California Parks & Recreation magazine, Fall 2023, Vol. 79, No. 4

T H E O F F I C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F C A L I F O R N I A PA R K & R E C R E AT I O N S O C I E T Y

California

Volume 79 • Issue 4 • FALL 2023

Parks & Recreation Virtual Reality & Older Adults

The Science of Play and the Implications on Social Skills

Connecting on Campus

Engaging Seasoned Professionals as Mentors CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION | FALL 2023 1

2 CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION | FALL 2023

SANTIAGO PARK CITY OF SANTA ANA GRAND OPENING

The re-opening of Santiago Park in Santa Ana has been a momentous occasion, filled with excitement and anticipation. The park, which has undergone an extensive renovation, has emerged as a true gem for the community.

One of the standout features of the rejuvenated Santiago Park is the breathtaking amphitheater.

Nestled amidst the lush greenery, this amphitheater promises to be the stage for numerous cultural events, concerts, and gatherings. Its design seamlessly integrates with the natural beauty of the park.

Winding through the park’s scenic landscapes, they offer an opportunity for visitors to reconnect with nature, enjoy leisurely strolls, or get some exercise.

For families with children, the new playground is a delightful addition. Parents can watch their kids play in a safe and enjoyable environment, making Santiago Park a destination for memorable family outings.

One of the most significant restoration efforts was centered around the historic gas house, which lit the oil lamps, bringing a touch of history back to the park.

The careful restoration of this iconic structure not only preserves its cultural significance but also adds a touch of nostalgia to the park’s atmosphere. It serves as a reminder of the park’s rich history, connecting the past with the present.

Designing landscapes that create community.

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Email us for more information at dvd@dvolzdesign.com CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION | FALL 2023 3 Follow us on Instragram Visit our website for more parks! www.dvolzdesign.com @davidvolzdesign

T H E O F F I C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F C A L I F O R N I A PA R K & R E C R E AT I O N S O C I E T Y

California

Parks & Recreation

Volume 79 • Issue 4 • FALL 2023

IN THIS ISSUE COLUMNS

DEPARTMENTS

Message from the President............... 6

California Foundation for Parks & Recreation........................................ 12

From the Executive Director...............8

Advertising Index............................... 38

FEATURES

Buyer’s Guide.. .................................... 40

Cosumnes Parks & Recreation Achieves National Accreditation.. ..... 14

CPRS Spotlights.................................. 51

The Science of Play............................. 19 Connecting on Campus.. ....................24

26

VR - A New Leisure Activity for Older Adults ........................................ 26 Engaging Seasoned Professionals as Mentors........................................... 30 Enhancing Lives Through Recreation & Support Services in San Diego.. ....... 34

24

SF Parks Alliance at 50...................... 36

30

On the cover: City of Temecula Community Services Department

22

CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION MAGAZINE EDITOR Stephanie Stephens, CAE Executive Director stephanie@cprs.org

MANAGING EDITOR Alisha Herriott Communications and Marketing Manager alisha@cprs.org

ADVERTISING MANAGER Todd Pernsteiner todd@pernsteiner.com (952) 841-1111

ADVERTISING ASSISTANT/DESIGN Amy Pinkston amy@pernsteiner.com (952) 841-1111

CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION (ISSN 0733-5326) is published quarterly by the California Park & Recreation Society, Inc., 7971 Freeport Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95832-9701. Opinions expressed in credited articles are those of the author and not necessarily those of the society.

Subscription rate is $30.00 per year and is included in membership dues. Individual subscriptions apart from CPRS membership are available only to colleges, libraries and members of CAPRCBM. Single copy price for all other issues is $7.50 for members and $12.50 for nonmembers.

Periodicals postage paid at Sacramento, California, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION, 7971 Freeport Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95832-9701. Send manuscripts, query letters and artwork to Alisha Herriott.

Advertising materials should be sent to Todd Pernsteiner at todd@pernsteiner.com or call (952) 841-1111. Guidelines for submitting articles and advertising rates are available from same address, or from the CPRS website. (www.cprs.org). ©2023, California Park & Recreation Society, Inc.

4 CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION | FALL 2023

2023-2024 CPRS BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT Doug Grove, RLA, ASLA, LEED AP RHA Landscape Architects 951-781-1930 dougg@rhala.com PRESIDENT-ELECT Kyla Brown, CPRE Riverside County Regional Park & Open Space District 951-955-4306 kylabrown@rivco.org VICE PRESIDENT Cindy Bagley City of Rohnert Park 707-588-3452 cbagley@rpcity.org SECRETARY-TREASURER Victoria Reyna, CPRP Jurupa Community Services District 951-727-3524 vreyna@jcsd.us

Park Planning

REGION 1 REPRESENTATIVE (Dist 1, 2, 3) Adam Chow, CPRP City of San Ramon 925-973-3321 achow@sanramon.ca.gov

Design Build

REGION 2 REPRESENTATIVE (Dist 4, 5, 6) Patricia Mullan City of Menlo Park 650-330- 2225 pmullan@menlopark.gov

Inclusive Playgrounds

Plan Checking Budget Analysis Consensus Building Demonstration Gardens Skateparks Splash Pads

REGION 3 REPRESENTATIVE (Dist 7, 8, 15) Lauren Cronk Standard School District 661-392-2110 lcronk@standarschools.net

Feasibility Studies Historical Site Design Park & Recreation Master Plans Athletic Field Planning

REGION 4 REPRESENTATIVE (Dist 11, 13, 14) Candice Smith City of Ontario 909-395-2020 csmith@ontarioca.gov 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 Janine Andrade City of Bell 323-773-1596 jandrade@cityofbell.org Aging, Aquatics, Development & Operations and Educators Teri deRosier Cosumnes Community Services District 916-405-5605 TerideRosier@CosumnesCSD.gov Please contact any Board Member with questions or concerns.

2022 CPRS Award of Excellence - Park Planning

Pico Park Mini-Pitch - Pico Rivera

6840 Indiana Avenue, Suite 100, Riverside, CA 92506

951-781-1930 ext 121

www.rhala.com

CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION | FALL 2023 5

Message from the President

CPRS leadership … are you ready?

My journey to CPRS leadership has been quite an unexpected path. When I started my career as a Landscape Architect in 1985, I had no idea that I would one day become the President of this incredible organization. In fact, back then, I didn’t even know CPRS existed. It wasn’t until 1988, when I attended my first CPRS Conference, that everything changed. I was immediately struck by the excitement and passion that people had for their profession. The dedication to serving communities and the enthusiasm at that conference made me realize that I wanted to spend my career working alongside these dedicated professionals.

My involvement in CPRS has played a significant role in my journey. From the beginning, I made an effort to attend as many local CPRS events as possible. These opportunities not only allowed me to meet new people but also provided valuable insights into what drives individuals to choose a career in park and recreation. I wanted to understand how I could best contribute to the development of parks and facilities for our communities.

In 1997, I took on the task of assisting the Administrators Section board secure sponsors for their annual conference breakfast. This responsibility quickly became a labor of love, and I continue to do it to this day. It’s been an extremely fulfilling experience, strengthening the success of the event and forming

lasting friendships and partnerships with people who share our vision.

A significant turning point came in 2008 when I was asked to join the District 11 Board of Directors as the Park Operations Representative.

Being a commercial member, I was not sure if that was possible. Assured that it was OK, I jumped in with both feet. Along with my fellow board members, we worked diligently to plan training and networking opportunities for park and recreation professionals throughout our region.

We also created the annual District 11 golf tournament, which proved to be a great success, raising substantial funds for scholarships and additional training programs for over six years.

In 2009, I was presented with a new opportunity when I was asked to become a part of the newly established Development and Operations Section board. This new adventure gave me the chance to meet and collaborate with individuals from all across the state who shared a common passion for serving their communities. It was inspiring to connect with so many like-minded people who were dedicated to making a positive impact.

A few years down the road, I was approached with another unexpected direction. I was encouraged by many of my colleagues to run for a position on the State Board of Directors.

Accepting this challenge opened up new avenues for me to serve CPRS in various capacities and continued

to expand my circle of friends and professional relationships. Each role I took on allowed me to contribute more to the organization and the field of park and recreation.

This journey ultimately led to my election as CPRS Vice President and, ultimately, to the pinnacle of my service this year as President. It has been a remarkable journey of personal and professional growth, aided by my friends and colleagues every step of the way. The personal rewards are immeasurable and the lifetime friends I have made are irreplaceable.

So, what does this mean to you?

This journey has taught me some important lessons. First, it’s crucial to keep an open mind and be willing to try new things. Sometimes, this means taking on roles or responsibilities that might seem a little scary at first. But that’s okay because it’s when we push ourselves outside our comfort zones that we grow the most.

A common excuse I’ve heard from many is that they’re too busy to get involved. They keep waiting for the “perfect time” when they are “not as busy”, but that time never really comes. The truth is, if you’re passionate about something, you will find a way to make time for it in your busy schedule.

Feeling unqualified or lacking experience? Sometimes, we think we’re not good enough or don’t have enough knowledge to make a difference. But if you truly

Feeling unqualified or lacking experience? …if you truly love what you do and care about your profession, your enthusiasm, commitment, and determination can make up for any lack of experience.

6 CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION | FALL 2023

love what you do and care about your profession, your enthusiasm, commitment, and determination can make up for any lack of experience.

Bringing Community together.... .......through park

Revitalization

I really encourage you to consider getting more involved with CPRS. It could be as simple as volunteering at a local training or at the conference in Palm Springs. You could serve on a local or state-wide committee or speak at a training event. Consider taking on a leadership role by running for a District or Section Board position, or consider running for the State Board of Directors. Need help deciding what to do? Reach out to your CPRS colleagues or contact me directly, and we will figure it out together.

As I have said before, I promise that if you invest your time into this organization, it will pour out blessings on you in ways you cannot imagine.

The rewards will far outweigh the time and effort put forth, and the friendships you make will last a lifetime.

- Doug Grove, CPRS President

Kotate Park, Cotati, California www.integrapla.com | 707-852-0500

CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION | FALL 2023 7

From the Executive Director

A fresh new HQ! 2023 has been a year of change here at CPRS HQ, and we thought it would be fun to introduce you to the new team!

Your Membership Team!

John Doyle, Director of Membership, leads this team as they work to help the CPRS COMMUNITY thrive! He’s been with us for just over a year now, and has upped our game with a new Member Engagement Committee, quarterly New Member calls and a new feature – Maximize Your Membership quarterly calls, where you can learn more about all that CPRS has to offer you. In his spare time, you’ll find John hanging out with his adorable baby girl Poppy, wife Amanda and pup Monty.

