylabrown@rivco.org
SECRETARY-TREASURER
Nicole Acquisti, CPRP City of Burlingame 650-558-7337 nacquisti@burlingame.org
REGION 1 REPRESENTATIVE (Dist 1, 2, 3)
Adam Chow, CPRP City of San Ramon 925-973-3321 achow@sanramon.ca.gov
REGION 2 REPRESENTATIVE (Dist 4, 5, 6)
Lauren Merriman City of Campbell 408-866-2107 laurenm@campbellca.gov
REGION 3 REPRESENTATIVE (Dist 7, 8, 15)
Lauren Cronk North of the River Recreation & Park District 661-392-2000 lcronk@norrecreation.org
REGION 4 REPRESENTATIVE (Dist 11, 13, 14)
Victoria Reyna, CPRP Jurupa Community Services District 951-727-3524 vreyna@jcsd.us
REGION 5 REPRESENTATIVE (Dist 9, 10, 12)
Jenni Worsham City of Fountain Valley 714-593-4447 jenni.worsham@fountainvalley.org
SECTION REPRESENTATIVES (Administrators, Recreation and Recreation Therapy) Tiarra Warner City of Rohnert Park 707-588-3407 twarner@rpcity.org
(Aging, Aquatics, Development & Operations and Educators)
Teri deRosier Cosumnes Community Services District 916-405-5605 TerideRosier@csdparks.com
Please contact any Board Member with questions or comments
FITNESS FUN
A Recreation Department’s Response to a Mass Shooting
It was shortly before 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 28, 2019, when I received the call from the City Administrator. Mass shooting incident. Garlic Festival. Report to the Emergency Operation Center (EOC).
When I arrived, the EOC was quiet. I strapped on my green vest and took a seat. There were only a few of us present. My colleagues trickled in. Within an hour, the EOC was packed with not only city employees, but representatives from other agencies who were more experienced in times of crisis and there to support us. Recreation was tasked with logistics and, if needed, care and shelter. Dur-
ing those first few hours, the phones rang and the text messages came in waves: We need food. We need water. We need ice. We need lights.
The shooting occurred at Christmas Hill Park, home to the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival. The park had streetlights, but not enough to support an active crime scene. Where do we rent portable light towers? Every request we received required a form to be completed and a bar-
rage of questions: What is it? Who’s it for? How much does it cost? What time did the request come in? Who’s filling out this form?
We’re moving at a rapid pace, trying to fulfil the requests that are coming in, fast. The local news was turned on, broadcasting live updates from Gilroy. The reporters didn’t have much information except that there was a shooting, patrons were struck, and they had no idea if there was a second gunman. And then the first of many pivots happened.
We need care and shelter, the EOC Coordinator told me.
But we’re doing logistics.
Call your people.
There’s not enough recreation staff to do both. I pull in engineers, planners, anyone to help with logistics as we switch to care and shelter. Luckily, I have my running shoes and take off to our gymnasium. I met other recreation staff where we pulled out cots, blankets, and our EOC box that’s filled with granola bars, clipboards, paperwork, and more vests. We waited for the Red Cross to arrive to assist us. Our guests were the out-oftown festival vendors who were unable to return to their vehicles and tents, which were located inside the park that was now a crime scene protected by scores of police officers from multiple jurisdictions. When the local Red Cross group arrives, they immediately took control of the shelter and told us what we needed to do, which I was thankful for. Once we started the check-in process and our guests were comfortable—as best as one could under the circumstances—I returned to the EOC. It’s at capacity. The phones were ringing,
new information is disseminated, more paperwork is processed.
During those first forty-eight hours, our adrenaline was high. We wanted to help anyway we could (and did). We felt we could do anything, but by Thursday, Day 4, our energy levels were sapped. We were still in the EOC, fulfilling logistics requests. The shelter was near closing. Our work at the recreation office was piling up. We went back and forth between the EOC and Recreation. While the public held vigils and processed the tragedy, we didn’t have time to. The chaos, lack of sleep, and trying to juggle all the details had taken its toll.
We were exhausted emotionally, physically, and mentally, yet the organization and the community looked to us to provide immediate care. We are, after all, Recreation—the department that provides a safe environment, a positive experience, and memories that last a lifetime. We may have been put on a pause, but we were determined to get back to normal.
Part of the healing process included how quickly the entire region came together. Santa Clara County and the South County Youth Task Force, for example, established a long-term resilience center for victims and people who wanted to talk about the tragedy. The school district offered counseling to students and their families even though school was not in session. Local businesses donated food and other supplies to first responders and disaster relief workers.
In the end we learned that the Recreation Department (with parks staff support) plays an important role in the event of a disaster. No one department can do it on its own; it truly is a team effort.
By Aly Mancini Community Services Director City of El SegundoThe City of El Segundo Takes Pickleball to the National Level
Four years ago the El Segundo Recreation and Parks Department had the vision to try something new and exciting here in the City of El Segundo –pickleball.
Pickleball u
When discussed internally with the staff, videos were needed to demonstrate the game because staff had little knowledge about the game or knew what we were about to embark on over the next five years. With a dream of trying something new, the department was able to tape one tennis court into four convertible pickleball courts. The department received mixed feedback from tennis and pickle players throughout the pilot stage, but the community was willing to accept change and give the new sport a chance.
To the surprise of many, one short year later that tennis court would be converted into four permanent pickleball courts and host a Pickleball Tournament. The Association of Pickleball Professionals Tournament, referred to as APP, presented an opportunity for hundreds of pickleball players, from amateur to professional, to compete in the City of El Segundo.
Connie Thrasher, USA Pickleball El Segundo Ambassador and West Region Assistant Regional Director, desired to enhance the sport of pickleball in the City of El Segundo. With her knowledge of the sport, she was able to partner with the Department. Connie began to grow the Pickleball program through leagues, classes, and clinics. She shared ideas and her vision for the sport. Her passion was an integral
part of the program’s growth. The Department worked closely with her to engage the community with pickleball programs and increase awareness of the fastest growing sport in America. When the program started there were only six teams in the inaugural league. Within a few months, the number of players grew to over 400 people competing in weekly leagues with over 40 teams. The COVID shutdown in March 2020 cast uncertainty for many recreation programs; however, pickleball was one of the few activities that remained intact. The Department used this opportunity to help City staff continue to provide a safe activity for the community.
The City of El Segundo became the only beach city with permanent courts in the surrounding area. Increasing demand for court availability prompted discussions for adding more courts and expanding the program. Discussions about a professional tournament began to take place in 2019. Unfortunately, COVID-19 would delay the possibility of a tournament and the green light to move forward with the event would now be approved for the Summer of 2022. After many meetings with Councilmembers, presentations at City Council meetings, the City of El Segundo was able to secure a spot as host for a national APP tournament with CEO and APP founder, Ken Herrmann. Embracing the concept of “El
Segundo Where Big Ideas Take Off,” the City Council felt that exposure to the sport would be appreciated by the community and unanimously supported the proposal.
Six tennis courts, two volleyball courts, and one paddle tennis court were professionally converted into pickleball courts to make a grand total of twenty-one courts in the tournament. Two tennis courts were selected to be resurfaced into pickleball courts and used for spectators and live-stream viewing. The other courts were taped and affixed with temporary nets that allowed a quick set up and clean up. Over one hundred volunteers helped the APP staff assemble the necessary materials and operate the four-day tournament.
More than four hundred and fifty pros and amateurs from across the nation participated in twenty events that included divisions based on age and skill. The prize money totaled $40,000 which enticed high-level players to this inaugural event. The El Segundo pickleball community was enthralled as they got to witness live professional matches, purchase sponsored equipment from vendors, and work with the APP organization. Ten amateur medalists reside in the City of El Segundo and were ecstatic to play in this nationally recognized competition. The tournament brought in approximately 3,000 spectators over the four-day tournament. Recreation, Parks and Library Director, Aly Mancini, shared “Seeing so many people from around the country come to El Segundo to enjoy this tournament was a great boost for our local businesses and a neat way for people to get to know our very special community.”
This tournament further highlighted the need for more permanent pickleball courts at the El Segundo Recreation Park. Recreation Park was able to accommodate twenty-one courts but fifteen were converted with tape and temporary nets. The standard court for a national tournament would have more seating for spectators and a larger out-of-bounds space for players to move around. The costs for taping and labor were reduced along with the time for set up and clean up. The time-
line from the proposal to the start of the event was brief; thus, the construction for more permanent courts was not possible. Moving forward, City of El Segundo would need to go through the process of getting contracts and approval for more courts to host a larger scale event.
The pickleball excitement created a buzz in the community as flyers and social media posts were sent out in May. Businesses prepared to host an influx of visitors and represent the City of El Segundo. Restaurants, hotels, bars, and local businesses benefited from the flow of people who were looking to experience everything the small town had to offer. By hosting this tournament, the name and image of El Segundo was brought to new heights. Pickleball players from the surrounding cities gave APP recognition to Recreation Park and have been inspired to visit more often. The center court matches were live streamed on YouTube and added to the level of professionalism. Viewership on all social media
platforms hit over 200,000 views and elevated the awareness of pickleball and the City of El Segundo.
Pickleball is a multi-generational sport that is family-orientated, easy to learn, and fun to play. The number of pickleball players in America has grown from 1.9 million in 2018 to 4.8 million in 2022 and the sport has been petitioned to be included in the 2028 Olympic Games. The plans for pickleball in El Segundo are taking off and leading to exciting new opportunities.
After hosting the tournament, the city’s Pickleball program has grown even more. The priceless opportunity that the department was able to provide to the community is one that many of us will not forget.
The APP Tour coming to the City of El Segundo brought a wide range of spectators in many different age groups. The future is bright with so many already thriving classes, leagues and tournaments in place, as well as many new ideas to further expand the program here in El Segundo. As we
expand, we will begin to program for the youth by creating many seasonal classes and youth tournaments along with professional instruction for the young people. The City of El Segundo Recreation Department will work closely with the El Segundo Unified School District to develop programming in the future. With our vision of programming for the youth we will continue to see a larger demand for more courts in the City of El Segundo.
Overall, this co-hosted event was a win-win partnership for the City of El Segundo and the APP. Residents were able to watch some great matches and APP was able to host a National Pickleball Tournament in the coastal City of El Segundo. The City considers the event a great success and looks forward to a long partnership with Ken Hermann and the Association of Pickleball Professionals by becoming a permanent spot on the APP Tournament Tour every year.
Developing Culturally Responsive Approaches to Serving Diverse Populations
By Michael Lopez, VP Education and Child Development, University of Chicago; Kerry Hofer, Principal Associate, Abt Associates; Erin Bumgarner, Senior Associate, MEF Associates and Djaniele Taylor, Account Manager, Ipsos in North AmericaThe U.S. population is becoming increasingly diverse, particularly with respect to the rapidly growing number of multicultural, multi-lingual low-income children and families. Changes in the diversity of communities across the country have prompted a call to action for many service providers, as well as funders of such programs, to reduce disparities in the access and utilization of services.
In 2017 The National Research Center on Hispanic Children and Families published a resource guide for commuinity-based organiazations entitiled “Developing Culturally Responsive Approaches to Serving Diverse Populations.” This document is an incredible resource for anyone interested in developing cultural competency. We present here the introduction from the document and the first chapter: Defining and Understanding Cultural Competency.
You can download a pdf of the entire resource guiede on the Center’s Website at: www.hispanicresearchcenter.org/research-resources/developing-culturallyresponsive-approaches-to-serving-diverse-populations-a-resource-guide-forcommunity-based-organizations/
Given the rapidly changing demographics among high-poverty communities in the United States, it is of the utmost importance that organizations recognize the particular needs of the culturally and linguistically diverse populations they serve through programmatic services, and that applications for funding announcements appropriately reflect this responsiveness to increasingly diverse populations. Social service programs are finding that in order to keep pace with the demand, community-based organizations (CBOs) must deliver more culturally responsive services. Cultural competency is an important way that CBOs can become more responsive to the needs of the increasingly diverse populations they serve.
This resource guide, Supporting the Development of Culturally Responsive Approaches to Serving Diverse Populations, is designed to help CBOs serve the needs of their diverse populations.
About this guide’s multiple audiences and purposes
The first goal of this resource guide is to help communitybased service programs more easily find and access available resources on cultural competency in order to better serve their targeted populations. Second, the resource guide aims to help CBOs attract funders who often require evidence of culturally competent programs.
