Parks and Recreation Can Have Different Views

By Amanda Cesar, CPRP, CYSA, Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation, Pueblo County Parks and Recreation

Many people say they are “Parks and Recreation Kids.” This term has been used so much that it has been adopted by the National Parks and Recreation Association. I truly was the Parks and Recreation kid and definitely lived the Parks and Recreation life.

When I was born, my father was a Parks and Recreation director. Even as a baby, I would go with him to youth sporting events where I would be in a backpack on his back. I remember sleeping under his desk when he would work late or school vacations. I would help him scout future trails on weekends, basketball score keeping, helped at the local pool and so much more. His team has always been like my extended family. When it came time to choose a career, I struggled. To no surprise to anyone, I loved Parks and Recreation, but I didn’t want to follow in my father’s footsteps. I wanted to do my own thing. I sought a job with the local state park. When it came time for college, I finally enrolled for a bachelor’s in Recreation after changing my major three times. At work or school, I simply introduced myself as Amanda, never to use my last name. I did not want to be referred to as my father’s daughter. This action changed my direction in the Parks and Recreation Field and put me on a different path then the standard parks and recreation professional. Within a year of graduating from college, I had already worked almost seven seasonal years with Colorado State Parks (now Colorado Parks and Wildlife). As a seasonal ranger, I worked in campgrounds, boat patrol, and special events. I was hired full-time within a year following my graduation. Through my 11 years with CPW, I was stationed at two of the crown jewel parks in the state, Mueller State Park and Lake Pueblo State Park. This path led me to my different opportunities. I attended the police academy and received my POST certificate. I received my national certification in interpretive guide, national certified kayak instructor, state trail building certification, snowmobiling certification, and ATV certification. I had the great opportunity to be trained among the best in the parks system. I presented ranger talks, educational programs for schools, and assisted in leading major events. In addition, I organized and managed the successful volunteer program and trail building projects. In 2016, I decide to go back to my roots and started to look for a job at the local Parks and Recreation Department in Pueblo. I applied for a Recreation Supervisor position. I was one of the top two candidates and finally received the job offer in April of 2017. In this position, I not only used my recreation experience from my youth, but I incorporated the outdoor recreation experience from my adult life. It was a merger of my two worlds of parks and recreation together. While working with the City of Pueblo, I supervised sports programs, recreation facility buildings, movies in the park program, concession stands, the city’s regionally recognized “kiddie rides” amusement facility, and coordinated several special events. The trend for many organizations is “Get children outside.” This opens the doors for great new opportunities in the Parks and Recreation industry; kayaking, fishing derbies/clinics, nature hikes, bicycling clinics, archery ranges, and expanding trail opportunities. My knowledge of the law has enhance writing the parks and recreation code, developing park enforcement, and security within the facilities and parks. Having experience at large-scale state parks that exceed one million visitors per year, and offer water-based, hiking/ biking, open space, nature and wildlife activities has provided me a background to integrate these activities into a more urbanized environment with municipal and county park and recreation departments. In both settings, one of the most important factors is developing a strong team to work together to provide quality programs, safe and inviting recreation facilities, along with an exciting and inviting environment for visitors and participants.

Top: Amanda (right) as a ranger and her father; Bottom: Amanda and her father today