You all know Beatriz Godinez Muniz, who just celebrated her 33rd year as our Membership Coordinator here at CPRS! All things membership, Bea is the one to call to renew your membership, pay an invoice, relive some CPRS history, or sign up for an Expo Hall booth. Did you know Bea is also quite the talented musician and dancer? Next time you call, ask her to sing to you… she’s especially talented at singing lullabies in Spanish to all the babies who visit our office.

New to the Membership Team is Colleen LaFleur, Community Engagement Coordinator. Taking on this brand new to CPRS role, Colleen is here to help YOU take full advantage of all there is to offer in this CPRS Community. From upgrading our online community environment, and keeping our CPRS Calendar up to date, to centralizing many of our District and Section leadership functions, Colleen rounds out your membership experience

CPRS HQ staff (left to right): Bea Godinez Muniz, John Doyle, Tammy Campos, Stephanie Stephens, Colleen LaFleur, Lauren Oakley, and Alisha Herriott

with a kind spirit and warm smile.

New to California, Colleen hails from AZ where she owned her own flower shop. Anyone interested in a flower arranging session at conference?

Your Development Team!

While all of us here at HQ have a hand in helping you grow in the profession and as a leader, Lauren Oakley leads us as our fearless Director of Professional Development! After five years with the California Lawyers Association, Lauren brings her inquisitive mind and detail-oriented planning skills to all things education and professional development.

8 CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION | FALL 2023

Conference sessions, Maintenance Management School, Financial Sustainability (and so much more)… all under Lauren’s watchful eye. Our JEDI Counsel will benefit from her previous work in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space. CEU’s needed?

Lauren has you covered. Future plans include workforce development, more in-depth core competency focused education, and some streamlining of all CPRS Education programs. Want to see Lauren really light up? Ask her about her scruffy pup Mister, or the new house she and her spouse Matt just purchased!

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CALIFORNIA PARKS- & RECREATION | FALL 2023 9 NATIONAL PURCHASING CONTRACTS AVAILABLE ASK US!

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Your Operations Team!

Since 1990, Jones & Madhavan has worked with public agencies throughout California to develop hundreds of successful aquatic facilities. If you are planning a new aquatic facility or are

considering modernization of an existing facility, Jones & from beginning to end.

SERVICES

Madhavan can provide the professionalism you will appreciate • Renovation Analysis • Needs Analysis • Master Planning • Programming • Architecture • Engineering • Aquatic Design • Construction Administration Dominguez Aquatic Center

Van Nuys / Sherman Oaks Recreation Center

As with any business, we couldn’t survive without our Director of Finance and Operations, Tammy Campos. Having been with CPRS 27 or so years now, Tammy knows our budget and building better than anyone! From developing and managing our $2.5M annual budget, and keeping HQ in tip-top shape, to managing volunteers and the entire registration process for our annual conference, Tammy handles it all with grace.

Traveling is her passion (ask her where she finds outstanding travel deals!!) when she’s not hanging out with her grandbabies Dax and Ryan.

Alisha Herriott, Communications and Marketing Manager joined our team earlier this fall, after a move from ‘across the pond’ with partner Alex!

In her short tenure with us, Alisha has overseen a complete redesign of our magazine (do you like the fresh new look?), and vastly improved our presence on our social media channels (like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram!). Look for other great marketing and communications upgrades coming soon, including some fun new features on our website. This creative spirit is eager to hear – and share – your stories! Be sure to ask her about Dandelion… the cutest, fluffiest, giantest golden retriever you’ve ever met.

Our newest addition to the team is Martina Vinson, coming in as our Operations and Education Coordinator. Need to register for a CPRS event? Call Martina! Need assistance on our website? Martina is here for you! Need a friendly ear on a stressful Monday? Yep, she can help with that too!

Terra Linda Aquatic Center

Granite Hills High School

April 2024 will mark my 10th year serving as your Executive Director, can you believe that? Time certainly flies when you are having fun! I’m so thankful to those staff members who spent the last 9 years with me, building a strong foundation.

I’m even more excited to see where this great new team and fresh new perspectives take us in the next decade. It’s an exciting time to be at CPRS HQ. We all look forward to helping this CPRS Community thrive!

Namaste my friends!

Stephanie Stephens CPRS Executive Director

100 East Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Suite 211 Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 T 805.777.8449 F 805.777.8489 E info@jmae.com W jmae.com

10 CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION | FALL 2023 Recreation magazine

Be seen. Be heard.

Your NEW California Parks & Recreation magazine can help you and your agency get noticed.

Have something to share? There are multiple ways for you to do so!

GET FEATURED IN CPRS SPOTLIGHTS – Spotlights is a regular feature highlighting agency and member updates. Articles can be as short as one sentence or up to 300 words and can include 1-3 photos.

SUBMIT ARTICLES – We welcome article submissions from CPRS agencies about topics relevant to our mission. Articles should be between 250 and 500 words and include 3-4 high-resolution photos.

SEND ARTICLE LEADS/IDEAS – If you don’t have the bandwidth to submit an article but have an idea about a topic that would fit one of our issues, please share it with us!

Send us a brief explanation of the article and who to contact. If chosen, we will do the leg-work to research and write the article for you.

2023-24 California Parks & Recreation Editorial Calendar* *Article suggestions for inspiration. Content subject to change.

WINTER 2024

SPRING 2024

SUMMER 2024

FALL 2024

Article Deadline

January 12, 2024

April 1, 2024

July 1, 2024

September 13, 2024

Cover Theme

2024 CPRS Conference Preview

2024 Awards of Excellence Winners

Athletics & Sports Focus

Non-traditional sports and athletic spaces

Culturally relevant sports; increasing participation

Promotion to help grow lessons and leagues

Coaching coaches; recruiting volunteers

Facilities Focus

Renovating and repurposing existing spaces

Athletic & aquatic facility design, engineering, construction

Accessibility; creating gathering spaces for all ages

Historic venues and Preservation; recreating history

Leadership Focus

Staffing (seasonal employees, creating new positions, preparing for retirements, unique ways to find talent)

Training managers to be better leaders; overcoming micromanaging

Empowering employees, creating a team culture

Cross-training staff; creating room for growth

Parks & Playgrounds Focus

Unique playground challenges, opportunities and design features

Big spaces, little spaces, and everything in-between

Landscape design; creating living gardens; social media worthy spots

Adventure courses; outdoor fitness; trails

Programming Focus

Community Events planning, resources, unique ideas, event partnerships, sponsorships

Creating new out-of-the box programs

Marketing your programs; social media; giveaways; and selfie spots

Partnering with Convention Bureaus, Events + Event Resource Guide

CPRS Park & Recreation Heroes (Nominate your staff)

ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS: Agencies, if you would like to submit an article, please contact Alisha Herriott at alisha@cprs.org.

Tech4Rec Park & Recreation Technology

Includes Expanded Buyer’s Guide!

ADVERTISING: If you would like to advertise, please contact Todd Pernsteiner at todd@pernsteiner.com or call (952) 841-1111. Visit www.bit.ly/CPRSmagazine or scan the QR code to view the advertising media kit.

CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION | FALL 2023 11

CFPR Foundation Cup is a Hit

By Tom Hellmann, CFPR Trustee

Is it the CPRS Golf Tournament or does it just happen to occur during the CPRS Conference? Over the years the annual CPRS Conference has been jam-packed with so many events, workshops, trainings, activities, education sessions, and more. Every year, on the day prior to the beginning of the conference there is a golf tournament, and here is the story.

The California Foundation for Parks and Recreation, commonly referred to as CFPR is a 501 c3 organization that is aligned with CPRS with a mission to receive grants, donations, and contributions and apply those funds to educate the public and the profession about the beneficial effects of recreation. In addition, we foster excellence and innovation in community recreation services and programs; fund research relating to the advancement of parks and recreation; support and encourage education in parks, recreation, and related fields; and support special projects relating to parks, recreation, and related

community services with the intent of promoting healthy communities.

The annual golf tournament is a fundraising event for the CFPR, and this year’s rebranded name of the Foundation Cup was held at Torrey Pines North Course in partnership with the City of San Diego. The sold-out field of 84 golfers enjoyed a day of golf at the 2021 US Open

12 CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION | FALL 2023

Championship and home to the PGA Tour Farmers Insurance Open. The scramble format tournament had 21 foursomes play the challenging and beautiful north course with the winning team presented with the Foundation Cup perpetual trophy. This year’s winning team was the team of Bob Barron, Fred Wichmann, Spencer Cheak, and

Mike Shull from GameTime. They won the Foundation Cup after a tie with the team from AstroTurf that was broken from a random drawing of a tiebreaker hole.

The Foundation Cup Golf Tournament netted $8,575 that will be used for services, programs, scholarships, grants, and research provided by the California Foundation for Parks and Recreation. This event was made possible by the wonderful CFPR partners that contributed to this amazing day: • AstroTurf • GameTime • Dave Bang & Associates Inc • Great Western Recreation • Verde Design • Dahlin Group • Public Restroom Company • USA Shade • Sporturf Planning for the 2024 CFPR Foundation Cup is underway when the CPRS Conference returns to Palm Springs the week of February 27 through March 1. The CFPR Foundation Cup Golf Tournament will be played on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, at the Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort with registration details to be announced at www. cprs.org/about-us-cprs/cfpr/golf-tournament.

The Board of Trustees of the CFPR hopes to build the Foundation Cup annually and continue to provide funds to the foundation that can be provided across California communities and professionals.

GLORYA JEAN TATE PARK, CITY OF MARINA Verde Design provided the planning and conceptual design of the park, and was retained to execute the ideas for phase 1 of the project, including a new bicycle pump track seen below.

Phase II will include an all-inclusive playground, hardcourts, lawn area, a dog park, BBQ & picnic areas, and native and adapted landscaping.

WE ARE PROUD TO CELEBRATE OVER 16 YEARS IN BUSINESS, DESIGNING OUTSTANDING FACILITIES FOR CALIFORNIA’S RECREATIONAL COMMUNITIES!

We look forward to kicking off conference week in Palm Springs with the Foundation Cup and encourage you to lock in your foursome early as we plan for another sold-out event. Thank you to all our golfers, partners, and planning committee for a great event at Torrey Pines and for supporting the California Foundation for Parks & Recreation with your participation at the CFPR Foundation Cup Golf Tournament.

Companies interested in potential partnerships for the CFPR Foundation Cup Golf Tournament can contact Tom Hellmann, Tournament Director and Trustee at thellmann@folsom.ca.us.

Heading to the annual CPRS Conference and Expo in Palm Springs, CA, February 27 - March 1? Verde Design will be at Booth #562. Please stop by and learn more about what we have been up to!