This guide is not intended to serve as a training resource for frontline service providers. Rather, it directs users to an existing array of valuable tools and resources that they can consult, use, and adapt to strengthen their capacity to provide more culturally competent service delivery programs. The resource guide is also intended to help support CBOs in developing high-quality and successful applications in response to funding announcements.
In this guide
This resource guide addresses the following topics:
1. Defining and understanding cultural competency
2. Choosing interventions for diverse populations
3. Conducting a needs assessment
4. Measurement considerations for diverse populations
5. Collaboration through a diversity lens
6. Workforce diversity
7. Budgeting
Each section discusses existing resources that organizations can use to develop or improve their ability to provide culturally competent programs. Tables within each of the sections provide links to specific resources that correspond to particular needs.
Defining and Understanding Cultural Competency
What does cultural competency mean? Whether your organization is looking for resources to improve your practice with diverse populations or you are new to these kinds of services, here is a widely accepted definition of cultural competency:
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A d m i n i s t r a t i o n
A set of congruent behaviors, attitudes, and policies that come together in a system, agency, or amongst professionals and enables that system, agency, or those professionals to work effectively in cross-cultural situations.… A culturally competent system of care acknowledges and incorporates— at all levels—the importance of culture, the assessment of cross-cultural relations, vigilance towards the dynamics that result from cultural differences, the expansion of cultural knowledge, and the adaptation of services to meet culturally unique needs.1
A critical element of that definition is the phrase “at all levels.” A model that incorporates this concept is described in Enhancing Cultural Competence in Social Service Agencies:
Cultural competence at the broadest level of the organization influences cultural competence at the staff level and ultimately at the level of program design, implementation, and evaluation.2
The culturally competent model integrates three dimensions commonly discussed in the research literature:
• Critical awareness/knowledge—an awareness of one’s own knowledge and biases of culturally diverse populations;
• Skills development—effective communication and skills that foster trust with individuals from diverse backgrounds; and
• Organizational supports—organizational systems and
How an organization’s policies and practices operate depends on the nature of the services it offers. Within the health professions, for example, culturally competent strategies are likely to focus on attitudes and behaviors related to health services. Thus, the National Institutes of Health has included language in its definition of cultural competence (which it refers to “cultural respect”) as follows:
For the provider of health information or health care, these [cultural] elements influence beliefs and belief systems surrounding health, healing, wellness, illness, disease, and delivery of health services. The concept of cultural respect has a positive effect on patient care delivery by enabling providers to deliver services that are respectful of and responsive to the health beliefs, practices, and cultural and linguistic needs of diverse patients.3
Because cultural misunderstandings around health and health care can have life-or-death consequences, cultural competency efforts in that area are robust. Within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the Office of Minority Health has established the Center for Linguistic and Cultural Competency in Health Care to address the needs of diverse populations. The Office also has developed the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care (National CLAS Standards). These standards “aim to improve health care quality and advance health equity by establishing a framework for organizations to serve the nation’s increasingly diverse communities.”4
A changing population
According to 2013 U.S. Census data:
• 48 percent of children under the age of 18 were members of racial/ethnic groups other than nonHispanic white.
• Of this group, Hispanics represented the largest racial/ethnic group (24 percent), followed by nonHispanic blacks (14 percent) and non-Hispanic Asians (5 percent).
• Hispanics also are a fast-growing racial/ethnic group, almost tripling as a share of the U.S. population between 1980 (9 percent) and 2013 (24 percent).ª
Across that culturally and linguistically diverse population, however, there is great variability within any given racial/ethnic group. Understanding the variability within and across racial/ethnic subgroups is an important step any organization must take to ensure its services are culturally responsive to the needs of its targeted population.
a POP3 Race and Hispanic Origin Composition: Percentage of U.S. Children Ages 0–17 by Race and Hispanic Origin, 1980–2013 and Projected 2014–2050. http:// www.childstats.gov/americaschildren/tables/ pop3.asp
Similarly, the National Association of Social Workers5 includes provisions within its Code of Ethics that hold social workers to be culturally competent. For example, social workers are expected to “have a knowledge base of their clients’ cultures and be able to demonstrate competence in the provision of services that are sensitive to clients’ cultures and to differences among people and cultural groups.”
Implications for social service providers/ practitioners
A good way for an organization to start building trust and improving communication among staff and individuals served is to identify which definition of cultural competence fits best. Here are some activities that can be useful:
• Inviting discussions with members of different cultural groups to gather opinions and viewpoints that are truly representative.
• Assessing the organization’s current strengths and weaknesses in providing culturally competent services.
• Revising the mission statement to incorporate cultural competency.
• Developing goals and identifying milestones to measure progress.
• Identifying responsible parties who will help ensure that conversations about cultural competency are ongoing and make adequate progress.
• Dedicating funds and resources to making improvements.
Culture - The integrated pattern of human behavior that includes thoughts, communications, actions, customs, beliefs, values, and institutions of a racial, ethnic, religious, or social group. — Cross et al.
Cultural Respect - When developed and implemented as a framework, cultural respect enables systems, agencies, and groups of professionals to function effectively to understand the needs of groups accessing health information and health care—or participating in research—in an inclusive partnership where the provider and the user of the information meet on common ground. — National Institutes of Health Cultural competence
Cultural Competence - refers to the process by which individuals and systems respond respectfully and effectively to people of all cultures, languages, classes, races, ethnic backgrounds, religions, spiritual traditions, immigration status, and other diversity factors in a manner that recognizes, affirms, and values the worth of individuals, families, and communities and protects and preserves the dignity of each. — National Association of Social Workers
Cultural Competency u
Resources and tools
Organizations may find the resources in Table 1 helpful as they work toward achieving a common understanding of cultural competency, responsiveness, and relevance to their program operations.
Endnotes:
1. Cross, T. L., B. J. Bazron, K. W. Dennis, and M. R. Isaacs. 1989. Towards a Culturally Competent System of Care: A Monograph on Effective Services for Minority Children Who Are Severely Disturbed, Volume I. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Child Development Center, Child and Adolescent Service System Program (CASSP) Technical Assistance Center.
http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED330171.pdf
2. Calzada, E., & Y. Suarez-Balcazar. 2014. Enhancing Cultural Competence in Social Service Agencies: A Promising Approach to Serving Diverse Children and Families. OPRE Research Brief #2014-31. Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research & Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https:// www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/opre/brief_enhancing_cultural_competence_final_022114.pdf
3. National Institutes of Health. “Cultural Respect.” [Website]. https:// www.nih.gov/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/officecommunications-publicliaison/clear-communication/cultural-respect
4. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health. “The National CLAS Standards.” [Website]. http://minorityhealth. hhs.gov/omh/browse.aspx?lvl=2&lvlid=53
Table 1 - Resources for defining and understanding cultural competency Resource Description
Enhancing Cultural Competence in Social Service Agencies: A Promising Approach to Serving Diverse Children and Families
Calzada & Suarez-Balcazar, 2014
Improving Cultural Competence: A Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP 59)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2014
• Summarizes the existing research on cultural competence in social services.
• Describes cultural competence and provides concrete strategies for strengthening cultural competence in social services.
• https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/opre/brief_enhancing_cultural_competence_final_022114.pdf
• Includes definitions of cultural competency and responsiveness, and addresses their importance with regards to race, ethnicity, and identity.
• Includes an introduction to cultural competence, core competence for counselors, culturally responsive evaluation and treatment planning, and behavioral health treatment for major racial and ethnic groups.
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK248428/pdf/Bookshelf_NBK248428.pdf
Building Culturally & Linguistically Competent Services to Support Young Children, Their Families, and School Readiness
Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2004
Cultural Competence in a Multicultural World; Building Culturally Competent
Organizations
The Community Tool Box, University of Kansas
• Promotes culturally and linguistically responsive early childhood development and school readiness services, supports, programs, and practices for children and families.
• Includes definitions of culturally specific words and terminology.
• http://www.aecf.org/m/resourcedoc/AECF-BuildingCulturallyLingusticallyCompetentServices_2004.pdf
• Describes what an organization needs to do to become culturally competent and why it is important to do so.
• Focuses on how to define and determine a culturally competent organization.
• Includes checklists and other tools providing step-by-step guidance on how to become a culturally competent organization.
• http://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/culture/cultural-competence/culturallycompetent-organizations/main
The Education Achievement Gap: Which Way to a Smarter America?
Oregon Department of Education
• Links to a set of videos on the education achievement gap and the lack of cultural responsiveness in education.
• http://www.ode.state.or.us/opportunities/grants/saelp/edachievgapnov2004.aspx
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Cultural Competency u
Resource Description
• Describes an evaluation of an initiative to train child welfare practitioners in the use of an existing evidence-based system of care for use with Latino children and families.
• Identifies challenges with the implementation of systems of care, along with implications for the use of culturally competent systems of care within child welfare services.
• http://cssr.berkeley.edu/cwscmsreports/LatinoPracticeAdvisory/ Culturally%20Competent%20SOC.pdf
National Center for Cultural Competence Georgetown University, Center for Child and Human Development
Towards a Culturally Competent System of Care: A Monograph on Effective Services for Minority Children Who Are Severely Emotionally Disturbed Cross et al., 1989
Building Capacity to Strengthen the WellBeing of Immigrant Families and Their Children: A Prevention Strategy (Latino Cultural Guide)
Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare, University of Minnesota School of Social Work, 2010
Recruiting and Retaining Older African American and Hispanic Boys in After-School Programs: What We Know and What We Still Need to Learn Kauh, 2010
• Defines the conceptual framework and model for achieving cultural and linguistic competence.
• Includes resources and publications from the National Center for Cultural Competence (NCCC), searchable by type and title.
• https://nccc.georgetown.edu/foundations/frameworks.html
• Provides a widely accepted definition of cultural competency.
• Focuses on the background of cultural competency and how policy, resources, and research are affected by it.
• http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED330171.pdf
• Provides an overview of cultural issues important to understanding children and family environments in Latino immigrant groups.
• Stresses the importance of understanding each child and family’s experiences through a cultural lens.
• http://cascw.umn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/CulturalGuide-Latino.pdf
• Includes a review of the research on successful approaches to recruiting and retaining middle- and high school-aged Hispanic and African American males to after-school programs.
• Discusses key themes from the existing research related to recruitment and retention strategies for older minority males.
• Concludes with a set of recommendations for programs, stakeholders, and researchers.
• http://ppv.issuelab.org/resources/5082/5082.pdf
“Improving Patient Care: Cultural Competence”
Sutton, 2000
Standards and Indicators for Cultural Competence in Social Work Practice National Association of Social Workers, 2015
• Defines key terms, core competencies for staff, and planning.
• Provides tips that are specific to substance abuse treatment, but can be adapted to other areas.
• http://www.aafp.org/fpm/2000/1000/p58.html
• Describes standards and indicators for cultural competence in the practice of social work.
• Addresses cultural competence at the individual, institutional, and societal levels.
• https://www.socialworkers.org/practice/standards/naswculturalstandards.pdf
“Culturally Competent Systems of Care with Latino Children and Families” Dettlaff and Rycraft, 2009
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Resource Description
Tool Kit of Resources for Cultural Competent Education for Baccalaureate Nurses
American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2008
• Provides resources and exemplars supporting cultural competency in baccalaureate nursing education.
• Provides an overview of cultural competence content areas and illustrative teaching and learning activities, as well as key resources that will help faculty integrate cultural competency in nursing curriculum.
• http://www.aacn.nche.edu/education-resources/toolkit.pdf
Evidence-Based Practices with Latino Youth: A Literature Review
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine (Feldman, Trupin, Walker, and Hansen), 2010
• Includes a review of the research on mental health concerns for Latino immigrants.
• Highlights the evidence for how best to respond to these mental health concerns, particularly for cognitive-behavioral intervention approaches.
• Includes a discussion of whether cultural modification or adaptation is recommended.
• http://www.healthalt.org/uploads/2/3/7/5/23750643/evidencebased_practices_with_latino_youth_a_literature_review.pdf
Resource Description
Cultural Competence in Research: Annotated Bibliography
Harvard Catalyst; The Harvard Clinical and Translational Science Center, 2010
• Provides a review of the research literature on issues relevant to cultural competence.
• Designed as a training module for researchers focusing on the linkages between culture and research design, analysis, and interpretation.
• https://catalyst.harvard.edu/pdf/diversity/CCR-annotatedbibliography-10-12-10ver2-FINAL.pdf
Enhancing Cultural Competence in OutofSchool Time Programs: What Is It, and Why Is It Important?
Child Trends (Kennedy, Bronte-Tinkew, and Matthews), 2007
National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) in Health and Health Care Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• Provides cultural competency definitions and program descriptions, including suggested programs across the country that provide outof-school services.
• http://www.childtrends.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/ 2007-03CulturalCompetenceOST.pdf
• Presents 15 action steps intended to advance health equity, improve quality, and help eliminate health care disparities through culturally and linguistically appropriate services.
• https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/omh/browse.aspx?lvl=2&lvlid=53
Operationalizing Equity: Oakland’s Town Camp
By J. Nicholas Williams, Sr. Superintendent for Recreation and Community Services San Francisco City and CountyWhen I returned to my hometown of Oakland, California, to lead the park and recreation department, I quickly revealed my two priorities: to neutralize disparities that plagued certain neighborhoods and communities, and to laser focus the department’s attention on the seemingly most neglected, Oakland youth.
Successfully shifting focus and charting new paths was not an easy task, but I brought the entire organization together to help build substance around my vision of equity and access. The process to create new vision, mission and strategic directions for an organization that was struggling to remain valuable in an urban city, complete with all urban city problems, was methodical and inclusive, as we met and engaged with every level of the department. After months of talking with staff, asking the tough questions, recognizing the built-in strength of the organization, and painfully uncovering the organizational shortcomings, a new department, Oakland Parks, Recreation and Youth Development (OPRYD), was born: With an emphasis on Oakland’s youth, Oakland Parks, Recreation and Youth Development and its partners will provide best-in-class, relevant and equitable programs and services, while meeting the specific needs of people and communities both at the neighborhood level and regionally throughout the City of Oakland. We achieve this mission through intentional engagement and by removing the barriers that prohibit equitable opportunities for all.
Partners
We quickly recognized that we are not alone in this work and that collaborations and partnerships would not only add needed resources, but more importantly, increase the value of the programs by bringing in professionals and experts in certain areas of youth development.
Meeting the Specific Needs
No two communities are alike, and with that the needs and/or desires of a particular neighborhood varies geographically. However, what was most important to us is that the offerings and experience of any one particular neighborhood should never be less than that of another.
Intentional Engagement
The days of sitting at the front desk of the facility and waiting for the community to come in and engage are long gone. We had to go out into our communities, knock on
doors, hold up signs and wave at passersby, host community forums with food and daycare services — whatever it took to let as many people know about our programs and services. And, asking them what we could do to include them proved vital to the ongoing successes of the department.
Removing the Barriers
Specifically addressing fees, accessibility, language, transportation, the location of current amenities, the placement of new capital projects, current usage, and, just as important, who is not participating and why, OPRYD began to change operations and shift procedures. If we couldn’t remove some of these disparities, we needed to find a way to lift our communities over and/or around them so they felt welcomed to engage with us.
With this new mission and direction, we completely revamped our summer camp and after-school offerings and created our signature programs: Town Camp, Oakland’s summer youth program, and Neighborhood Town Camp, an out-of-school time youth engagement program. Since its inception, Town Camp boasts the following:
• Participation has more than doubled with an average of 1,000 to 1,200 participants daily during summer and 800 to 1,000 youth daily afterschool.
• We have engaged more than 100 partners to increase program offerings and value.
• Becoming an attractive investment, we have leveraged more than $2 million in donations.
• We have standardized meals and curriculum to address disparities.
• We have dedicated time daily for reading and math proficiency reinforcement.
• We provide nutritious, high-quality meals for all program participants.
With the onset of coronavirus (COVID-19) in March 2020, OPRYD believed it realized its full value to our communities, as we saw record numbers of new park users looking to find both physical and mental reprise in our parks and green spaces. Even through chaos and uncertainty, our doors remained open, and we prioritized providing basic needs to our kids and our communities. While some of our children struggled to participate in online learning, we created Lift Zones, community Wi-Fi hubs, to make sure everyone had access to quality, high-speed and safe internet connections. We also gifted 1,000 laptops to students in need, courtesy of our partnership with Comcast. We provided more than 2 million hot meals, up to 2,500 a day, throughout our community centers thanks to our partnership with World Central Kitchen. And, Stephen and Ayesha Curry’s Eat.Learn.Play. Foundation provided a pair of brand-new Curry sneakers to every child registered in our programs. We tutored students to assist with homework; provided outdoor fitness, dance and Zumba classes to make sure communities had access to physical fitness and wellness; and used our centers as community resource hubs, making sure families had food, diapers, toiletries and other necessities.
Reinventing ourselves, focusing our resources and efforts, and reimagining what parks and recreation could/should be, OPRYD remains resilient, trusted, community engaged and equity focused. To learn more about our past five years, take a look at a detailed report of accomplishments and milestones at tinyurl.com/2p94tvvk.
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TRENDS INTO POSSIBILITES
Let’s Check In On the ”People” Numbers
By Dr. Ellen O’Sullivan Leisure Lifestyle ConsultingTrends into Possibilities is created by Dr. Ellen O’Sullivan for the California Park & Recreation Society. Questions, comments, and suggestions are welcomed. Please contact Ellen at Ellenosull@gmail.com
Few things are as important to social and community agencies including parks and recreation than information about people.
Who are they? How old are they? Do they live alone or with others? Are they part of a growing diverse population? Is the rate of growth of its city or town growing at higher rates or losing population?
Big Picture – United States
The 2020 Census has been different for a number of reasons including immigration law changes and of course, the pandemic. The numbers have been slow coming out of the Census Bureau and the reports of under-reporting are more numerous than ever mostly due to the widespread impact of COVID. The ‘every decade’ counting of Americans was different in 2020. There were a number of factors that influenced these shift but the three major changes include:
• Stagnation in population growth
• More pronounced aging of the population
• Greater racial and ethnic diversity especially among young people
Slow growth. In fact, the 2020 Census resulted in the second smallest decade long growth in American history which leads to the major finding of stagnation in the population. Previ-
u Trends into Possibilities
ously, the United States had one of the highest growth rates of major countries.
• While the overall population of the United States increased to 331.4 million the rate of growth was only 7.4% compared to the 9.7% increase in the previous decade.
• Population estimates between 2019 and 2020 revealed that the nation grew at a rate of 0.35%. This represents the second smallest growth rate since 1900.
• Some of the decline was due to new immigration restrictions with the deaths endured by the pandemic which all resulted in fewer births, more deaths, and uneven immigration.
An Aging Nation
For a while now demographers have been projecting that our population is aging and this Census reinforces that projection.
• Data show that between 2010 and 2020, the number of people over age 55 grew by 27%
• This increase is 20 times larger than the growth rate of the overall population as the under 55 population increased by 1.3%.
• The largest driver of this divide is the baby boomer generation, who passed the age of 65 during the past decade, increasing the size of the 65- to 74-year-old age group by a half.
• All states, metro areas, and most counties are likely to be impacted by the increase in their 55-and-older populations. Even if you are in a state or community that demonstrates stagnating growth, the aging in place preference of baby boomers will result in greater impact.
• And as shocking as it may seem 2021 will find that the first millennials have already turned age 40.
Landscape architects, park planners, and civil engineers at David Evans and Associates, Inc. (DEA) provide creative and innovative design solutions that balance growth with environmental sensitivity. DEA offers you experienced professionals in multiple disciplines who can quickly form a team to meet your project needs. We work closely with public and private clients to plan and design parks, trails, resorts, residential, and commercial land development projects.
Growing Divide in Racial and Ethnic Backgrounds.
Census Bureau population estimates released last year revealed that more than half of the nation’s total population are now members of the millennial generation or younger. And while these younger generations—born in 1981 or later—are not growing as rapidly as older age groups, they are far more racially diverse.
Immigrants and their children have contributed to both the growth and diversity of the nation’s younger population. However, more recently, natural increase rather than immigration is the primary source of Latino or Hispanic population growth.
The demographic shifts are in about 60% of the U.S. population identifies as white alone; including more than 70% for baby boomers and their elders, but only about half for the combined Gen Z and younger populations, with nearly two-fifths of those groups identifying as “Black or brown.”
Source: William Frey, Brookings Institute
California By the Numbers
California’s Census includes the presence of the three major shifts cited by Frey of the Brookings Institute; the population is stagnating; the older population is increasing; and the state is becoming more diverse.
Stagnation
While California remains the most populated state in the nation, the stagnation mentioned previously is a part of the California picture. Some of the factors to recall or learn about the population of California include the following:
• One in 8 US residents lives in California with a population of over 39 million people making it larger that Texas with 29 million and Florida with 22 million
• California’s population has slowed dramatically recently. From 2010 to 2020, the state’s population grew by 5.8% while the rate of growth for the rest of the country was 6.8%
• It is not that all growth in California is stagnating, but where the growth is occurring is changing. Growth occurred in different areas of the state including the eastern Bay Area, the Inland Empire, and the Sacramento area due to their access to urban job centers and the greater affordability of housing.
This has resulted in California losing a Congressional seat for the first time in its history.
Aging of the Population
California is aging, but it is young compared to the rest of the country. As the baby boom ages so does California.
• By 2030 about one in five Californians will be 65 or older.
• This is offset as California has the eighth youngest population in the country with a median age of 37.3
California’s Population is Diverse
There is no one race or ethnic groups that constitutes a majority of California’s population.
The breakdown of residents in this category:
39% Latino
35% White
15% Asian America or Pacific Islander
5% Black
4% multi-racial
less than 1% Native Americans or Alaska Natives
Source: Public Policy Institute of California
More Specific Changes –County Shifts
More than 73% (2,297) of U.S. counties experienced natural decrease in 2021, up from 45.5% in 2019 and 55.5% in 2020.
• In 2021, all counties in Delaware, Maine, New Hampshire and Rhode Island experienced natural decrease.
• Some counties also experienced population declines attributable to migration. Counties with net international migration loss (more people moving out of than into
the county), were most frequently found in California (41.4%), Oregon (27.8%) and Mississippi (23.2%).
• States with the highest percentages of counties with net domestic migration loss (people moving from one area to another area within the United States) were Alaska (80.0%), Louisiana (71.9%) and Illinois (65.7%)
• Most of the nation’s counties –2,063 or 65.6% -- experienced positive domestic migration overall from 2020 to 2021. Arizona’s Maricopa County gained the most (46,866) residents from domestic migration, followed by Riverside County, California (31,251), and Collin County, Texas (30,191).
• Los Angeles County, California, experienced the greatest net domestic migration loss (179,757 residents), followed by New York County, New York (113,642).
• In many cases, there was a shift from larger, more populous counties to medium and smaller ones. These patterns contributed to population increases in 1,822 counties (58.0%), while 1,313 (41.8%) lost residents, and eight (0.3%) saw no change in population.
• U.S. micro areas, up 0.2% between 2020 and 2021, grew slightly faster than U.S. metro areas, which increased by 0.1%. This is a departure from past trends when metro areas typically grew at a faster rate than micro areas. Among metro areas, 251 (65%) experienced population increases between 2020 and 2021. Of the 543 U.S. micro areas, 287 experienced increases.
• Of the 384 metro areas in the 50 states and District of Columbia, 213 (55.5%) experienced natural decrease in 2021, with Pittsburgh, PA (-10,838); Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL (-9,291); and North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL (-6,643) having the highest levels.
o Sixty-three percent of metro areas had positive net domestic migration, with Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ (66,850); Dallas-Fort
Worth-Arlington, TX (54,319); and Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL (42,089) seeing the largest net domestic migration gains.
o The largest metropolitan net domestic migration losses were in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA (385,455); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA (204,776); San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA (128,870); and Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI (106,897).
Growth and decline:
• Five of the top 10 largest-gaining counties in 2021, were in Texas. Collin, Fort Bend, Williamson, Denton and Montgomery counties gained a combined 145,663 residents.
• Los Angeles County, California experienced the largest population loss of any county, losing 159,621 residents in 2021.
• Seventy-one percent of counties (2,218) experienced positive net international migration.
• Four counties crossed the threshold of 100,000 residents in 2021— Cleveland County, North Carolina (100,359), Lancaster County, South Carolina (100,336), Bastrop County, Texas (102,058), and Grant County, Washington (100,297).
• Los Angeles County, California (9,829,544) and Cook County, Illinois (5,173,146), had more than 5 million residents in 2021, Source: USCensus Bureau
Numbers in Your County, City, or Town
The Census Bureau does provide greater specifics and insights into the population you serve, but that information is usually released after the bigger, overall picture of the nation and individual states. Where you
can anticipate findings shortly. There may be other sources you can begin to examine now ahead of those releases.