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Planning for the 2024 CFPR Foundation Cup is underway when the CPRS Conference returns to Palm Springs the week of February 27 through March 1.

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CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION | FALL 2023 13

Setting the Gold Standard: Cosumnes Parks & Recreation Achieves National Accreditation

By Jenna Brinkman and John Ebner, Cosumnes Community Services District

Exciting news just in! The Cosumnes Community Services District Parks & Recreation Department has clinched one of the biggest honors in the parks and recreation field – national accreditation. This prestigious recognition was granted by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) and the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) during the 2023 NRPA Conference in Dallas, Texas, on October 9.

The significance of this achievement cannot be overstated. As Traci Farris, Interim Administrator of Parks & Recreation, put it, “Receiving CAPRA accreditation reinforces our standing within the community and our industry, reflecting the wide range of top-notch programs, services, and facilities we offer.

We’re absolutely thrilled to share this honor with our community.”

CAPRA accreditation is the gold standard for park and recreation agencies across the nation. It’s a mark of an agency’s exceptional quality of operation, management, and service to the community.

Essentially, it’s proof that the special district that provides parks, recreation, emergency medical, and fire protection services to 207,000 residents in southern Sacramento

County has met stringent standards in managing lands, facilities, resources, programs, safety, and services. It’s also a nod to the outstanding individuals who lead, work for, and volunteer with the district.

Out of the over 23,000 eligible park and recreation agencies nationwide,

only 206 have successfully navigated the challenging CAPRA accreditation process. To put it in perspective, there are just three others in California who have earned this honor.

To achieve accreditation, Cosumnes Parks & Recreation had to show they were following 154 recognized

“Receiving CAPRA accreditation reinforces our standing within the community and our industry, reflecting the wide range of top-notch programs, services, and facilities we offer. We’re absolutely thrilled to share this honor with our community.” - Traci Farris 14 CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION | FALL 2023

Headquartered in Elk Grove, Cosumnes Parks & Recreation manages over 1,000 acres of green spaces, including 103 parks. They also oversee three aquatics facilities, three community centers, five recreation centers, and a public golf course.

standards, covering best industry practices, policies, procedures, programs, services, and facilities.

The rigorous evaluation process helped them identify areas of improvement, boost accountability, and emphasize sustainability. All of this translates to a higher quality of service and operation, benefiting the community and instilling greater public confidence in the agency.

Traci Farris highlighted the learning aspect, saying, “We participated in a multi-faceted, 22-month process

that allowed us to take a close look at our services and facilities through self-assessment. We learned a great deal about ourselves, where we excel, and where we can improve.”

Headquartered in Elk Grove, Cosumnes Parks & Recreation manages over 1,000 acres of green spaces, including 103 parks.

They also oversee three aquatics facilities, three community centers, five recreation centers, and a public golf course. Their programs cater to a wide spectrum of interests,

from youth development and sports to special events and inclusive recreation for all abilities.

According to Gil Albiani, President of the Cosumnes Community Services District Board, “We take immense pride in obtaining national accreditation. This accomplishment is a testament to the exceptional professionalism, collaboration, and unwavering commitment of our outstanding staff to improve the quality of life within our community.”

CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION | FALL 2023 15

CAPRA Q&A - Cosumnes Parks & Recreation Department What motivated the Cosumnes Parks & Recreation Department to pursue national accreditation through CAPRA? When current General Manager Phil Lewis joined the Cosumnes Community Services District in 2019 as the Administrator of Parks & Recreation, he realized that the department was fully equipped and ready to begin the process of seeking accreditation, having recently updated its policies and procedures, implemented and adopted the 2018 Parks, Recreation, and Facilities Master Plan, and placed staffing resources in the correct locations to leverage their talents toward the project. A longheld career goal for Mr. Lewis in his other agencies during his parks and recreation journey, he worked with senior leadership and the Board of Directors to put the wheels in motion. Mr. Lewis pointed out, “Upon arriving at the District, it was obvious to me that the Parks and Recreation Department was high quality and capable of making a run at accreditation. Now that we have achieved that goal, I continue to be impressed with District staff and their dedication to being among the best of the best in the industry, both regionally and nationally.

Accreditation means that we have the confidence of the community to continue to provide high-quality programs, services, and facilities to those we serve.”

Can you describe the steps and the timeline involved in the accreditation process?

The accreditation process started in early 2021 and followed a specific

timeline and several key steps. First, District leadership discussed the potential for accreditation, which set the stage for the process. The transfer of John Ebner to the Parks and Recreation Department in April 2021 led to his appointment as the project manager, leveraging his prior experience with accreditation in the Fire Department. The formal application for the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) was submitted in December 2021.

In January 2022, an initial kickoff meeting took place once District leadership committed to the accreditation effort. This meeting outlined the process and set the timeline for the project.

The key steps in the process included designating a project manager, identifying leaders for the ten CAPRA sections, and providing CAPRA training. The team established a timeline with the goal of completing the self-assessment in early 2023 and achieving full accreditation in the fall of the same year. The team evaluated 154 standards and categorized them based on their complexity, from low-hanging fruit to major projects.

The team emphasized the 36 fundamental standards. Meetings and deadlines were set for draft standard narratives and evidence of compliance. The self-assessment was submitted in February 2023, and a site visit took place in April 2023. The process continued with responses to site visit team requests and culminated in receiving national accreditation in October 2023.

The team also outlined ongoing

preparations for the annual CAPRA report and reaccreditation in five years.

What were the main challenges the department faced during the accreditation process, and how did they overcome them?

One of the main challenges we faced was the limited availability of staff for the self-assessment while ensuring that our services were not affected. To overcome this challenge, District staff worked together to organize the project with timelines and milestones that maintained consistent progress as the self-assessment was developed and written. Utilizing MS Planner was a critical factor in the project’s success because the application made it easy to track standards and identify those that required additional resources or focus. The early identification of standards that would require more work to develop was also a key element in our success.

How did the department ensure compliance with the 154 recognized standards for CAPRA accreditation?

Again, early analysis and identification of standards that required additional resources, focus, and development was critical to success, particularly for those standards that were fundamental and had to be met in order to achieve accreditation. There were 36 fundamental standards and the initial analysis of those standards indicated that five of them would require significant focus to complete.

“Upon arriving at the District, it was obvious to me that the Parks and Recreation Department was high quality and capable of making a run at accreditation. Now that we have achieved that goal, I continue to be impressed with District staff and their dedication to being among the best of the best in the industry, both Llifeguard Gabe (center) with Cosumnes-aquatics managers regionally and nationally.”

Phil Lewis 16 CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION | FALL 2023

Now that we’re officially accredited, the department is committed to maintaining its high standards.

Could you provide some specific examples of changes or improvements that were made as a result of the self-assessment during the accreditation process?

Cosumnes Community Services District implemented several improvements during the process, including updating our Volunteer Handbook, writing and adopting a Recreation Programming Plan, implementing Maintenance Management & Permitting software, developing and adopting a district Risk Management Plan, developing a Facilities Operations Maintenance Plan, and updating the district’s General Security and Emergency Operations Plans, among others.

Specific parts of the CAPRA Parks & Recreation accreditation will also help set the foundation for the Cosumnes Fire Department’s current accreditation efforts in the areas of finance, human resources, and communications, as there are similarities between the two types of accreditation.

What does the department need to do to maintain these high-quality standards and CAPRA accreditation in the coming years?

Now that we’re officially accredited, the department is committed to maintaining its high standards. We will have to submit annual reports and undergo the accreditation process every five years to comply with CAPRA’s guidelines.

Can you share any advice or insights for other parks and recreation agencies looking to pursue CAPRA accreditation?

From our perspective, here are some of the important factors related to obtaining accreditation: • Ensure that there is a commitment to the project at all levels, particularly from elected officials.

Their involvement and support are critical to the process and helps articulate the agency’s dedication to accreditation.

• Analyze and evaluate all standards early in the process. This helps identify standards that may need additional focus and resources for completion.

• Develop dedicated teams for each of the ten CAPRA sections.

• Develop and commit to a realistic schedule. This includes allowing for at least 3 months of editing standards prior to self-assessment submission, which usually occurs between February and April of a given year.

• Ensure that the agency’s policies, procedures, and plans are in place prior to seeking accreditation.

• Use your CAPRA mentor!

For those interested in delving deeper into the significance of CAPRA in the parks and recreation industry, more information can be found at www.nrpa.org/CAPRA.

Save the date!

2024 CPRS Conference & Expo February 27-March 1, 2024 • Palm Springs Convention Center EXHIBITORS: BOOTH REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN AT CPRS.ORG/EDUCATION/CONNECTIONS.

CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION | FALL 2023 17

18 CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION | FALL 2023

The science of play and the implications on social skills

By Dr. Kristen Cummings-Prater, PsyD, BCBA, Lindsay Thuy Dao, MHA CTRS, and Dr. Jamie Hoffman, CTRS

As parks and recreation organizations continue to create purposeful and interactive play opportunities within their communities, it is vital to know the why behind the play and how it affects social skills.

Play is a right that everyone should have. According to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, article 31 emphasizes that every child has a fundamental right to play and states that play is “essential for health, well-being, and development.” While we know the benefits of recreation, play, and sports in the development process, understanding the scientific implications of play may create a purposeful structure to existing and current programming to increase opportunities for social engagement.

While we live in a society that is veering towards a “high tech, low touch” space, we are at an all-time low for opportunities to socialize face-to-face. Given the opportunity

to choose, most people will go to the “self-check-out” line at the store or the ATM to “save time,” “not have to wait in line,” or not have to engage with others. The bottom line is that we are missing out on moments, each allowing us to practice our social skills, communicate, and connect with other human beings. With the continued use of technology, social media, while called “social,” does not foster appropriate social skills in many spaces. How does this affect our industry? It is festering inappropriate social skills and decreasing our positive personal interactions.

When we think about our childhood memories, many people instantly reminisce about their time spent

on playgrounds, camps, playing in the swimming pool, or outside with friends. While this may not be a societal norm today, as children are spending an increasingly more significant time in front of technology, it is our jobs as professionals in the field of parks and recreation to reinvent the play opportunities that will foster positive interactions and increase social skills of our future adults..

The Science of Play New research is emerging relating to the science of play and its effects on the brain in the social, psychological, behavioral, and biological sciences.