If you need assistance? Creating a community or country profile is just a matter of collecting data. If you have data and are uncertain of its implications for the trends in your community, email me at Ellenosull@gmail.com and I will try to assist you with that effort.
After 39 Years, Susan Wipf Bids Adieu
It was November 7, 1983, and the Police were singing “Every Breath You Take” on the radio. Susan Wipf had just left the California Contractors Council and Construction Industry Government Relations Council to join the California Park & Recreation Society as the Editorial Assistant. She was only two years removed from obtaining her bachelor’s degree in Organizational Communication/Journalism from California State University, Sacramento. And after 39 years of stellar service, Susan is retiring from CPRS.
And in 39 years you get to see quite a bit of CPRS history.
• 10,000+ District and Section Leaders
• 600+ CPRS State Board of Directors
• 38 Conferences
• 25+ CPRS Co-workers
• 10+ Exhibit Committee Chairs
• 3 Executive Directors
• 3 Different Buildings
• 1 Amazing Profession to Work For
Susan’s first duties were to assist the Magazine Editor with publishing the quarterly magazine and the monthly Leisure Lines newsletter. Later she transitioned to the Director of Membership/Exhibit Manager where she was responsible
for membership services promotions, expo sales and general advertising sales. Her title was changed to Director of Marketing and Membership where she picked up the duties of creating and selling sponsorships. And she also served as the Interim Executive Director for a short time in 1985-86.
When asked about the Executive Directors Susan had worked for, she said “I have worked with three fabulous Executive Directors, Jack Harrison hired me in 1983. When Jack moved on, Jane Adams was hired for the position and for the next 28 years Jane and I worked together until she retired in 2014. Stephanie Stephens replaced Jane in 2014. I could not have worked with a better group of people.”
I asked Susan what was her greatest accomplishment at CPRS. She then began to give me a long list of things which included growing the Expo Show to the 2nd largest park and recrecreation show in the nation, three computer conversions to automate office operations, creating the Silent Auction for student scholarships, implementing an Agency Membership Program, creating an Eblast program and more.
But it seemed there were two things that she was a bit more animated about. The first was the Parks Make Life Better! Branding campaign. She seemed to be especially proud of being a part of the creation of the first statewide branding campaign for the parks and recreation profession which has since been picked up be other park
and recreation agencies throughout the United States and Canada.
The second was being involved in the success of state legislation and the passage of bond acts which brought much needed funds to local park and recreation agencies to continue their work in creating better communities.
She told a story about how people believe there will always be parks. They take that for granted. But many years ago a Chinese delegation came to visit the CPRS office and tour park and recreation agencies throughout California. They came to see how our park systems operated. They shared the fact that in China – there are parks, but because there are so many people and so little park land - it is a crime for their residents to walk on the grass in their parks – they can look but can’t touch - what an unbelievable thought that was to her!
Susan believes people need to continually be educated on the value of parks and recreation in our nation, because what they don’t understand they will not value, and what they do not value, they will not protect, and what they do not protect, we will eventually lose. We cannot take our programs and services for granted. “By speaking out and speaking up, we can, individually and together, make sure that parks and recreation programs are here today, tomorrow and in the future. For the past 39 years I have worked to preserve, protect and promote the value of parks and recreation as an essential service along with all my other CPRS communities and friends.”
I asked her about her fondest memory. She said after 39 years, there’s
just way too much to try and narrow down. But she really talked about her interactions with the people she saw on a regular basis: district and section leaders, state board members and CPRS staff.
What about a favorite conference?
Susan responded that they were all special for different reasons. But she did mention a Jerry Lee Lewis concert at one of the conferences in Fresno. She mentioned the Welcome Reception in Long Beach in 2018 (which was also the conference’s 70th Anniversary). She also talked about a time when a relative of Ansel Adams helped produce an Ansel Adams photo exhibit in the hall. She used to love it when the local host city would build a park in the Expo Hall. “Oh and the dances!” she suddenly remembered.
When asked what she will miss most about CPRS she said it would be the people, places and spaces she had the honor to be involved with and collaborate with. She said so many people have become great friends!
Is there anything you won’t miss? “Nothing really” and then she hemed and hawed for a moment. “Don’t print this, but I won’t miss the Awards Banquets.” I concurred none of the staff would miss having to attend the Awards Banquets after a long week of conference.
Last question - why don’t you go one more year and make it an even 40 years, she smiled, nodded and said “It’s time.” And then she added “Gotta go play now!”
Parks Make Life Better! ® u
Be a Brand Partner!
The following agencies, companies and universities have completed the Parks Make Life Better!® logo policy/agreement application. They are using the logo in their marketing efforts, using the key messages in their promotions and are living the brand promise. Now is the time for you to join the Parks Make Life Better!® branding compaign. Please visit the CPRS Web site (www.cprs.org) and click on the Parks Make Life Better!® logo on the home page for more information on the campaign.
California Agency
City of Agoura Hills
City of Alameda
City of Albany
City of Alhambra
City of Aliso Viejo
Aliso Viejo Community Association
Ambrose Recreation & Park District
City of American Canyon
City of Anaheim
City of Anderson
City of Antioch
Town of Apple Valley
Arcade Creek Recreation and Park District
City of Arcata
Arden Manor Recreation & Park District
Arden Park Recreation & Park District
City of Arroyo Grande
City of Artesia
City of Atascadero
City of Atwater
Auburn Area Recreation and Park District
City of Azusa
City of Bakersfield
City of Baldwin Park
City fo Banning
Beaumont Cherry Valley Recreation & Parks District
City of Bell
City of Bell Gardens
City of Bellflower
City of Belmont
Belvedere Tiburon Joint Recreation
City of Benicia
City of Berkeley
City of Beverly Hills
City of Bishop
City of Blue Lake
Boulder Creek Recreation & Park District
City of Brawley
City of Brea
City of Brentwood
City of Brisbane
City of Buena Park
City of Burbank
City of Burlingame
Buttonwillow Recreation & Park District
City of Calabasas
City of California City
California State Parks
City of Calistoga
Cameron Park Comm. Svcs. District
City of Campbell
City of Capitola
City of Carlsbad
Carmichael Recreation & Park District
City of Carpinteria
City of Carson
Central Plumas Recreation & Park District
City of Ceres
City of Cerritos
Chico Area Recreation & Park District
City of Chino
City of Chino Hills
City of Chowchilla
City of Chula Vista
City of Claremont
City of Clovis
Coalinga-Huron Recreation & Park District
City of Commerce
City of Concord
Conejo Recreation & Park District
Cordova Recreation & Park District
City of Corona
City of Coronado
City of Costa Mesa
Cosumnes Community Services District
City of Cotati
City of Covina
City of Culver City
City of Cupertino
Cypress Recreation & Park District
City of Cypress
City of Dana Point
Town of Danville
City of Davis
City of Del Mar
City of Delano
Desert Recreation District
City of Diamond Bar
City of Dinuba
Town of Discovery Bay
City of Downey
City of Duarte
City of Dublin
East Bay Regional Park District
City of East Palo Alto
City of El Cajon
City of El Centro
City of El Cerrito
El Dorado Hills Community Services District
City of El Monte
City of Emeryville
City of Encinitas
City of Escondido
City of Exeter
Fair Oaks Recreation & Park District
Feather River Recreation & Park District
City of Folsom
City of Fontana
City of Foster City
City of Fountain Valley
City of Fremont
City of Fresno
City of Fullerton
Fulton-El Camino Recreation & Park District
City of Galt
City of Garden Grove
Georgetown Divide Recreation District
City of Gilroy
City of Glendale
City of Glendora
City of Goleta
Green Valley Homeowners Recreation Association
Greater Vallejo Recreation District
City of Gridley
City of Grover Beach
City of Half Moon Bay
City of Hanford
City of Hawaiian Gardens
City of Hawthorne
Hayward Area Recreation & Park District
City of Healdsburg
City of Hercules
City of Hermosa Beach
Hesperia Recreation & Park District
Highlands Recreation District
City of Hughson
City of Huntington Beach
City of Huntington Park
City of Imperial
City of Indio
City of Inglewood
City of Irvine
City of Irwindale
Isla Vista Recreation & Park District
Jurupa Area Recreation & Park District
Jurupa Community Services District
Kensington Police Protection & Community Services District
City of Kerman
County of Kern
City of King City
City of Kingsburg
City of La Habra
City of La Mesa
City of La Mirada
City of La Palma
City of La Puente
City of La Quinta
City of La Verne
City of Lafayette
City of Laguna Beach
City of Laguna Hills
City of Laguna Niguel
City of Lake Elsinore
City of Lake Forest
City of Lakewood
City of Lancaster
City of Larkspur Recreation
City of Lathrop
City of Lawndale
City of Lemon Grove
City of Lemoore
City of Lincoln
Livermore Area Recreation & Park District
City of Lodi
City of Long Beach
City of Los Alamitos
City of Los Altos
City of Los Angeles
County of Los Angeles
City of Los Banos
Los Gatos-Saratoga Recreation
City of Lynwood
City of Madera
City of Malibu
Town of Mammoth Lakes
City of Manhattan Beach
City of Manteca
County of Marin
City of Martinez
McKinleyville Community Services District
Mendocino Coast Recreation & Park District
City of Menifee
City of Menlo Park
City of Merced
City of Mill Valley
City of Milpitas
Mission Oaks Recreation and Park District
City of Mission Viejo
City of Modesto
City of Monrovia
City of Montclair
City of Montebello
City of Monterey
City of Monterey Park
County of Monterey
Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District
City of Moorpark
Town of Moraga
City of Moreno Valley
City of Morgan Hill
Mt. Shasta Recreation & Parks District
City of Mountain View
City of Murrieta
City of Napa
City of National City
Navy Region South West
City of Nevada City
City of Newark
City of Newport Beach
City of Norco
North County Recreation & Park District
North Highlands Recreation & Park District
North of the River Recreation & Park District
North Tahoe Public Utility District
City of Norwalk
City of Novato
City of Oakland
City of Oakley
City of Oceanside
City of Ojai
City of Ontario
City of Orange
Orangevale Recreation & Park District
City of Orinda
City of Pacifica
City of Palmdale
City of Palm Springs
City of Palo Alto
Paradise Recreation & Park District
City of Paramount
City of Pasadena Human Services & Recreation
City of Pasadena Parks & Natural Resources
City of Paso Robles
City of Patterson
City of Perris
City of Petaluma
City of Pico Rivera
City of Pinole
City of Pismo Beach
City of Pittsburg
County of Placer
City of Placerville
Pleasant Hill Recreation & Park District
Pleasant Valley Recreation & Park District
City of Pleasanton
City of Pomona
City of Port Hueneme
City of Porterville
City of Poway
City of Rancho Cucamonga
Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District
City of Redding
City of Redondo Beach
City of Redwood City
City of Reedley
City of Rialto
City of Richmond
Rim of the World Recreation & Park District
Rio Linda Elverta Recreation & Park District
City of Rio Vista
City of Riverbank
City of Riverside
County of Riverside Regional Park & Open Space District
City of Rocklin
City of Rohnert Park
Rosamond Community Services District
City of Rosemead
City of Roseville
Rossmoor Community Services District
City of Sacramento
County of Sacramento
City of Salinas
Town of San Anselmo
City of San Bernardino
City of San Bruno
City of San Carlos
County of San Diego
City of San Diego
City of San Dimas
City of San Fernando
City of San Francisco
County of San Francisco
City of San Gabriel
County of San Joaquin
City of San Jose
City of San Juan Capistrano
City of San Leandro
City of San Luis Obispo
County of San Luis Obispo
City of San Marcos
City of San Mateo
County of San Mateo
City of San Pablo
City of San Rafael
City of San Ramon
City of Sanger
City of Santa Barbara
City of Santa Clara
County of Santa Clara
City of Santa Clarita
City of Santa Cruz
County of Santa Cruz
City of Santa Fe Springs
City of Santa Maria
City of Santa Rosa
City of Santee
Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve
City of Saratoga
City of Sausalito
City of Scotts Valley
City of Seal Beach
City of Selma
Shafter Recreation & Park District
City of Sierra Madre
City of Signal Hill
County of Solano
City of Solano Beach
South Coast Air Quality Management District
City of South El Monte
City of South Gate
City of South Lake Tahoe
City of South Pasadena
Southgate Recreation & Park District
County of Stanislaus
City of St. Helena
City of Stanton
City of Stockton
City of Suisun City
City of Sunnyvale
Sunrise Recreation & Park District
City of Tahoe City
Tamalpais Community Services District
Tehachapi Valley Recreation & Park District
City of Temecula
City of Temple City
Templeton Community Services District
City of Torrance
City of Tracy
Truckee Donner Recreation & Park District
City of Tulare
City of Turlock
City of Tustin
City of Twentynine Palms
City of Ukiah
City of Union City
City of Upland
City of Vacaville
County of Ventura
City of Victorville
City of Visalia
City of Vista
City of Walnut
City of Walnut Creek
Wasco Recreation & Parks District
City of Watsonville
City of West Covina
City of West Hollywood
City of West Sacramento
West Side Recreation & Park District
City of Westminster
City of Whittier
City of Wildomar
Town of Windsor
City of Woodland
City of Yorba Linda
Town of Yountville
City of Yuba City
City of Yucaipa
Out-of-State Agency
Brownsburg Parks, Indiana
City of Bluffton, Indiana
City of Butte-Silver Bow, Montana
Clarksville Parks & Recreation, Indiana
City of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Friends of Maryland State Parks
City of Franklin, Indiana
Greenfield Parks and Recreation Department, Indiana
City of Johnson City, Tennessee
City of Logansport, Indiana
Mooresville Park & Recreation District
City of New Albany, Indiana
City of Olivette, Missouri
New Haven-Adams Township, Indiana
Noblesville Parks & Recreation, Indiana
City of Shelbyville, Indiana
City of South Bend, Indiana
Washington Township, Ohio
Company
Alfa Products
All About Play/Little Tikes Commercial - Nor Cal
Buell Recreation
California’s Great America
Callander Associates
Capitol Enterprises Inc.