“Play like oxygen is always there and goes unnoticed until it is gone” Author Unknown. While the idea

CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION | FALL 2023 19

of traditional play is fading and limited, screen time has become the archnemesis of health and wellness for children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that children ages eight to ten spend an average of six hours per day in front of a screen, and kids ages 11 to 14 spend an average of nine hours per day in front of a screen. Youths ages 15 to 18 spend an average of seven-anda-half hours per day. According to Dr. Ameera Nauma, “the brain’s neural networks are developing most rapidly in the first five years,

and under age two, language and emergent literacy skills are better learned through personal contact.

Their minds should be nourished with books, singing, playing, you know, getting them to move, making a playroom for them … really just engaging with them on a more personal, social level,” she advised.

These statistics about increased screen time are alarming when we look at brain development and the need for traditional play. For humans, play is at our core in our connection to ourselves and others.

Play is the work of children and an

ongoing experience. Play is universal and primal in nature and a necessity and basic need when we look at Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.

The Brain and Play Play shapes the brain. The brain takes on many different functions concerning play. The brain’s prefrontal cortex is associated with complex thoughts developed during play. The prefrontal cortex activates during play behaviors that involve planning, decision-making, and problem-solving. Examples

FOR HUMANS, PLAY IS AT OUR CORE IN OUR CONNECTION TO OURSELVES AND OTHERS.

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CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION | FALL 2023 21

include when playing strategy games or engaging in creative activities. Within the prefrontal cortex, the medial prefrontal cortex generates socially appropriate responses necessary within play, including behavioral flexibility, response inhibition, attention, and emotion, all of which enhance or inhibit interaction with another human. The limbic system, such as the amygdala and hippocampus, activates during play behaviors that involve pleasure, motivation, and social bonding.

During social play, the limbic system involves processing the positive emotions and social rewards related to interaction with others. The motor cortex is responsible for planning and executing movements and coordinating complex motor behaviors. It activates during physical play behaviors such as sports, dancing, and other activities that involve movement. The cerebellum is responsible for motor coordination and fine motor control. It activates during play behaviors that involve fine motor control, such as playing musical instruments or engaging in creative activities. The temporal lobes are responsible for processing auditory information and memory and activate during play behaviors that involve sound and music, such as singing or playing musical instruments. The visual cortex is responsible for processing visual information and creating visual imagery. It activates during play behaviors that involve visual stimuli, such as visual art or sports, that involve visual tracking.

Social Skills Social skill development begins early in an infant’s life, with first skills obtained through eye contact.

Development of social skills continues through childhood and into adulthood. It solidifies through relationships with others outside of the family unit within school and park

PLAY SHAPES THE BRAIN. THE BRAIN TAKES ON MANY DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS CONCERNING PLAY. environments, under the watchful eye of adults. In early childhood, play is a gateway for learning various social skills. Young children often pretend through various dolls or puppets a variety of everyday skills, such as cooking, family relationships, and school. They play with cars and trucks and explore preferences for different textures and sensory stimuli. Play is a modality through which children try various emotional states and make conclusions about various social interactions. They can interact, experiment, think creatively, and gain a more profound knowledge and a sense of attunement about themselves and the world. Through play, older children learn rules of engagement, such as turn-taking, winning and losing, and controlling impulses. Starting in adolescence, individuals use the social skills they learned in early childhood to expand relationships outside the home and school environments. They often lean on their early play skills to suggest experiences centered around play.

For children who struggle to develop adequate social skills due to lack of

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exposure, parents and teachers will likely experience poor or inadequate attention and concentration. In addition, they may have difficulty with taking turns, difficulty with winning/losing games, difficulty reading other’s facial expressions, difficulty with understanding consequences, and difficulty with initiating and maintaining conversation skills. These children may also require adult interaction during their play activities, which may further hinder their creativity and development of play.

Implications for Parks & Recreation Over the last several years, and with the introduction of technology for young children (below the age of 7), the implications for the field of parks and recreation are profound.

Individuals who lack experiences as children that involve playing outdoors, camping, running, fishing, and exploring are less likely to pick up these activities as adults when life becomes full of responsibility.

In a field that already struggles to acquire funding for resources, losing participation is only likely to result in a more significant loss of funds, thereby limiting the future of the field as a profession and experience for those in our community. Knowing the importance of play in developing a young child’s brain, educating the community on the necessity for these experiences’ rests with those in the recreation profession.

Community activities involving play and exploration that draw in families are essential to helping families develop these behavior patterns. In addition, starting children early by participating in parks and recreation programming will benefit their brain development and increase opportunities for social interaction.

This will enable children to connect with their community, fostering longterm interests in social interactions through play.

Next Steps Parks and Recreation provides an opportunity to elevate the value of play. Based on the value of play, the field of Recreation must continue promoting the benefit of play for all individuals. It is still possible for parks and recreation programs to expand themselves and creatively involve various community members in small and large-scale recreation activities.

Having structured programs at a playground for all children will create inclusive interaction opportunities

and a space for children to practice their social skills. Increasing the opportunities for small children to participate in toddler sports recreation programming or parent/ caregiver classes will foster the purposeful engagement of your community, enabling social interaction for all. This will create spaces for turning off technology and embracing social engagement through play. Children exposed to various play and recreational activities with their parents/ caregivers are likelier to engage in these activities as adults.

References: https://newsroom.osfhealthcare.org/ Alton, IL, January 10, 2020, Screen Time for Kids: How Much is Too Much?

Franklin, T., Silva, B., Perova, Z. et al. Prefrontal cortical control of a brainstem social behavior circuit. Nat Neurosci 20, 260–270 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.4470.

United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child. General Comment No. 17 (2013) on the Right of the Child to Rest, Leisure, Play, Recreational Activities, Cultural Life and the Arts (Art. 31). Available online: https://www.refworld.org/docid/51ef9bcc4.html (accessed on 12, October 2023).

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CONNECTING ON CAMPUS

By Ashika Lal, Communications and Media Officer, Southgate Recreation & Park District

For the past two years, the CPRS District 2 Board of Directors has held a student event with the Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration Department (RPTA) on campus at California State University, Sacramento. The first year, being park & recreation professionals, we went full throttle with a “Field Day” type event on campus lawns with mobile disc golf, corn hole and more games. We quickly learned students were much more interested in connecting with us one on one and picking our brains, than they were in field games and play. As we started to plan this year’s event, we knew we needed more of a traditional classroom setting so we could connect with the RPTA student body how they would like, creating opportunities to engage in conversation and Q & A. Working with D2’s Education Section Representative, Dr. Abhijeet Shirsat, this year we set up our regular October board meeting on campus followed by a re-vamped 2-hour student event.

Having a board meeting on campus lent us the unique opportunity to invite faculty members in the RPTA department to be our guests and hear about the work we do and in turn listen to how we can better serve the university and support RPTA students. The invitation was well received, with the Associate Dean of Health and Human Services, Dr. Greg Shaw and the RPTA Department Chair, Dr. Jamie Hoffman, both joining in to exchange ideas and information. Resources were shared on both sides and plans were made on how we can continue to engage students and faculty in events, programs and opportunities in District 2 and CPRS. The student event immediately following the board meeting was a pleasant surprise to the D2 Board and RPTA Faculty alike. Over 70 students attended the event to hear about CPRS, District 2 and connect with D2 board members and guests.

The event was an eye opener, as we learned how unaware students are of the opportunities offered by CPRS

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and District2. Just as we finished introductions, hands started going up. Imagine my surprise when one of the first questions out the gate was, “What is CPRS?”. Students were curious as to what our day-today jobs were like, what our paths were and how we found them. When we broke out into smaller groups, we learned something else, most students are unaware of the diverse opportunities available to them in public recreation. Students were learning through our stories and Q & A all the different pathways available in public recreation from facility management to event planning, marketing, rec therapy, human resources, administration, customer service, etc. It was obvious to me that somewhere there is a disconnect about what a career in parks and recreation can actually look like.

These student events have brought to light how important connecting on campus is in promoting the longevity of our profession and investing in our future professionals.

I strongly urge other Districts and agencies to invest some time to connect with local campuses to get ahead of this curve. We need to continue to get in front of the next generation of professionals to connect and share the opportunities and paths available to students as they plan their career paths. We need to tell our stories of coming up in the field, which are all so unique, so students can relate to the fact that at some point maybe some of us didn’t know how we were going to get there either. We need to continue engaging students to fill volunteer needs and internships, so they can get firsthand experience to add to their resumes. We need to strengthen our relationships with faculty on campus to enhance communication and engagement. The benefits of connecting with local campuses will help us at our agencies today but it will also help mold and attract tomorrow’s professionals to the field. Reach out

to your local campus and set up a call to start, share opportunities, hold student events, job fairs, meet and greets and yes, maybe even those field day events (old habits, die hard), the benefits to the profession will be felt for many years to come.

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Virtual

Reality

A NEW LEISURE ACTIVITY FOR OLDER ADULTS

By Chung Sup Lee, Assistant Professor, California State University, Long Beach

Change is not always fun. In particular, if the change is unexpected or involuntary, it could be more stressful. Unfortunately, such changes could be more prevalent in older adults by going through possible major life transitions (e.g., retirement, losing a spouse, illness), leading to changes in their leisure and recreation activities as well. For example, they might not be able to enjoy a leisure activity they loved since they

lost their leisure partner or their leisure functioning was significantly decreased. Also, they would want to try a new leisure activity to experience new stimulations or to find a new meaningful activity during their later adulthood. In other words, starting a new leisure activity or replacing or modifying an existing leisure activity is not uncommon for older adults.

According to the innovation theory, one of the aging theories, adopting a new leisure activity to the leisure repertoire could contribute to older adults’ health and well-being in their later lives.

A new leisure activity could be defined in two ways: 1) a leisure activity that an individual never participated in but similar to what they have experienced (e.g., from tennis to pickleball); or 2) a leisure activity that an individual has never participated or exposed to a similar leisure activity (e.g., virtual reality). However, relatively few practitioners and scholars are concerned about offering new leisure activities and exploring its’ benefits to older adults. A paucity of research has examined the role of a new leisure experience in older adults’ leisure experience and wellbeing. Therefore, our research team implemented a 10-week virtual reality program for older adults living in non-profit senior housing.

“I can’t believe you can actually do something like this, I feel like I’m actually on a boat.

This is amazing!”

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“the nature trek game offers a good time for meditation, and it makes me feel like I am on vacation.”

The VR program was implemented for about 30 minutes: 1) set-up (5 mins), 2) VR activity (15-20 mins) and 3) debriefing (5 mins).

In general, the sessions were facilitated by the students who were trained by the researcher. The VR program used an Oculus Quest VR device with various apps. The apps used in the study could be divided into 1) natural/relaxationbased apps and 2) exercise-based apps. To prevent possible risks (e.g., disorientation and falling), the researcher limited the VR time to 20 mins, offered multiple breaks during the intervention with water, and asked to sit on the chair while engaging in the activity.