Columbia Cascade Company
Community Works Design Group
David Evans and Assoc. Inc.
David Volz Design Landscape Architects, Inc.
Firma Design Group
Friends of Rockhaven
Goric Marketing Group USA
The Heritage Trail Conservancy
The HLA Group, Landscape Architects & Planners
Innovative Playgrounds Company
KPCRadio.Com
Land Concern Ltd
Leader Manufacturing, Inc./Fairweather Site Furnishings Division
Maximum Solutions, Inc.
Melton Design Group
Murdock-Super Secur
My Bark Co.
National Academy of Athletics
National Parks Promotion Council
NLM Consulting Services
Nuvis Landscape Architecture
PlayCore
PlaySafe, LLC
Play Smart Surfacing
Play-Well TEKnologies
Poimiroo & Partners
Public Restroom Company
Recreation Republic
RHA Landscape Architects Planners, Inc.
RJM Design Group, Inc.
Robertson Industries, Inc.
Schmidt Design Group
Shade Structures
Southern California Municipal Athletic Federation
SpectraTurf
SSA Landscape Architects, Inc.
Stone Soul Music
StructureCast
Sybertech Waste Reduction Ltd.
Tri Active America
Western Wood Preservers Institute
Windsor Parks-Recreation Foundation
Verde Design, Inc.
Vermont Recreation & Parks Association
University/College
CSU Long Beach
CSU Northridge
San Jose State University
SDSU MOVE
Advertisers Index
www.verdedesigninc.com
Water Odyssey by Fountain People. Inc. 512-392-1155
www.waterodyssey.com
Company Members through July 15, 2022
A-G Sod Farms, Inc. (951) 687-7581
www.agsod.com
2900 Adams St., Ste. C-120, Riverside, CA 92504
SERVICE: Five farms in California & Colorado producing high quality sod for sports fields and parks.
All About Play/Little Tikes Commercial Nor Cal (916) 923-2180
www.littletikescommercial.com
3844 Presidio Street, Sacramento, CA 95838
SERVICE: Accessible outdoor playground equipment including unique theme playscapes and park service equipment.
American Ramp Company (417) 206-6816 x 107
http://www.americanrampcompany.com/ 601 McKinley Ave., Joplin, MO 64801
SERVICE: Design and build services of wheeled action sports parks (skate parks, bike parks, and pumptracks).
American Solutions for Business (714) 504-2274
www.pmlbstore.com
400 Princeland Ct, Unit #1, Corona, CA 92879-1341
SERVICE: Providers of printed documents, promotional products, corporate logo apparel, brochures, uniforms, stationery, catalogs, forms.
Amilia (877) 343-0004
1751 Richardson Street Suite 3.102, Montreal, PQ H3K1G6
SERVICE: SmatRec by Amilia is an eCommerce platform for activities and recreation. We enable organizations to engage with their community by making it easy to find, register, and pay for activities online.
Aqua Source (209) 745-6401
www.aquasource.com
P.O. Box 1146, Galt, CA 95632
SERVICE: Commercial swimming pool equipment, automated chemical & filtration systems, commercial pool vacuums, heaters, deck equipment.
Aquatic Design Group (760) 438-8400
www.aquaticdesigngroup.com
2226 Faraday Avenue, Carlsbad, CA 92008
SERVICE: Programming, planning, design and engineering services for competition, recreation, and leisure aquatic facilities.
Arch Pac, Inc.
(760) 734-1600
www.archpac.com
1341 Distribution Way Suite 11, Vista, CA 92081
SERVICE: Consulting Architects, Landscape Architects, Engineers, & Planners specializing in aquatics, pools, and associated architecture.
Architectural Nexus
(916) 443-5911
930 R Street, Sacramento, CA 95811
SERVICE: As a full-service architecture design firm, we are people driven in pursuit of meaningful experience.
Architerra Design Group, Inc. (909) 484-2800
www.architerradesigngroup.com
10221-A Trademark Street, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
SERVICE: Landscape architecture and site planning: new and renovated parks, streetscapes, community gardens, nature parks, trails.
AstroTurf
(706) 277-8873
www.astroturf.com
2680 Abutment Road, Dalton, GA 30721
SERVICE: AstroTurf - its one of the most iconic brands in sports.
B SAFE Playground Inspection Services, Inc.
(916) 850-5071
10349 Ormond St, Sunland, CA 910401413
SERVICE: Playground and athletic field inspection services.
BCI Burke Co, LLC (920) 933-6711
www.bciburke.com
P.O. Box 549, Fond Du Lac, WI 54936
SERVICE: BCI Burke has been manufacturing high-quality and innovative playground equipment for 95 years.
Berliner Seilfabrik Play Equipment Corporation
(864) 627-1092
www.berliner-playequipment.com
96 Brookfield Oaks Dr. Suite 140, Greenville, SC 29607
SERVICE: State of the art play structures from the world’s leader in net climbing playground equipment.
BFS Landscape Architects
(831) 646-1383
www.bfsla.com
425 Pacific Street, Suite 201, Monterey, CA 93940
SERVICE: Parks, trails and open space planning; design for healthy and sustainable communities.
BMLA Landscape Architecture
(951) 737-1124
www.bmla.net
310 North Joy Street, Corona, CA 92879
SERVICE: BMLA Landscape ArchitectureDesigns that build lasting communities.
BrightLife Designs
(714) 326-8326
https://www.brightlifedesigns.com
16351 Gothard St., Suite C, Huntington Beach, CA 92647
SERVICE: Decorative commercial lighting & Christmas holiday decor. Offer purchase and lease, installation, removal and storage.
California Dinner Adventure (714) 690-1497
http://www.piratesdinneradventure.com
7600 Beach Blvd., Buena Park, CA 90620
SERVICE: Restaurant and show with pirates theme.
Callander Associates Landscape Architecture, Inc. (916) 985-4366
www.callanderassociates.com
12150 Tributary Point Drive, Suite 140, Gold River, CA 95670
SERVICE: Landscape architects.
CivicPlus (888) 228-2233
www.civicplus.com
302 S. 4th Street, Suite #500, Manhattan, KS 66502
SERVICE: CivicRec (r), the park and recreation management software from CivicPlus(r), is built specifically for local governments.
Coast Recreation Inc. (714) 619-0100
www.coastrecreation.com
3151 Airway Avenue, Suite A-3, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
SERVICE: Representing Landscape Structures play equipment, DuMor site furniture, and Surface America in Southern California.
Columbia Cascade Company (503) 223-1157
www.timberform.com
PO Box 1039, Camas, WA 98607-0039
SERVICE: TimberForm and PipeLine playground and outdoor fitness equipment, TimberForm site furnishings and CycLoops & CycLocker bicycle security products.
Community Works Design Group (951) 369-0700
www.comworksdg.com
4649 Brockton Avenue, Riverside, CA 92506
SERVICE: Your source for creative park planning, landscape architecture, irrigation design, and CASp/ADA services.
Counsilman-Hunsaker (310) 734-2282
www.chh2o.com
10733 Sunset Office Drive, Suite 400, Saint Louis, MO 63127
SERVICES: Aquatic design, engineering, and operation services.
Crane Architectural Group (714) 525-0363
www.cranearchitecturalgrp.com
110 E Wilshire Ave # 300, Fullerton, CA 92832-1934
SERVICE: Architectural services - community centers, senior centers, sports complexes, concession stands, park restrooms, ADA improvements.
Dahlin Group Architecture Planning (925) 251-7200
www.dahlingroup.com
5865 Owens Drive, Pleasanton, CA 94588
SERVICE: Architectural and planning services with a passion for placemaking, including community, senior, recreation, and aquatic centers.
Dave Bang Associates, Inc. (800) 669-2585
www.davebang.com
P.O. Box 1088, Tustin, CA 92781
SERVICE: Suppliers of high-quality park, playground, athletic equipment, & site equipment since 1979.
David Evans and Assoc. Inc. (909) 481-5750
www.deainc.com
4141 E. Inland Empire Blvd. Suite 250, Ontario, CA 91764
SERVICE: Multidisciplinary firm specializing in landscape architecture, civil, and transportation engineering, surveying, and construction management.
David Volz Design Landscape Architects, Inc.
(714) 641-1300
www.dvolzdesign.com
151 Kalmus Drive, Suite M-8, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
SERVICE: Award winning park planners and sports facility experts! DVD provides assistance with project planning budgets.
Discount Playground Supply (888) 760-2499
www.discountplaygroundsupply.com
P.O. Box 278, Simpsonville, SC 29681
SERVICE: Park & playground products, site furnishings, sports equipment, surface repair, ADA products replacement parks and swings.
EcoFert, Inc
(714) 580-4659
www.ecofert.org
1237 S. Wright St., Santa Ana, CA 92705
SERVICE: Landscape care solutions through a full service program utilizing organic based amendments applied through fertigation systems.
ELS Architecture and Urban Design (510) 549-2929
https://elsarch.com/ 2040 Addison Street, Berkeley, CA 94704
SERVICE: Architecture and planning services for sports/recreation/aquatics, education, theaters/performing arts, mixed-use, historic renovations, and urban design.
FirstService Residential (949) 338-1908
LaderaLife.com
28192 O’Neill Drive, Ladera Ranch, CA 92694
SERVICE: Property Management company offering recreation and community services to residents living within the property.
Flexground (916) 275-3588
www.flexground.com
2029 Opportunity Drive, #3, Roseville, CA 95678
SERVICE: FlexGround is the premier provider of rubberized poured in place and recreation surfacing.
Fun Express, LLC
(800) 228-2003
www.funexpress.com/corporate
4206 S. 108th Street, Omaha, NE 68137
SERVICE: Crafts, art supplies, educational items, active play, camp, and seasonal items at discounted prices.
GameTime (800) 235-2440
www.gametime.com
150 PlayCore Drive, Fort Payne, AL 35967
SERVICE: GameTime is the leading manufacturer of commercial playground and outdoor fitness equipment.
Gold Bug Park and Mine (530) 642-5207
www.goldbugpark.org
2635 Gold Bug Lane, Placerville, CA 95667
SERVICE: Gold Bug Park is Gold Rush History! Offering mine tours, gem panning, blacksmith, stamp mill, museum, and hiking trails.
Great Western Recreation (435) 245-5055
www.gwpark.com
975 S. State Hwy 89, Logan, UT 84321
SERVICE: Turnkey design-build firm providing playgrounds, shade/shelters, surfacing, site amenities, splash pads, beachers, etc.
Greenfields Outdoor Fitness (888) 315-9037
www.greenfieldsfitness.com
2617 West Woodland Drive, Anaheim, CA 92801
SERVICE: Outdoor fitness equipment.
Gro-Power, Inc. (909) 393-3744
www.gropower.com
15065 Telephone Avenue, Chino, CA 91710
SERVICE: Go “green” with Gro-Power products. They’re safe for the environment and naturally conserve water.
Group 4 Architecture Research + Planning, Inc. (650) 871-0709
www.g4arch.com
211 Linden Ave, South San Francisco, CA 94080
SERVICE: Architectural, research, and planning services.
GSM Landscape Architects, Inc. (707) 255-4630
www.gsmlainc.com
1700 Soscol Avenue, Suite 23, Napa, CA 94559
SERVICE: Award winning landscape architectural design for parks, sports fields, recreational, and educational facilities throughout California.
HAI, Hirsch & Associates, Inc. (714) 776-4340
www.hailandarch.com
2221 E. Winston Rd. #A, Anaheim, CA 92806
SERVICE: Landscape architecture, park planning, master plans, sports facilities, redevelopment, & public work projects.
Hermann Design Group, Inc. (760) 777-9131
www.hermanndesigngroup.com
77899 Wolf Road, Ste.102, Palm Desert, CA 92211
SERVICE: Landscape architecture, planning, and project management for community parks, sports parks, and dog parks.
The HLA Group Landscape Architects & Planners, Inc.
(916) 447-7400
www.hlagroup.com
301 University Avenue, Suite 110, Sacramento, CA 95825
SERVICE: Landscape architecture and planning emphasizing parks and recreation, urban design, community design, and land planning.
Hunter Industries (760) 583-4479
1940 Diamond St., San Marcos, CA 92078
SERVICE: Irrigation Manufacturer - MP Rotator, Sprays, Rotors, Smart Controllers, Valves, Drip.
Imagen (626) 593-9618
www.imagenagency.com
421 E Route 66, Glendora, CA 917403502
SERVICE: We are a promotional marketing agency that produces custom branded apparel, promotional products, and print.
Innovative Playgrounds Company (877) 732-5200
www.innovplay.com
12407 East Slauson Avenue, Unit D, Whittier, CA 90606
SERVICE: Sales, designs, and project management for BCI Burke playground equipment, safety surfacing, shade structures, and fitness/sport/site amenities.
Inspector Playground (888) 293-7889
http://www.inspectorplayground.com
P.O. BOX 16654, Encino, CA 91416-6654
SERVICE: Independent inspector, surface impact testing with Triax, early childhood certified, playground inspections, compliance certificates, insured.
Integra Planning & Landscape Architecture (805) 441-7537
www.integrapla.com
1506 4th Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
SERVICE: Planning and landscape architecture design services including parks, aquatic centers and recreation facilities.
Issuu (844) 477-8800
https://issuu.com/ 131 Lytton Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301
SERVICES: Issuu is the self-service content creation and distribution platform that enables Parks & Rec agencies to easily publish documents online.
IZone Imaging (254) 778-0722
www.izoneimaging.com
PO Box 368, Temple, TX 76530-0368
SERVICE: Sign Solutions and Custom High Pressure Laminate (CHPL) graphic panels and decorative surfaces.
Jeff Katz Architects (707) 544-3920
www.glassarchitects.com
200 E Street, #100, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
SERVICE: Architectural design and master planning. Specializing in indoor and outdoor aquatic, community and recreational facilities.
JetMulch (866) 306-8524
www.jetmulchinc.com
P.O. Box 1667, Capitola, CA 95010
SERVICE: Blown-In Mulch and ASTM certified playground materials.
Jones & Madhavan (805) 777-8449
www.jmae.com
100 E Thousand Oaks Blvd Ste 211, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360-8134
SERVICE: Planning, architecture, & engineering services for public aquatic facilities.
Kay Park-Recreation (319) 987-2313
http://www.kaypark.com/ 1301 Pine Street, Janesville, IA 506470477
SERVICE: Manufacture bleachers, picnic tables, grills, fire rings, drinking fountains, bike racks, pedal boats, litter receptacles, outdoor games, & more!
Kimley Horn (619) 234-9411
401 B Street, San Diego, CA 92101
SERVICES: We offer expertise in the planning, design and implementation of parks and recreation facilities.
King Plastic Corporation (941) 493-5502
www.kingplastic.com
1100 N. Toledo Blade Blvd, North Port, FL 34288
SERVICE: King Plastic is the leading manufacturer of quality polymer sheets, slabs, and massive shapes.
Knorr Systems, Inc. (714) 754-4044
www.knorrsystems.com
2221 S. Standard Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92707
SERVICE: Quality aquatic equipment and services including: water treatment, filtration, recreation, maintenance, service contracts.
KOMPAN Playgrounds
(800) 426-9788
www.kompan.com
605 West Howard Lane, Austin, TX 78753
SERVICE: KOMPAN is a world leader in playgroud and outdoor sport & fitness solutions.
KTU + A Planning & Landscape Architecture
(619) 294-4477
www.ktua.com
3916 Normal Street, San Diego, CA 92103
SERVICE: We Provide Award Winning Landscape Architectural Planning and Design Services for Parks and Recreation Facilities.
KYA (714) 659-6477
www.KYASurfacing.com
1800 East McFadden Ave., Santa Ana, CA 92705
SERVICE: Industry specialist in surface solutions and sustainable plantscapes supported by project management, design, and maintenance services.
Landscape Structures, Inc. (763) 972-5200
www.playlsi.com
601 7th Street S, Delano, MN 55328
SERVICE: Commercial playground designer and manufacturer.
LDA Partners, LLP (209) 943-0405
www.ldapartners.com
222 Central Court, Stockton, CA 95204
SERVICE: Architectural services.
Lincoln Aquatics (925) 687-9500
http://www.lincolnaquatics.com
2051 Commerce Avenue, Concord, CA 94520
SERVICE: Distributors of commercial swimming pool equipment, chemicals, and aquatic supplies since 1954.
LiveBarn (415) 305-8200
https://livebarn.com/en/
1010 Catherine Street Quest, Montreal, QC H3B 5L1
SERVICE: Youth & amateur sports broadcasting service.
Loco Canopies (833) 722-6679
www.lococanopies.com
17 Hammond #411, Irvine, CA 92618
SERVICE: Custom canopies, feather flags, tear drop flags, custom umbrellas, table covers, event display solutions.
LPA, Inc. (408) 780-7203
www.lpainc.com
60 South Market Street, Suite 150, San Jose, CA 95113
SERVICE: Sustainable design solutions in architecture, landscape architecture, and engineering for community centers, aquatics, and parks.
Mack5 (510) 595-3020
www.mack5.com
1900 Powell Street Suite 470, Emeryville, CA 94608
SERVICE: Project/Construction management and cost planning/estimating services for park & recreation capital projects.
Magnation Water Technologies (510) 467-4000
https://magnationwater.com/
660 4th Street, Oakland, CA 94607
SERVICE: Designers and manufacturers of physical water systems for conditioning, correcting & balancing water for optimum performance.
Melton Design Group, Inc. (530) 899-1616
www.meltondg.com
820 Broadway Street, Chico, CA 95928
SERVICE: Landscape architecture, providing design services for parks, sports complexes, skateparks, & masterplans. We focus on providing personal service.
MIG, Inc. (510) 845-7549
www.migcom.com
800 Hearst Ave., Berkeley, CA 94710
SERVICE: From playgrounds to park systems, MIG advances strategic, equitable and community-based planning and design.
Miracle Playground Sales/Miracle Recreation (800) 264-7225
www.miracleplayground.com
9106 Pulsar Ct, Ste C, Corona, CA 92883-4632
SERVICE: Innovative playground equipment, playground safety surfacing; park shelters & gazebos; tables, benches & athletic equipment & splashpads.
Miracle Playsystems Inc. (800) 879-7730
www.MiraclePlayGroup.com
PO Box 263, Alamo, CA 94507
SERVICE: Play equipment design, distribution, and specialty contracting firm serving all of central and Northern California.
Most Dependable Fountains, Inc. (901) 867-0039
www.mostdependable.com
5705 Commander Dr., Arlington, TN 38002-0587
SERVICE: Outdoor drinking fountains, pet fountains, showers, misters, play towers, hydrants, jug fillers, handwash stations, & grills.
MRC (800) 922-0070
www.mrcrec.com
2130 Route 35 Bldg B, Suite 222, Sea Girt, NJ 08750
SERVICE: Leading supplier of playground, park, recreation, fitness and sport equipment; site amenities and surfacing.
Musco Sports Lighting
(949) 754-0503
www.musco.com
3002 Dow Avenue, Suite 504, Tustin, CA 92780
SERVICE: Providing sports lighting solutions for your budget, for the environment.
My Bark Co., Inc.
(209) 786-4042
www.mybark.net
P.O. Box 932, Linden, CA 95236
SERVICE: ReadyPlay, EWF from virgin forest wood, bark products, colored enhanced mulches, and soil amendments.
National Academy of Athletics
(707) 541-2365
www.NationalAcademyofAthletics.com
1260 North Dutton Suite 243B, Santa Rosa, CA 95401
SERVICE: Year round Sports Camps and Clinics offering 8 different sports for players, coaches, and parents.
Neptune Benson/Evoqua Water Technologies
(800) 832-8002
http://www.neptunebenson.com/
334 Knight Street, Suite 3100, Warwick, RI 02886
SERVICE: Neptune Benson provides water filtration and disinfection solutions serving the recreational market since 1956.
NGI Sports a Division of River City Athletics
(775) 544-6306
www.ngisports.com
2807 Walker Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421
SERVICE: NGI Sports’ tennis and track surfaces-guaranteed solutions. We specialize in innovations for sports construction.
Noll & Tam Architects
(510) 649-8295
www.nollandtam.com
729 Heinz Avenue, Suite 7, Berkeley, CA 94710
SERVICE: Architectural design, programming, and planning for recreation/ community/senior centers and other civic buildings.
NUVIS
(714) 754-7311
www.nuvis.net
20250 SW Acacia Street, Suite 260, Newport Beach, CA 92660
SERVICE: NUVIS landscape architecture - over 40 years of design solutions for people, environments, and experiences worldwide.
O’Dell Engineering (209) 571-1765 x102
www.odellengineering.com
1165 Scenic Drive, Suite B, Modesto, CA 95350
SERVICE: Multi-disciplinary firm providing landscape architecture, civil engineering, land surveying, and 3D laser scanning.
Opark, Inc.
(415) 994-6627
www.opark.com
186 Mrning Sune, Mill Valley, CA 94941
SERVICE: Online view, registration, and payment of community activities and events.
Opti-Fit International Inc. (916) 939-3690
www.opti-fit.com
P.O. Box 6716, Folsom, CA 95763
SERVICE: Opti-Fit Inc. is your one stop total fitness solution. Planning, design, supply, and service.
Outdoor Creations, Inc. (530) 365-6106
www.outdoorcreations.com
2270 Barney Road, Anderson, CA 96007
SERVICE: Precast concrete site furnishings, includes picnic tables, benches, BBQs, fire pits, planters, signs, and concrete products for outdoor use.
Pacific Park and Play (714) 846-4885
www.PacParkPlay.com
3640 N Pankratz Way, Meridian, ID 83646-6866
SERVICE: Providing park and playground products and services to Southern California cities, counties, schools, churches, and others.
Paddock Pool Equipment Co. (803) 324-1111
https://www.paddockindustries.com/
555 Paddock Parkway, Rock Hill, SC 29730
SERVICE: Paddock is a leading manufacture of commercial swimming pool equipment; gutters, filters, bulkheads and deck equipment.
PBK-WLC Architects, Inc.
(909) 987-0909
www.WLC-architects.com
1110 Iron Point Rd, Folsom, CA 95630
SERVICE: WLC Architects provides sustainable architectural/planning services for recreational projects, including community/senior centers, gymnasiums, & theaters.
PDPlay
(760) 597-5990
www.PDPLAY.com
2235 Meyers Avenue, Escondindo, CA 92029-1005
SERVICE: California manufacturer of commercial play structures, site furnishings, and poured-in-placed rubberized surfacing.
Play & Park Structures
(800) 727-1907
www.playandpark.com
544 Chestnut St., Suite 310, Chattanooga, TN 37402
SERVICE: Play & Park delivers a boutique experience with every playground design, from start to finish.
PlayCore
(423) 425-3168
http://www.playcore.com/
544 Chestnut Street , Chattanooga, TN 37402
SERVICE: PlayCore helps build stronger communities by advancing play and recreation through research, education, partnerships, and products.