A total of 14 residents participated so far, and seven (7) participants dropped out mainly due to schedule conflicts and a few dropped out due to health reasons (e.g., being unable to control the controllers). Among the seven (7) participants, five (5) people were interviewed so far. All names of the participants are pseudonyms: 1) Amy (Female, 74 yrs); 2) Tom (Male, 79 yrs); 3) Hannah (Female, 83 yrs); 4) Batty (Female, 82 yrs); and 5) Sam (male, 67 yrs). The interview was conducted for 30 minutes to 1 hour, and the main interview questions were a) reasons for participating in the VR program b) VR experiences, and 3) how it impacted their everyday life.

Through the interview, four themes were found: 1) VR is just so much fun; 2) VR is a perfect ice-breaker; 3) Personal growth through VR; and 4) VR is a confidence booster.

First, the participants just love the VR experiences. As soon as they wore the VR gear, the participants said all kinds of exclamations such as “wow”, “cool”, and “OMG”.

And most of the participants constantly repeated it during the sessions. Batty, for example, said, “I can’t believe you can actually

do something like this, I feel like I’m actually on a boat. This is amazing!” Mary also said, “the nature trek game offers a good time for meditation, and it makes me feel like I am on vacation.”

Second, the VR experience helped the participants to open up and share their stories to the facilitators and other people. For example, after riding a virtual rollercoaster, Hannah stated, “I have never been able to experience a rollercoasterlike this. I only rode rollercoasters when there was a wooden kind of rail. That is when I was a teenager.”

Then, she continued with sharing her childhood memories to the facilitators while enjoying the VR session. Also, when the participants met other VR participants or even non-VR participants after the VR

sessions, they were eager to share what they experienced during the VR sessions. Third, since some games show their performance scores, it motivated them to keep practicing to improve. They constantly checked the scores they received and asked the facilitators if they could try more challenging levels to test themselves. Some participants were not only checking their scores, but other VR participants’ scores as well to see where they stand. This sometimes led to a bragging rights competition between the participants. Lastly, through the VR experience, some participants gained the confidence enough to try other activities. For example, Batty stated, “VR made me believe I am stronger than I thought, so I am joining the Physical

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“I did not know I could do all these. I feel good about myself.”

Exercise program next month.”

Sam also said, “I did not know I could do all these. I feel good about myself.”

Overall, the findings were consistent with the existing literature that a new leisure experience brings joy to the participants, helps them build their confidence, and provides an opportunity for personal growth. In particular, since the VR experience was totally a new experience for all the participants, it brought new stimulations and excitement, which made them exhilarating. Furthermore, such astonishing experiences encourage the participants to open up and motivate them to share things with others. For example, experiencing the deep water led the participant to share about her daughter

and her hobby, scuba diving. Also, riding a roller coaster through VR brought back the participant’s childhood memories. In addition, since some VR games showed scores of the participants’ performances, it stimulated the participants’ internal desire to practice and compete. Indeed, it was a primary motivator for their attitude toward the session and skill development.

This study is ongoing research and has only a small number of participants so far. Thus, it is too early to say that our team has reached the saturation. Still,

this study demonstrated what interesting outcomes can be brought about by engaging in a new leisure activity. I hope this study creates more interest in designing and implementing new leisure activities for older adults.

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Engaging Seasoned Professionals as Mentors

By Beatriz Barnett, City of Temecula, Community Services Superintendent

The City of Temecula Community Services Department implemented a Job Shadowing & Cross Training Program in 2023, in which experienced leaders impart lessons to help guide junior staff through their professional development journey and careers. Mentees also witness and experience the care, dedication, and tenacity required to become competent and effective leaders.

Job Shadowing allows the employee to gain knowledge and understanding about the responsibilities and tasks in the specific position of interest.

Managers reach out to colleagues to discuss the interested staff and then determine those most appropriate to shadow within their division for a formalized mentoring opportunity of four to six scheduled

sessions. Managers work together to determine the best schedule for staff (half day, full day, every other Friday). Junior staff may job shadow once per quarter and must obtain their supervisor’s approval. Job Shadowing arrangements may be terminated early if it is determined not to be mutually beneficial.

Following the initial six shadowing sessions, staff review the results with their supervisor to determine if they wish to continue to the next step and pursue more in-depth Cross Training.

Cross Training allows an employee to perform specific functions related to a particular job. Ideally, interested staff will have previously completed four to six sessions of Job Shadowing, however, this may be waived by the Manager or Director. Managers consult with one another to determine best practices

City of Temecula Mary Phillips Senior Center staff in front of the Silver Shuttle.

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moving forward including scheduling and current workload. Managers also meet with staff monthly to determine an appropriate direction moving forward.

Engaged Mentors The ultimate goal is to ensure a smooth transition which is only possible when there is high employee morale and a healthy work culture. This knowledgesharing strategy harnesses valuable experience and welcomes new ideas from mentees’ fresh eyes on operational improvements.

Valuable institutional knowledge is successfully transferred in an open, transparent, and efficient manner as seasoned employees transition toward retirement.

Temecula Community Services Department staff (Left to right) Bea Barnett, Yvette Martinez, Wilhe Augustine, and Cecilia Solis at the Mary Phillips Senior Center’s 30th Anniversary Celebration & Re-Grand Opening.

Sharing Expertise Temecula is very fortunate to have retained many public servants for more than two and three decades.

This employment longevity means that full-time, benefitted positions do not open for recruitment frequently. We carefully paired promising emerging (or established) administrators with well-respected, senior staff who have demonstrated a personal commitment to advancing the professional development of future public service leaders. We had some unexpected cross-division surprises and identified potential succession strategies. These early adopters for these professional development opportunities have been participating in Job Shadowing and Cross Training sessions over the past few months. The mentees’ questions, insights, and observations have been very helpful in bringing a fresh perspective to Temecula’s programs, services, and facilities.

Planning Success Open succession planning discussions spark conversations that present valuable input to formalize opportunities to effectively train the next generation of public servants. Direct communication and transparency result in next-level success. Fostering cross-division pollination ensures that we can promote from within (when possible) and hire or promote into vacated entry-level positions.

(Left to right) Wilhe Augustine, Yvette Martinez, and Kassandra Ambriz at Temecula’s 13th Annual Health & Community Resources Fair in Town Square.

These are a few Team Temecula shining examples:

Patrice Brown I have lived in Temecula for 25 years and have worked for the Community Services Department for the past 10 years. I graduated from Temecula Valley High School in 2007 and attended Irvine Valley College where I played on the women’s basketball team. I moved back to Temecula with my husband, Jamal, to raise our three amazing kids. We are a busy family who enjoys everything the City has to offer from participating in city classes to playing at our beautiful parks, and coaching youth sports.

I have always had a passion to help our community and uplift the next generation. I am thankful for my current position with the Homeless Outreach Division, giving me the opportunity to make a difference every day for the city I love.

Isabel Morales It has been my pleasure to serve the community since 2015. Working for the City has been beneficial for both my personal and professional growth. It has been an amazing journey, one that started on the Arts and Culture team and continues at the Temecula Valley Museum. There I enjoy working on public art projects and practicing social media marketing strategies

by advertising museum events and exhibits, and providing historical images and facts to the community.

One of my favorite parts of the job is working with Temecula’s Sister City Daisen Nakayama, Japan. I maintain direct contact with representatives and facilitate exchanges between the two cities. I am blessed to have colleagues and mentors who support my efforts as well as share my passion for serving others.

Brittany Seay I have been fortunate to work for the City of Temecula for the past 7 years. The opportunities that I have been exposed to have been eye-opening and humbling. With every public interaction, I continue to gain a vast understanding of just how impactful recreation services are for our community. My experiences have included working with classes, the Temecula Theater, Human Services, our community centers, and special events. My position has allowed me to see that when we work together as a team it brings kindness and priceless moments that shape the city we live in. My passion has encouraged me to continue my education to obtain a bachelors degree in recreation. I want to bring the slogan “Parks Make Life Better” to reality by encouraging people to invest in recreational activities to maintain the wonderful quality of life that we have here in Temecula.

CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION | FALL 2023 31

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Emilio Raya My family moved to Temecula in 1991 and some of my fondest memories involve playing at the duck pond, taking swim lessons, watching my dad play basketball at the CRC gym, playing little league at the sports park, and attending Summer Day Camp. I started working for the City in high school. After graduating from San Diego State, I returned to the City and eventually found my way to the Classes Division. In my current role I provide support for City classes and instructors, as they inspire the same one of kind Temecula upbringing I was fortunate to have. I am very proud to be the latest in a long line of multigenerational public servants and I have seen firsthand the positive impact community services can provide to our citizens. I hope to see you attending one our many enrichment classes in the future!

Hilda Nieto I started working for the city in 2007 at the Recreation Center, not knowing I would fall in love with recreation. I have not only enjoyed working in different divisions of our department, but I have also enjoyed bringing my family to be part of the programs and special events. Even though I don’t live in this beautiful city, my family and I have enjoyed everything Temecula has to offer. In 2021 I was given the opportunity to transfer to the Old Town Temecula Community Theater as the ticket office lead/volunteer coordinator, and it has been an awesome experience. I hope that you can come by the theater and enjoy one of our many spectacular shows!

Jessica Walker My parents moved our family to the valley in the late 80’s when Temecula was still a small town. I graduated from Temescal Canyon High School and went on to graduate from Cal State Long Beach with a degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies. I have worked in the field of Recreation for the past 20 years. My experience with the City includes working in Special Events, Contract Classes, Programming and Facility Supervision. I have raised my 5 children here and they have been a part of many of the wonderful programs that Temecula has to offer.

As a recreation professional, I always strive to provide a quality experience and exceptional customer service to every person I have the pleasure to connect with. I am proud to be a part of the special team here in Temecula.

Cecilia Solis I have had the privilege of working in the vibrant City of Temecula for the past 8 years.

Starting as an intern at the Senior Center, I discovered my passion for serving others, which led me to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Human Services. Providing exceptional customer service to our residents brings me immense joy. As a proud mother of three, I have instilled in them the same love and appreciation I have for our community. They have become active volunteers, eagerly participating in various City events.

Recently, I have taken on the role of Community Services Supervisor. My mission is to continue supporting and empowering our most vulnerable populations. Together with my dedicated team and loving family, I strive to make a positive impact in our community.

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Enhancing Lives

through Recreation and Support Services in San Diego

By Kristi Fenick, San Diego Parks and Recreation Department

For over 50 years, the City of San Diego Parks and Recreation Department, Therapeutic Recreation Services (TRS) & AgeWell Services (AWS) has been providing recreation, social, fitness, educational programs, outings, special events, and support services for individuals with disabilities and older adults.

Navigating the Challenges of Covid-19 In May 2020, TRS and AWS relocated to Park de la Cruz (PDLC) Community Park in City Heights, despite the peak of COVID-19 regarding facility closures. The dedicated teams immediately realized the need to stay connected and engaged with participants. AWS expanded its Social Call program from calling patrons a few times a week to seven days a week. The program’s outreach efforts saw a 100% increase in the number of older adults reached, resulting in 12,000 calls made in 2020, seven days a week (including holidays) by City of San Diego staff and volunteers.

Virtual Programs and Hybrid Options During the pandemic, TRS and AWS provided ongoing virtual programs, such as drawing classes, poetry, Zumba, dance parties, fitness, Laugh Hour, Sports Talk, cooking classes, art contest, and open mic event. All of which resulted in decreasing isolation and improving health and wellness. Staff efforts to continue programming resulted in decreased isolation, and improved health and wellness for persons with disabilities and seniors alike. Due to participant requests, some programs are still offered hybrid.

Empowering through Technology In 2021, through a grant from San Diego Foundation and collaboration with Oasis San Diego’s Digital Divide grant, 175 older adults received Samsung tablets, 6 months

34 CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION | FALL 2023

of free Wi-Fi, and step-by-step instructions on device usage. This allowed them to stay connected with family and friends through an isolative and lonely period.

Parks and Recreation staff provided over 350 phone training sessions, equipping participants with an understanding of utilizing technology for online social, fitness, and educational classes, as well as the ability to safely secure access information, such as medical appointments, grocery shopping, etc. Once in-person programs were allowed, onsite technology classes were offered, in addition to continued phone assistance for those who weren’t comfortable or able to attend in person. In June 2021, participants slowly began attending a variety of events and taking advantage of PDLC amenities, including a fitness center,

recreation room, computer lab, teaching kitchen, skate park, ballfield, gymnasium, dance room, and various multipurpose rooms.

The Sensory Room’s Impact The state-of-the-art Sensory Room, introduced in March 2023, was developed with the understanding that innovative, adaptive play is essential in including individuals with special needs in recreation programs alongside their peers. The environment helps to develop a sense of empowerment and increases self-confidence and inclusion. It also serves to help individuals cope with physical and developmental impairments, increase relaxation and motivation, and promote greater levels of happiness and well-being. Utilizing sensory rooms in which a participant may choose to adapt to activities rather than forcing them to adapt to their surroundings, encourages exploration and engagement in a setting that decreases stress and anxiety which can overwhelm an individual with Autism or other sensory issues.

Typically developing children also benefit from a calm, welcoming environment.

The Program Garden: PDLC’s Program Garden, which was initially delayed due to funding constraints, became a reality thanks to many generous donors and community support. This addition aligns with the Parks Master Plan and the AgeFriendly Action Plan, adopted by the City Council in December 2021.

In September 2023, approximately 200 people celebrated the PDLC Garden Ribbon Cutting event.

Although the Program Garden was specifically designed as an all-inclusive space for individuals with disabilities and older adults, community volunteers also assist with tending to the garden and participating in programs.

As the newest addition to PDLC, the garden is thriving, resulting in the harvest being used for cooking classes, produce and seed exchange, and garden/nutrition educational classes. To enhance the space further, a mural was painted on the walls surrounding the garden by a local artist, and community members assisted with the painting. Participants are enjoying a tranquil outdoor space, utilizing all the senses. The following garden/ cooking programs are currently offered: “Green Thumb Club”, “Yummy Meals on a Budget”, and “Let’s Get Cookin’”. TRS and AWS look forward to the continued growth and expansion of the garden, including upcoming plans to partner with the Master Gardener Association of San Diego County on educational programs.

Community Collaborations and Volunteer Support To maximize program and service opportunities, TRS and AWS collaborate with numerous community organizations, including the County of San Diego, Roll to Success, San Diego College of Continuing Education, San Diego Futures Foundation, San Diego Seniors Community Foundation, SPORTS for Exceptional Athletes, and more. Serving Seniors along with AWS provides a congregate meal program to over 50 older adults daily, Monday through Friday at PDLC. Although the program provides a nutritional meal, the socialization, and comradery of the volunteers, staff, and patrons are just as, if not more beneficial. In addition to support from community organizations, volunteers are key to the success of TRS and AWS. In 2022, 450 volunteers assisted with serving lunch, planning, and leading ongoing programs, assisted at special events and day camps, and contributed 15,000 hours of service.

Promoting Recreation Therapy The practice of Therapeutic Recreation empowers participants to enjoy life, learn new skills, and/or modify old ones to compensate for abilities lost, re-educate individuals on how to get involved in community recreation programs, and most importantly, provide a feeling of accomplishment and belonging. Recognizing its importance, the City of San Diego Parks and Recreation Department provided a 10% increase in pay for staff who hold national (CTRS) and/or state (RTC) certification.

For more information visit: sandiego.gov/ therapeuticrecreationservices and sandiego.gov/ agewell

CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION | FALL 2023 35

SF Parks Alliance at 50 A COMPELLING EXAMPLE OF HOW PARKS ADVOCACY & PHILANTHROPY CAN EVOLVE TO MEET TODAY’S NEEDS

By Jake Ramirez, Associate Director of Marketing, SF Parks Alliance

As our cities become more complex, so too do our public spaces. While parks may appear to be simple and serene, building, maintaining, and activating them is complicated. It involves many public and private stakeholders, maze-like compliance structures, and various sources of funding, all with their own restrictions and requirements. In short, building a successful network of parks and public spaces is anything but simple.

In response, park advocates are also becoming more sophisticated, with the San Francisco Parks Alliance offering a compelling example of how parks advocacy and philanthropy can evolve to meet the needs of today.

Having recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, SF Parks Alliance offers a range of services. Between fundraising, programming, designing, building, and long-term stewardship, SF Parks Alliance has served as the one-stop-shop for San Franciscans who want to create better parks and public spaces.

The organization grew from a merger of two predecessor organizations, one focused on a more traditional conservancy model centered on fundraising, and the other focused on policy and advocacy. As it turns out, this history is pointing the way toward a new approach for the organization.

The Parks Alliance is launching two affiliate organizations to better help it achieve its mission of creating, sustaining, and advocating for San Francisco’s parks and public spaces that welcome and belong to everyone.

SF Parks Alliance activated JFK Promenade with its Promenade Presents event series, which distributed cash grants to community members and organizations to host free public events like yoga classes along the street.

SF Parks Forward and SF Parks Foundation will work to ensure that San Francisco’s parks and public spaces receive the investment they need in order to expand equitable park access, support San Francisco’s recovery, and reimagine the public realm in a way that makes the city prioritize one of its greatest assets: its parks.

SF Parks Forward will advocate for SF parks and public spaces. As a 501(c)4 organization, Parks Forward will be the voice for SF parks and public spaces at City Hall. It will also be an educator, highlighting the successes, challenges, and opportunities inherent in the city’s public spaces, and rallying a base of San Franciscans who believe in better public spaces.

SF Parks Foundation will raise funds to ensure that every San Franciscan has access to an exceptional park.

As a 501(c)3 organization, SF Parks Foundation will fundraise and distribute grants that enhance San

36 CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION | FALL 2023

Francisco parks and public spaces.

It will focus on bolstering the core funding sources that SF Parks Alliance has relied on for over fifty years to contribute over $100 million to parks and open spaces in the city.

This evolution of the Parks Alliance comes at an important time. The City of San Francisco is facing a major budget deficit in coming years due to a slow downtown recovery and falling tax revenues. Historically, budget cuts in San Francisco have first affected services seen as “luxuries” like parks, playgrounds, and public spaces. San Francisco’s parks are world-class, but that is the result of significant investments and advocacy following a period of budget cuts that hamstrung the city’s park system in the 1990s.

The truth is that San Francisco parks and public spaces aren’t luxuries.

As we were reminded during the pandemic, parks and public spaces are vital, they are much-needed

resources, beloved amenities, and the foundation of a healthy public realm. Great parks improve the health of locals, support public artists and performers, increase neighborhood cohesion, and support the important ecosystem of plants, insects, and animals that make San Francisco the city it is. They contribute to our physical, mental, emotional, social, ecological, and economic well-being—to the tune of more than a billion dollars each year.

Our parks and public spaces are simply too important to neglect, and the consequences of shrinking parks investments and deferring maintenance would have ongoing consequences for years to come, and only necessitate even larger expenses in the future. As any gardener knows, it is always easier to maintain a garden than try to revive it.

SF Parks Alliance made the decision to launch these new organizations after researching how peer organizations – like the City Center District in Philadelphia and The Sierra Club – are structured to respond to their own complex set of needs.

What they found is that a coalition of organizations coordinating together is the best way to address the challenges and opportunities San Francisco faces.

The SF Parks Alliance staff at the 2022 Public Space Summit, a Parks Alliancehosted gathering of local community leaders and public space improvers.

While the organizations will share common goals, each will operate independently with its own management and boards of directors. Luke Spray will serve as Managing Director of SF Parks Forward, and Steve Fredericks will serve as Managing Director of SF Parks Foundation. As is common at organizations with similar arrangements, there will be some shared resources such as office equipment and meeting spaces.

SF Parks Alliance has contributed to San Francisco’s parks and public spaces in the city for over fifty years under a number of different organizational structures. When developing these new organizations,

two goals were to share a vision of San Francisco public spaces and preserve the culture and deep knowledge the organization has developed.

With those goals in mind, leadership for SF Parks Foundation and SF Parks Forward comes from within the SF Parks Alliance, while most Board Members for the new organizations have existing ties to the organization.

While each organization will have a unique approach, they will share the same vision, values, and principles.

SF Parks Alliance is excited for this next chapter, where it can continue to ensure that San Francisco’s park system flourishes.

Before (left) and after (right) images of Alice Chalmers Playground, one of the thirteen Let’sPlaySF! playgrounds renovated

by SF Parks Alliance.

CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION | FALL 2023 37

Advertiser Index Aqua Source (209) 745-6401 aquasource.com Page: IBC

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

Lincoln Aquatics (800) 223-5450 lingcolnaquatics.com Page: 32

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

Page: 21

Aquatic Design Group (760) 438-8400 aquaticdesigngroup.com Page: IFC

Greenfields Outdoor Fitness (888) 315-9037 greenfieldsfitness.com Page: 9

Most Dependable Fountains, Inc.

RHA Landscape Architects - Planners, Inc.