Playcraft Systems LLC
(888) 571-7640
www.playcraftsystems.com
123 North Valley Dr., Grants Pass, OR 97526
SERVICE: Seller of playground equipment (commercial type).
Playgrounds by Design, Inc.
(925) 426-6705
3086 Boardwalk Street, Pleasanton, CA 94588
SERVICE: Park Structures, playground safety, surfacing material, concrete products, site furnishings, bleachers, recycled plastic picnic tables and benches. Murdock Super Secur restrooms and drinking fountains.
Playgrounds Unlimited (408) 244-9848
www.playgroundsunlimited.net
980 Memorex Drive, Santa Clara, CA 95050
SERVICE: Construction services; site preparation; play equipment; water play; shade shelter installation; pour-in-place & synthetic turf safety surface.
Public Restroom Company (888) 888-2060
www.publicrestroomcompany.com
2587 Business Parkway, Minden, NV 89423
SERVICE: Public Restroom Company is a design build specialist for odor free, vandal resistant, park restroom, and concession buildings.
R. E. Schultz Construction, Inc. (714) 649-2627
RJM Design Group, Inc. (949) 493-2600
www.rjmdesigngroup.com
31591 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
SERVICE: Park and sports facility master planning and design; park and recreation master planning; landscape architecture; LEED Certified; community consensus building.
ROMTEC, Inc. (541) 496-3541
www.romtec.com
18240 North Bank Road, Roseburg, OR 97470
SERVICE: Design, build, and install recreational structures ie: restroom buildings,concessions, kiosks, pavilions, storage buildings, gatehouses, cabins, sidewalk restrooms, etc.
Ross Recreation Equipment Company, Inc. (707) 538-3800
www.rossrec.com
100 Brush Creek Road #206, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
SERVICE: 44 years of providing superior recreational & outdoor products and service with attention to quality, safety, and design.
Royston, Hanamoto, Alley & Abey (415) 383-7900
www.rhaa.com
225 Miller Avenue, Mill Valley, CA 94941
SERVICE: Landscape architecture, site planning, master planning, urban design, and recreation planning services locally, nationally, and internationally.
RRM Design Group
(805) 543-1794
www.rrmdesign.com
3765 South Higuera Street, Suite 102, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
SERVICE: RRM Design Group designs award-winning recreation areas by collaborating with people who use them.
RRM-CLM Services, LLC
(602) 569-2333
www.clm-services.com
11811 N Tatum Blvd, Ste 4095, Phoenix, AZ 85028
SERVICE: Provides professional park management, security, maintenance, ranger patrol & related services.
RWP Landscape Materials
(877) 476-9797
www.rwpmulch.com
1313 E Phillips Blvd, Pomona, CA 91766-
S.R.Smith LLC (503) 266-2231 x2278
http://thermalpoolcover.com/
1017 SW Berg Parkway, Canby, OR 97013
SERVICE: Manufacturer of “EnergySaver” thermal swimming pool covers, storage reels, and automatic re-winders.
Safe 2 Play - Certified Matters (925) 999-0117
www.PlaygroundSafetyInspections.net
1008 Veterans Court, Martinez, CA 94553
SERVICE: Certified playground safety inspections, safety surface impact testing on playgrounds, & sports fields.
Sator Sports, Inc. (888) 887-2867
www.satorsoccer.com
1455 W. 139th St., Gardena, CA 90249
SERVICE: Retailer of top-quality Agora Goals & Equipment. Call for Volume Pricing and free catalog.
Schmidt Design Group, Inc. (619) 236-1462
www.schmidtdesign.com
1310 Rosecrans Street, Suite G, San Diego, CA 92106
SERVICE: Landscape architecture, park planning, and design that balances artistic expression with environmental sensitivity.
Schmitz Foam Product LLC“ProPlay” (517) 781-6620
www.proplayus.com
188 Treat Avenue, Coldwater, MI 49036
SERVICE: We supply safety and performance underlayments for synthetic turf - enhances safety, perforamnce and drainage.
Smart Rain (801) 295-3339
https://smartrain.net/
1343 West 75 North, Centerville, UT 84014
SERVICE: Offers a complete state-of-theart smart irrigation package, combining our sophisticated commercial-grade controller with an extremely intuitive water management software application. Our average customer saves 30-40% on their water usage. Smart
SoCal Shade Sails
(619) 972-1100
www.shadesails.biz
10449 Roselle St., San Diego, CA 92121
SERVICE: Manufacture and install custom made, commercial grade shade sails, triangles, rectangles, side panels, steel.
SofSurfaces Inc.
(800) 263-2363 x230
www.sofsurfaces.com
4393 Discovery Line, Petrolia, ON N0N 1R0
SERVICE: Rubber tile solutions for playground, fitness facility, and architectural applications.
Southern California Municipal Athletic Federation
(626) 448-0853 x16
www.scmaf.org
P.O. Box 3605, 823 Lexington Gallantin Road, South El Monte, CA 91733
SERVICE: Professional training, education, and networking; insurance services; sport rules, training, and competition for youth and adults.
Spohn Ranch, Inc. Custom Skate Parks
(626) 330-5803
www.spohnranch.com
6824 S. Centinela Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90230
SERVICE: Skate park design, construction, operation, and insurance. The leader in responsible skatelite, concrete, and hybrid parks.
SSA Landscape Architects, Inc. (831) 459-0455
www.ssala.com
303 Potrero Street, 40-C, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
SERVICE: Award winning parks & recreation master planning, community workshops/consensus building, construction documentation/administration.
St. Nick’s Commercial Design & Decor (562) 438-0017
www.st-nicks.com
527 E. 1st Street, Suite 101, Long Beach, CA 90802
SERVICE: St. Nick’s does it all: we imagine, build and install large Christmas displays (other holidays too)
Stover Seed Co. (213) 626-9668
www.stoverseed.com
P.O. Box 1579, Sun Valley, CA 91353
SERVICE: Turfgrass and sportsfield seed mixtures, wildflower and native seed mixtures.
StructureCast (661) 833-4490
http://www.structurecast.com/ 8261 McCutchen Road, Bakersfield, CA 93311
SERVICE: Precast, pre-engineered restroom, & concession buildings.
Summit Supply Corporation of Colorado (970) 247-8858
www.summitsupplycolo.com
5092 County Road 302, Durango, CO 81302
SERVICE: 46 years of supplying park and playground products, sports equipment, site furnishings, sprinklers and hoses.
SVA Architects, Inc. (949) 809-3380
www.sva-architects.com
6 Hutton Centre Drive, Suite 1150, Santa Ana, CA 92707
SERVICE: SVA Architects is a full-service architectural firm committed to creating sustainable environments for our communities.
SyberTech Waste Reduction Ltd. (888) 888-7975
www.swrl.com
P.O. Box 3009 - 33191 1st Avenue, Mission, B.C. V2V1G0
SERVICE: Our in-ground trash system, self-watering planters, and other products greatly save operational costs.
Synthetic Surfaces, Inc. (908) 233-6803
www.nordot.com
P. O. Box 241, Scotch Plains, NJ 07076
SERVICE: NORDOT Adhesive for installing synthetic turf athletic fields, tennis courts, playgrounds, recreational and aquatic surfaces.
Techline Sports Lighting, LLC
(800) 500-3161
www.sportlighting.com
15303 Storm Drive, Austin, TX 78734
SERVICE: LED outdoor sports lighting systems.
TMT Enterprises, Inc.
(408) 432-9040
www.tmtenterprises.net
1996 Oakland Road, San Jose, CA 95131
SERVICE: Bulk Material Supplierbaseball surfaces, playground materials, top dress sand, topsoil, soil mixes, decomposed granite, organics.
Trueline (951) 817-0777
http://gotrueline.com
12397 Doherty Street, Riverside, CA 92503
SERVICE: Resurfacing of tennis courts, basketball courts, game courts, playgrounds, striping, installation of equipment, and refurbishment.
Turf Star, Inc. (800) 585-8001
www.turfstar.com
2255 Meyers Avenue, Escondido, CA 92029
SERVICE: Commercial mowing equipment & irrigation.
USA Shade & Fabric Structures (707) 257-7296
www.usa-shade.com
PO Box 3467, Coppell, TX 75019-3406
SERVICE: USA Shade provides shade solutions for everything under the sun!
USGreentech (513) 371-5520
www.usgreentech.com
3607 Church Street, Cincinnati, OH 45244
SERVICE: USGreentech provides progressive infills for the synthetic turf market including their products Envirofill and Safeshell.
Verde Design, Inc. (408) 985-7200
www.verdedesigninc.com
2455 the Alameda, Suite 200, Santa Clara, CA 95050
SERVICE: Multi-disciplinary office of landscape architects and civil engineers with a focus on community projects.
Vineyard Rock Products (831) 637-6443
www.vineyardrockproducts.com
1781 Limekiln Road, Hollister, CA 95023
SERVICE: Decorative granite products.
Vortex Aquatic Structures Intl. (887) 586-7839
www.vortex-intl.com
11024 Bailey Road, Unit C, Cornelius, NC 28031
SERVICE: We create water play experiences for children to develop, communities to flourish, and businesses to thrive.
Water Odyssey By Fountain People, Inc. (512) 392-1155
www.waterodyssey.com
P.O. Box 807, 4600 Hwy. 123, San Marcos, TX 78667-0807
SERVICE: Leading manufacturer of aquatic playground and fountain equipment.
Waterline Technologies (714) 564-9100
www.waterlinetechnologies.com
620 Santiago Street, Santa Ana, CA 92701
SERVICE: Sales and service for aquatic facilities - chemical delivery
West Coast Arborists, Inc. (714) 991-1900
www.wcainc.com
2200 E. Via Burton Street, Anaheim, CA 92806
SERVICE: WCA provides public agencies, school districts, and colleges with urban forestry management and maintenance services.
West Coast Turf (760) 340-7300
www.westcoastturf.com
P.O. Box 4563, Palm Desert, CA 92261
SERVICE: Growers and installers of premium quality natural turfgrass sod.
Western State Builders (760) 270-8639
www.westernstatebuilder.com
2141 Orange Avenue, Escondido, CA 92029
SERVICE: Playground Installation, shade structure installation, site furnishing installation.
Who Built Creative Builders Inc. (707) 763-6210
www.whobuilt.biz
P.O. Box 1568, Shafter, CA 93263
SERVICE: Installation of play equipment and athletic equipment.
WOOD RODGERS, INC. (916) 341-7760
www.woodrodgers.com
3301 C Street, Bldg. 100-B, Sacramento, CA 95816
SERVICE: Landscape architecture design consultants
Wyatt W. Underwood & Associates (213) 279-2455
https://www.wyattunderwood.org/
19360 Rinaldi Street - 150, Northridge, CA 91326
SERVICE: Playground design & build, playground equipment, shade, shelter, site amenities, and sports flooring since 1992.
Zasueta Contracting, Inc. (619) 589-0609
www.zasuetacontracting.com
P. O. Box 866, Spring Valley, CA 91976
SERVICE: Playground equipment installation.
ZGolf Food & Beverage Services, LLC
dba Wedgwood Weddings (951) 491-8110, Ex. 326
www.wedgewoodweddings.com
43385 Business Park Drive #210, Temecula, CA 92590
SERVICE: Professional full service food & beverage management and operations with a focus on weddings, special events, and golf course F&B operations.
In Celebration Park & Recreation Director Retires
Sheila Canzian Honored for 52-year Career in Public Service
After an influential and award-winning career expanding recreational opportunities in the City of San Mateo, long-time Parks and Recreation Director Sheila Canzian in June 2022.
Canzian is one of the City’s longest-serving employees who has been instrumental in managing San Mateo’s well-known recreational programs, facilities and amenities. Some of her proudest accomplishments include creating the City’s Shoreline Parks along the bayfront, co-founding the nonprofit Police Activities League, rebuilding the Poplar Creek Golf Course, establishing the Senior Center, updating the Central Park Master Plan, bringing a seasonal ice rink to Central Park, and creating a Learning Education Assistance Program to support school children during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I have been blessed to work with a great team of staff and amazing managers over the years,” Canzian said. “I loved working in San Mateo, it is my community and it is heart-
warming to walk through the parks and see so many children and families enjoying what our department provides. Parks bring the community together, whether it be at special events such as the Summer Concerts in the Park series and Winter Wonderland, or for family gatherings such as celebrating birthdays and reunions.”
A San Mateo native, she is a second-generation City employee whose father served as a firefighter during World War II. She started with the City while in college as a volunteer in Central Park in 1969 and was hired in 1970 as a summer playground leader.
She rose the ranks over the years holding positions as senior supervisor, section manager and community services manager, before being appointed as the Parks and Recreation Director in 1990.
Canzian is passionate about advancing the Parks and Recreation profession, and has earned a number of coveted statewide and national recognitions. In 2021, she was voted into the American Academy for Parks and Recreation Administration, a highlyregarded national organization of distinguished professionals. She’s previously received the Hall of Fame/Fellowship Award
from CPRS, which she also served in numerous leadership positions including president and secretarytreasurer, and recently received the Distinguished Professional Award from CPRS District IV.
“Sheila has made immeasurable contributions to the San Mateo community and is an icon in her profession,” said City Manager Drew Corbett. “Our parks and recreation amenities are beloved by so many people and significantly enhance the quality of life here in San Mateo. Our organization has benefited tremendously thanks to her steadfast leadership, wealth of experience and remarkable number of years she spent serving the public.”
Canzian officially retired June 9, 2022. “I was born and raised in San Mateo and spent summers at our local school playground. Growing up I always had so much fun visiting our parks and getting to work in them these last 50 years has been the best career I could have ever wished for,” Canzian said.
New Champion for San Mateo Parks
Joanne Magrini Chosen as Next Parks & Recreation Director
There is a new champion for the City of San Mateo’s beloved parks and recreation amenities with Joanne Magrini having been chosen to join the City’s executive team.
Magrini now serves as the new director of the Parks and Recreation Department, and brings years of professional experience as well as personal passion for the role. She is a San Mateo County native who grew up playing sports in San Mateo parks and dedicated her career to giving back to the community. Magrini was the director for the City of Cupertino’s Parks and Recreation Department, and began with the City of San Mateo on July 11.
“San Mateo has set the standard for how a high-performing Parks and Recreation Department should function. I am humbled and honored to step into a strong organization and look forward to building upon long-
established successes while continuing to collaborate with the community on innovative approaches to provide the highest level of service,” Magrini said.
She steps into the position following the retirement of long-time San Mateo Parks and Recreation Director Sheila Canzian, who retired on June 9 after an influential 52-year career with the city.
“San Mateo’s parks and recreation programs are some of the most important services we provide to the community and our department has benefited from a history of strong leadership,” Corbett said. “Joanne is a collaborative and innovative leader who has the experience and passion to be a champion for our department. I look forward to her joining our executive team and supporting her efforts to enhance recreation in San Mateo.”
In addition to managing the City’s award winning-parks, San Mateo’s Parks and Recreation Department provides numerous special events like the Central Park Music Series and Eggstravaganza, offers seasonal activities and programs for people of all
ages, and is responsible for ongoing maintenance as well as capital improvements to recreational facilities. Community Services Manager Bob Palacio will serve as interim director in between Canzian’s retirement and Magrini’s start date.
Magrini has a master’s degree in sports and fitness management, and a bachelor’s in communications. Prior to working as Cupertino’s department director, she served as director of San Bruno’s Community Services Department, and as an associate director for the University of San Francisco where she also taught recreation management courses. She is an avid sports fan who continues to recreate in the San Mateo parks she grew up in.
New Vista parks director on the job starting this month
Mike Pacheco brings experience from Carlsbad, Encinitas https://www.northcoastcurrent. com/region/vista/2022/05/newvista-parks-director-on-the-jobstarting-this-month/
The city of Vista’s new Recreation and Community Services director brings experience to the job from Carlsbad and Encinitas.
Mike Pacheco, who started with Vista on May 16, previously served as Carlsbad’s recreation services manager for six years. He was a recreation supervisor with the city of Encinitas From 2001 to 2006.
“I was extremely impressed with Mike’s depth and knowledge. He brings
a wealth of experience in the field of parks and recreation that matches the needs of our organization,” Vista City Manager Patrick Johnson said in a news release. “His enthusiasm, drive, and experience are what the city needs to elevate and lead our Recreation and Community Services Department after two years of limited services due to the pandemic. With his broad skill base
and experience, he will be a vital member of the leadership team in helping the city meet the needs of the community now and into the future. We are fortunate and excited to have him join the team.”
As Vista’s recreation and community services director, Pacheco will oversee programs and services that support areas such as health and fitness, seniors and community services, and other recreational opportunities, according to the city’s announcement.
Pacheco’s more than 25 years of experience in local government includes serving as community services manager for La Mesa and a senior recreation supervisor for Poway.
“I am thrilled about this opportunity to lead the recreation and community services department,” Pacheco said in Vista’s news release. “I have admired the department’s excellent reputation over the
years, and have a strong, positive working relationship with many of the team members due to the professional ties between the neighboring cities. I am looking forward to working with the team in helping move Vista forward on its path to excellence in the community. Parks and recreation enhance quality of life and help build strong communities and I’ve always been passionate about parks and recreation. It’s impressive that Vista has everything in its own backyard, all of which I am familiar with: a waterpark, award-winning Amphitheatre, recreational opportunities, and many beautiful parks and trails.”
Pacheco holds a bachelor’s degree in criminology and communications from the University of New Mexico and is a Certified Park and Recreation Professional. He lives in North County with his wife and two sons.
CAPRD Recognizes Jill Nunes With Award
by Patrick LarkinThe California Association of Recreation & Park Districts awarded Jill Nunes, Director of Parks & Recreation at the Cordova Recreation & park District with its 2022 Outstanding District Employee Award.
“COVID did not slow us down, we continued to thrive through these unprecedented times. This
shows me how powerful our Parks and Recreation department really is!” – Jill Nunes
This quote demonstrates the leadership mindset I greatly appreciate and value in Jill as the Director of Parks & Recreation. Jill consistently demonstrates strong leadership skills, teamwork and her approach to coaching her staff and addressing issues and processes is thorough, thoughtful, respectful and professional. She has been instrumental in addressing challenges during COVID restrictions regarding concerns with CRPD systems and staff and looking for ways to improve the conditions. She is very passionate about the parks and recreation field which is demonstrated through her numerous accomplishments.
Jill has been a champion for change management which has been a key for success. She has led staff through numerous COVID restrictions and protected staff from potential lay-offs due to limited to no programs by having the full time Recreation staff be direct service providers, creating new programs and producing a Virtual Recreation Guide. She created a work team that communicates well through diverse and challenging work assignments. Jill is excellent at providing tools and resources to her staff for them to work efficiently, smarter and to achieve their goals. Specifically, she has trained staff on expectations to evaluate existing programs and to add new programs to fill service gaps, especially
during the challenging years of the pandemic. She is also connecting staff from multiple departments to make cohesive decisions so there is a District-wide point of view on critical capital improvement projects.
In addition, Jill has been the leader of the District Fee Schedule and updates to the CRPD Board of Directors (Board). She developed and presented the District Fee Schedule program to the Board for their approval, which demonstrated her ability to initiate a process and see it to completion. Jill also presents monthly reports to the Board to discuss department highlights and great services provided by staff. The Cordova Golf Course is one of these highlights. The improvements at the golf course, along with new leadership, has yielded remarkable results. “An exceptional leader, Jill perseveres under pressure and articulates a clear vision for success –going above and beyond in service to the District. I consider myself fortunate to be a part of her vision to imbue an aging golf course with new life and vitality, for future generations to enjoy,” said Cordova Golf Course Manager Chase Michelotti. “Daily, Jill works to empower CRPD’s vision, and embraces the mission to serve the needs of a diverse and growing community.” Due to the new management approach and practices, revenue is at an all-time high and customers are feeling a sense of belonging and care.
Jill has proved how valuable building connections and relationships are
to the success of CRPD. She has done an exemplary job learning about the parks maintenance, facility maintenance and management needs of CRPD. To gain perspective into the Park Department, Jill worked full days with each division within the Parks Department. The experience was beneficial as she learned about our dedicated staff and how hard they work each day to keep CRPD parks beautiful. Jill enjoyed gaining insight into their needs and obstacles which has helped her give the Parks Department the support they need and deserve. Through this, Jill has earned ample respect and admiration from the Parks staff, leadership team and the Board. She will
continue to learn the Parks team needs, look for ways to advocate and support those needs in the budget and help prioritize projects considering limited resources. Jill has also formed strong relationships with partners and stakeholders. Her confidence and professional approach enable her to connect with a diverse, and sometimes challenging, audience. She continues to strengthen her relationships with agencies including counties, cities, tourism agencies, school districts and neighborhood associations. She has written and received Board approval for Joint Use Agreements with multiple school districts. Jill continually strives to
be the best listener in the group or meeting while maintaining an openness to the content of the communication.
I really appreciate Jill’s strong work ethic, honesty, real approach to work and support for new directions. She has set the tone with professionalism and openness to change. Jill is an irreplaceable asset and a talented leader. It is my honor to nominate Jill Nunes, Director of Parks & Recreation from Cordova Recreation & Park District as the CARPD 2022 Outstanding District Employee.
Patrick Larkin General Manager Cordova Recreation & Park DistrictContinued from page 6
progress. I have started to ask that we have a “JEDI Moment” at the start of every meeting at all districts and sections and plan to send out trending topics in the JEDI sphere for president’s to consider in their districts and section meetings.
Fall is almost upon us. I will be in Regions 1, 2 and 4 and Districts
8 and 12 to present this fall at their trainings. I will most likely attend more CPRS related trainings this fall as well. I encourage you as members to become involved in the profession. Attend networking opportunities and trainings to help us advance the profession, create your own networks, as we face new challenges. As Past President Tara Gee would say often, we are better together. And Past President Lydie
Gutfeld promoted – know one, be one, show one. Let’s get reconnected with each other this fall, in-person. Having that human connection is important for our growth. Finally, look for me in your district and come out to join me in a 5K.
Continued from page 49
Director of Parks & Recreation Began Her New Position With the City of Palm Springs in June
Yvonne Wise, Director of Parks and Recreation for the Port of San Diego, was named the new Director of Palm Springs Parks and Recreation, by City Manager Justin Clifton. She began her new position with the City of Palm Springs on Monday, June 27.
Wise was hired in 2007 by the Port of San Diego – a California state public agency with jurisdiction over 34 miles around San Diego Bay – spanning five cities – and has led the Parks and Recreation Department since 2017. Over the past five years, she has been responsible for developing policies and strategic plans, and managing public access to 22 parks, piers, athletic fields, two cruise ship terminals, and an aquatic center to encourage recreation and promote civic pride.
In her role, Wise was responsible for the issuance of permits for day-today park usage, as well as
filming, fireworks, markets, festivals, and commercial and recreational activities. She negotiated partnerships with event organizers and managed large-scale events including the annual Big Bay Boom Fourth of July Fireworks, Holiday Bowl Parade, and Wonderfront Music & Arts Festival in support of the regional tourism economy. In addition, Wise managed the incorporation of aesthetic enhancements in capital improvement and redevelopment projects and led the ongoing initiative to artistically illuminate the San Diego –Coronado Bay Bridge with colored programmable LED luminaires.
Prior to the Port of San Diego, Wise was Public Art Director for the City
of Philadelphia where she served as steward of the City’s municipal art collection and directed highly visible public programs.
“Yvonne Wise’s 20 plus years of municipal experience leading parks and recreation and public art programs will serve her well in Palm Springs,” said Clifton. “We are fortunate to be getting her talent and expertise and I am excited to welcome her to the executive management team.”
Wise holds a master’s degree from Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art in Philadelphia and has dual bachelor’s degrees from Pennsylvania State University.
She is a member of the California Park & Recreation Society and the National Recreation and Park Association.
“For someone truly passionate about people, parks and placemaking, the culturally rich city of Palm Springs offers a vibrant canvas,” said Wise. “I am honored to be chosen to lead the City’s Parks and Recreation department and I look forward to joining this community and working alongside a talented team.”
Richard Hawley to Retire
Richard Hawley started at Robertson in 1991, when the business was formed. He traveled across the western United States knocking on doors selling poured-in-place surfacing. Richard’s active role has successfully grown Robertson’s sales from about $500K in 1991 to $24.7M just last year.
During retirement, Richard is looking forward to spending time with his family, specifically his two grandsons, but most of all he’s looking forward to many fishing trips.
Robertson Industries an Richard Hawley have been long time advocates for CPRS. A member since 1992, he has been involved in the Conference & Expo, served on the Exhibit Committee, supported the magazine through advertising, donated to the CPRS building fund, was a sponsor of P&R Weekly and well as numerous involvements in District and Section activities. Many Thanks Richard!