(901) 867-0039 mostdependable.com Page: 43

(951) 781-1930 rhala.com Page: 5

Musco Sports Lighting

Schmidt Design Group, Inc.

Architerra Design Group, Inc. (909) 484-2800 architerradesigngroup.com Page: 21

Columbia Cascade Company (503) 223-1157 timberform.com Page: BC

Crane Architectural Group (714) 525-0363 cranearchitecturalgrp.com Page: 27

David Evans and Assoc. Inc. (909) 481-5750 deainc.com Page: 39

Hirsch and Associates (714) 776-4340 hailandarch.com Page: 45

Integra Planning & Landscape Architecture (707) 852-0500 integrapla.com Page: 7

iZone Imaging (254) 778-0722 izoneimaging.com Page: 53

Jones & Madhavan (805) 777-8449 jmae.com Page: 10

(949) 754-0503 musco.com Page: 28

My Bark Co., Inc. (209) 786-4042 mybark.net Page: 7

NUVIS (714) 754-7311 nuvis.net Page: 33

(619) 236-1462 schmidtdesign.com Page: 29

Turf Star, Inc. (800) 585-8001 turfstar.com Page: 45

Verde Design, Inc. (408) 985-7200 verdedesigninc.com Page: 13

Pilot Rock (800) 762-5002 pilotrock.com

Page: 23

Water Odyssey

By Fountain People, Inc. (512) 392-1155 waterodyssey.com Page: 50

38 CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION | FALL 2023

STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT & CIRCULATION 1. Publication Title: California Parks & Recreation 2. Publication No: 0076-930 3. Filing Date: September 21, 2023 4. Issue Frequency: Quarterly 5. No. of Issues Published Annually: 4 6. Annual Subscription Price: $30 7. Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication: California Park & Recreation Society, 7971 Freeport Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95832 8. Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters or General Business Office of Publisher: California Park & Recreation Society, 7971 Freeport Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95832 9. Full Names and Complete Mailing Addresses of Publisher, Editor and Managing Editor: Publisher: California Park & Recreation Society, 7971 Freeport Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95832; Editor: Stephanie Stephens, California Park & Recreation Society, 7971 Freeport Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95832; Managing Editor: Alisha Heriott, California Park & Recreation Society, 7971 Freeport Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95832 10. Owner: California Park & Recreation Society, 7971 Freeport Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95832 11. Known Bondholders, Mortgages and Other Security Holders Owning or Holding 1 Percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages or Other Securities: None 12: The purpose, function and nonprofit status of this organization and the exempt status for federal income tax purposes has not changed during the preceding 12 months.

13. Publication Name: California Parks & Recreation

California

Parks & Recreation

14. Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: 11/13/2023 15. Extent and Nature of Circulation: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months

No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date

4,298

4,716

4,298

4,716

0

0

0

0

4,304

4,722

1. Outside-County Stated on PS Form 3541

0

0

3. Other Classes Mailed Through USPS

42

105

46

109

A. Total No. Copies (Net Press Run) B. Paid and/or Requested Circulation

1. Mailed Outside-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541 2. Mailed In-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541

3. Paid Distribution Outside the Mails Including Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Paid Distribution Outside USPS® 4.Paid Distribution by Other Classes of Mail Through the USPS (e.g., First-Class Mail®) 6 6

C. Total Paid Distribution

D. Free Distribution by Mail

2. In County Stated on PS Form 3541 4. Outside the Mail

E. Total Free Distribution

0 4

0 4

F. Total Distribution

4,350

4,881

H. Total

4,437

4,902

G. Copies Not Distributed

87

21

J. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation 78.94% 97.74% 16. Publication of Statement of Ownership: Publication required. As printed in the 11/13/23 issue of this publication. Sig. Stephanie Stephens, Editor, November 7, 2023

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.

LOS ANGELES, ONTARIO, SAN DIEGO, SANTA CLARITA, TEMECULA, TUSTIN, VICTORVILLE

Kim S. Rhodes, PLA 3867 | ksr@deainc.com | 909.481.5750 4141 E. Inland Empire Blvd., Ste 250, Ontario, CA 91764 | www.deainc.com

CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION | FALL 2023 39

CALIFO R NIA PAR K & R EC R E ATI O N S O C IE T Y C O MPANY ME MB E R S

2023 CPRS Buyer’s Guide 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.

Agents of Discovery (855) 564-7328 www.agentsofdiscovery.com 201– 2040 Springfield Road Kelowna, British Columbia V1Y 9N7 SERVICE: Agents of Discovery is an education technology platform empowering parks to create engaging, personalized content.

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 www.americanrampcompany.com 601 S. 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.

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.

COMPANY MEMBERS AS OF OCTOBER 19, 2023

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.

Aquatic Service, Inc. (949) 493-4390 www.aquaticserviceinc.com 32236 Paseo Adelanto, Suite A San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 SERVICE: Commerical pool equipment maintenance, service, repair, installation, and equipment provider.

Architectural Nexus (916) 443-5911 www.archnexus.com 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.

B SAFE Playground Inspection Services, Inc. (916) 850-5071 10349 Ormond St Sunland, CA 91040-1413 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.

40 CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION | FALL 2023

Beginners Edge Sports Training, LLC (623) 748-9453 bestsportsca.com 24654 N Lake Pleasant Parkway Peoria, AZ 85383 SERVICE: We offer sports classes for kids through partnerships with City park and rec.

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 Architecture - Designs that build lasting communities.

BrightLife Designs (714) 326-8326 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.

BrightView Design Group (949) 238-4900 www.brightview.com/services/design 8 Hughes Irvine, CA 92618 SERVICE: Landscape Architecture practice with extensive experience in designing parks, civic spaces, sport complexes and private developments.

2023 CPRS Buyer’s Guide Brock USA (303) 544-5800 www.brockusa.com 3090 Sterling Circle Boulder, CO 80301 SERVICE: Playground/ Athletic Consult and Supply California Dinner Adventure (714) 690-1497 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, Ste. 140 Gold River, CA 95670 SERVICE: Landscape architects.

Calsense (760) 438-0525 www.calsense.com 2075 Corte Del Nogal #P Carlsbad, CA 92009 SERVICE: Calsense helps organizations save water, time and money with smart irrigation solutions.

Capital Program Management, Inc. (916) 553-4400 www.capitalpm.com 1851 Heritage Lane, Suite 210 Sacramento, CA 95815 SERVICE: Planning and project management, construction management, and budget and accounting services for capita outlay programs.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

DeltaPlan Systems, Inc. (424) 444-8214 deltaplansystems.com 9010 Owensmouth Avenue Canoga Park, CA 91304 SERVICE: Biotechnology lab - Our DeltaPlan Soil System aids in 50% water conservation among other attributes.

Disc Golf Landscape Architecture (DGLA) (775) 301-3721 www.discgolfla.com 975 Starlake Avenue South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 SERVICE: Disc golf course design through the broad lens of landscape architecture.

Eco-Counter (514) 849-9779 www.eco-compteur.com/en/ 3981 St. Laurent Blvd. Suite 604 Montreal, Quebec H2W 1Y5 SERVICE: Pedestian and bicycle counters, counter installation and maintenance, data analysis platform and services.

ELS Architecture and Urban Design (510) 549-2929 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.

CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION | FALL 2023 41

2023 CPRS Buyer’s Guide EventHub (310) 405-9447 eventhub.net 6523 California Ave SW, Ste.148 Seattle, WA 98136 SERVICE: Event Management Software for special events vendors and sponsors with interactive booth maps.

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.

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.

Greenfields Outdoor Fitness (888) 315-9037 www.greenfieldsfitness.com 2617 West Woodland Drive Anaheim, CA 92801 SERVICE: Outdoor fitness equipment.

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.

Grand Slam Safety, LLC (315) 301-4039 www.Grandslamsafety.com 9793 Bridge Street, P.O. Box 35 Croghan, NY 13327 SERVICE: Impecable and removeable or permenant, indoor/ outdoor fencing system; netting, divider curtains and batting cages.

Gro-Power, Inc. (909) 393-3744 www.gropower.com 15065 Telephone Avenue Chino, CA 91710 SERVICE: Go “green” with GroPower 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.

42 CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION | FALL 2023

Hunter Industries (760) 583-4479 www.hunterindustries.com/contact-us 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 91740-3502 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 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 (707) 852-0500 www.integrapla.com 1506 4th Street Santa Rosa, CA 95404 SERVICE: Planning and landscape architecture design services including parks, aquatic centers and recreation facilities.

Interwest, A SAFEbuilt Company (714) 899-9039 www.interwestgrp.com 1 Jenner, Suite 160 Irvine, CA 92618 SERVICE: Comprehensive community development services including planning, ;andscape architecture, land devcelopment & urban design.

Most Dependable Fountains, Inc.™

and so much more!

Most Dependable Fountains, Inc.™ 901-867-0039 www.mostdependable.com

2023 CPRS Buyer’s Guide 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.

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 www.kaypark.com 1301 Pine Street Janesville, IA 50647-0477 SERVICE: Manufacture bleachers, picnic tables, grills, fire rings, drinking fountains, bike racks, pedal boats, litter receptacles, outdoor games, & more!

Kimley Horn (619) 234-9411 www.kimley-horn.com/markets/ parks-recreation/ 401 B Street, #600 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.

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.

Landscape Structures, Inc. (763) 972-5200 www.playlsi.com 601 7th Street S Delano, MN 55328 SERVICE: Commercial playground designer and manufacturer.

Lincoln Aquatics (925) 687-9500 www.lincolnaquatics.com 2051 Commerce Avenue Concord, CA 94520 SERVICE: Distributors of commercial swimming pool equipment, chemicals, and aquatic supplies since 1954.

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 1000 Broadway Suite 260 Oakland, CA 94608 SERVICE: Project/Construction management and cost planning/ estimating services for park & recreation capital projects.

Malmsten Inc. (602) 818-4791 malmsten.com/en-US 8270 S Kyrene Road, Suite 104 Tempe, AZ 85284-2118 SERVICE: Swimming pool lane lines and water polo equipment.

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.

44 CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION | FALL 2023

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 1101 California Avenue, Suite 209 Corona, CA 92881 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.

Motz Group (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.

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.

Mackay Park Rain Water Catchment, Cypress

Gilroy Gardens Splash Pad, Gilroy Pedestrian & Bicycle Paths Long Beach

Gilroy Gardens Water Journey, Gilroy

Mackay Park Picnic & Play, Cypress

I A

Patrick Hirsch

President pat@hailandarch.com 714.776.4340

H

Hirsch & Associates, Inc. Landscape Architecture & Planning

Charles Foley

Vice President chuck@hailandarch.com www.hailandarch.com

CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION | FALL 2023 45

2023 CPRS Buyer’s Guide 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.

MyRec.com-Recreation Software (802) 465-9732 www.myrec.com P.O. Box 16997 Salt Lake City, UT 84116 SERVICE: An Industry leader providing robust, web-based software with all-inclusive features that simplofy your Recreation Management.

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.

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.

Omnify Inc. (650) 800-3732 www.getomnify.com 800 West El Camino Real Mountain View, CA 94040 Service: Technology platform for registration and service commerce.

OpenCounter (800) 216-7360 131 Dartmouth Street, 3rd Floor Boston, MA 02116 SERVICE: OpenCounter is on a mission to build a better permitting experience for all!

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.

Pacific Park & Play, LLC/ Little Tikes Commercial (714) 846-4885 www.pacparkplay.com 1747 Colgate Dr. Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 SERVICE: Pacific Park & Play builds communities by providing quality outdoor play spaces that bring children and neighbors together to imagine, explore and play.

Paddock Pool Equipment Co. (803) 324-1111 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.

46 CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION | FALL 2023

ParkInk (800) 423-8478 www.advisorsmarketing.com 7040 Avenida Encinas #104 Carlsbad, CA 92011 SERVICE: Everything imprinted for Park, Recreation, Camps & Community 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 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 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.

Powerland Equipment, Inc. (760) 749-1271 www.powerlandequipment.com 27943 Valley Center Road Valley Center, CA 92082 SERVICE: Joh Deere, Mean Green, STIHL, Generac & Milwaukee

2023 CPRS Buyer’s Guide Productive Parks, LLC (630) 765-4252 674 Rochelle Terrace Lombard, IL 60148 SERVICE: Maintenance & asset management software for parks and recreation: work orders, task scheduling, inspections.

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 www.reschultzconstruction.com 1767 N. Batavia Street Orange, CA 92865 SERVICE: General engineering contractor/playground eq. installation/park rehabs/fitness eq. installation. Site work/concrete/ shade shelter installations.

R.J. Thomas Mfg. Co./Pilot Rock (800) 762-5002 www.pilotrock.com P.O. Box 946 Cherokee, IA 51012-0946 SERVICE: Manufacturing and direct sales of park grills, picnic tables, benches, campfire rings, trash receptacle holders, etc.

Re-Tek Products, Inc. (502) 744-9946 retekproducts.com P.O. Box 22015 Louisville, KY 40252 SERVICE: We provide all rubber and binder materials for playgrounds and running tracks.

RecWest Outdoor Products, Inc. (818) 735-3838 www.recwest.com 31316 Via Colinas, #118 Westlake Village, CA 91362 SERVICE: Representing Landscape Structures Inc., DuMor Site Furnishings.

RHA Landscape Architects Planners, Inc. (951) 781-1930 www.rhala.com 6800 Indiana Avenue, Suite 245 Riverside, CA 92506 SERVICE: Park & sports facility planning, LEED certified, water conservation design, community consensus building, park rehabilitation.

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.

Robertson Industries, Inc. (800) 858-0519 www.totturf.com 1027 W. 9th Street Upland, CA 91786 SERVICE: Furnish and installation of recreational and playground safety surfacing. New construction, renovations, maintenance and repairs.

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.

Ruff Ruff Poop Bags (949) 243-0623 www.ruffruffpoopbags.com 3160 E. La Palma Avenue, #D Anaheim, CA 92806 SERVICE: We provide dog waste bags for communities, parks & HOAS, for the dispensers. We provide low cost and high quality products.

S.R.Smith LLC (503) 266-2231 x2278 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 PlaygroundSafetyInspections.net PO Box 945 Leander, TX 78646 SERVICE: Certified playground safety inspections, safety surface impact testing on playgrounds, & sports fields.

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.

Shade ‘N Net (800) 290-3387 www.shade-n-net.com 5711 West Washington Phoenix, AZ 85043 SERVICE: Tension cable breathable fabric shade structures/vents out heat/88% sun blockage/97% UV ray protection.

CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION | FALL 2023 47

2023 CPRS Buyer’s Guide Smart Rain (801) 295-3339 smartrain.net 1343 West 75 North Centerville, UT 84014 SERVICE: Offers a complete stateof-the-art smart irrigation package, combining our sophisticated commercial-grade controller with an extremely intuitive water management software application.

Our average customer saves 3040% on their water usage. Smart Rain’s smart controller is EPA WaterSense Certified and qualifies for LEED points.

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 823 Lexington-Gallatin 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.

Spurlock Landscape Architects (619) 681-0090 www.spurlock-land.com 2122 Hancock Street San Diego, CA 92110 SERVICE: Spurlock Landscape Architects provides landscape architecture, urban design, and planning services.

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) Stand Out Merch (415)425-1824 www.standoutmerch.com 35688 Cathedral Canyon Dr. Ste. 208 Cathedral City, CA 92234 SERVICE: We find promotional products that are eco-friendly and give back 10% of the profits to support your organization.

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 www.structurecast.com 8261 McCutchen Road Bakersfield, CA 93311 SERVICE: Precast, pre-engineered restroom, & concession buildings.

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.

48 CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION | FALL 2023

TinyMobileRobots (888) 844-8111 tinymobilerobots.us 1634 Cobb International Blvd NW Kennesaw, GA 30152 SERVICE: Autonomous robots for athletic field line marking and onfield logo painting.

TMT Enterprises, Inc. (408) 432-9040 www.tmtenterprises.net 1996 Oakland Road San Jose, CA 95131 SERVICE: Bulk Material Supplier - baseball surfaces, playground materials, top dress sand, topsoil, soil mixes, decomposed granite, organics.

Trueline (951) 817-0777 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 Renovation Machinery, Inc. (562) 696-5780 www.turfrenovationmachinery.com 19858 Eyota Road Apple Valley, CA 92308 SERVICE: Manufacture and Sales of Sports Turf Renovator Machines.

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!

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.

2023 CPRS Buyer’s Guide Via Promotionals, Inc. (661) 254-4910 www.viapromos.com 25845 Railroad Avenue, Unit 6, Saugus, CA 91350 SERVICE: Promotional items, tradeshow accessories, embriodered and screen printed apparel, graphics creat custom apparel websites.

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.

Vineyard Rock Products (831) 637-6443 www.vineyardrockproducts.com 1781 Limekiln Road Hollister, CA 95023 SERVICE: Decorative granite products.

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.

Vortex Aquatic Structures Intl.

(877) 586-7839 www.vortex-intl.com 3500 South Dupont Highway, Suite EP-101 Dover, DE 19901 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

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.

Willoughby Stainless Fountains WSF (317) 875-0830 www.wsf-usa.com 5105 W. 78th Street Indianapolis, IN 46268 SERVICE: WSF manufactures outdoor site furnishings and plumbing fixtures for parks and recreation.

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 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.

Youth Evolution Activities (805) 202-8620 www.youthevolutionbasketball.com 191 S Oak Park, Suite 11 Grover Beach, CA 93433 SERVICE: Youth Recreation Backetball & Soccer Programs 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.

THANK YOU CPRS COMPANY MEMBERS! A big THANK YOU to our Company Members for your continued support!

Interested in Company Membership? Visit www.cprs.org/cprs/membership to see benefits and join us.

CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION | FALL 2023 49

Represented in Northern California by:

916.923.2180 www.playgroundpros.com Represented in Southern California by:

800-453-2735 www.gwpark.com

Creating fun ways to spray & play!

Photo by Dunaway Associates

Our passion is to promote joy, learning, socialization, and healthy communities through unique aquatic play experiences. From contemporary designs to fun themes, we work with you to develop innovative aquatic play equipment and environments.

Let us help you with your next aquatic play adventure.

Contact Us: 512.392.1155 | waterodyssey.com

CPRS Spotlights COSUMNES PARKS & RECREATION

Viral TikTok: Row, Row, Row Your Pumpkin Boat!

By Cristopher Ruiz Martinez and Jenna Brinkman, Cosumnes Community Services District

In a digital age where a single video can capture the world’s attention, Cosumnes Parks & Recreation has shown just how unique and captivating their events can be. A TikTok video posted by Assistant Communications Specialist Cristopher Ruiz Martinez has taken the internet by storm, garnering over 18 million views and 2 million likes in just a few days.

lose, or sink; the results are always entertaining!

The video’s visual elements drew a wide range of reactions from TikTok users worldwide. Many expressed disbelief at this extraordinary and creative way to celebrate the pumpkin season. Others shared events like the Pumpkin Regatta in their hometowns, from Maine to New Hampshire and Photo: Cosumnes Community Services District even as far as Canada. The video elicited different responses based on the diverse The video showcased the magic of Cosumnes Parks & cultural and personal experiences of TikTok users.

Recreation’s annual Elk Grove Giant Pumpkin Festival, Cosumnes Parks & Recreation’s viral TikTok video specifically focusing on their Pumpkin Regatta showcases the wonder of their unique event and attraction. While Cristopher himself couldn’t have highlights the power of social media in bringing global predicted the global buzz it would generate, there were recognition to local events and traditions. It serves as a few key ingredients to its viral success. a testament to the creativity, innovation, and engaging Leveraging TikTok’s algorithm, nature of the Cosumnes Parks & Recreation team, who Cristopher strategically used have successfully shared their community’s spirit with trending audio to ensure the the world. video appeared on countless “For For Cristopher, a first-time festival attendee, the You” pages. This decision was unexpected fame of his TikTok video raises a compelling pivotal in catching viewers’ eyes question: what’s next? Cosumnes Parks & Recreation (and ears) worldwide, as the now has 4,700 new followers eager for more content, audio was already familiar and they are keen to see where the journey will take and intriguing to TikTok’s them. user base.

Whether it’s more Giant Pumpkin Festival content, But it wasn’t just the exciting park updates, or other hidden gems of Elk audio that set this video Grove, one thing is for sure – their newfound followers apart. The content will be eagerly awaiting the next TikTok adventure. itself was undeniably Cosumnes Parks & Recreation has a unique opportunity extraordinary. The video to leverage this new audience for “edutainment” takes viewers into the heart (entertainment with an educational aspect) about the of the festival, where eight numerous benefits that local parks and recreation bring enormous pumpkins, some to individuals and communities. They can showcase weighing as much as 1,000 how their initiatives enrich lives, foster community pounds, are transformed connections, and promote health and well-being into makeshift boats. They through engaging content and outreach. The future is are carved, hollowed bright, and their newfound digital community is eager to out, and set afloat on explore it together. the park’s lake. Win,

CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION | FALL 2023 51

CPRS Spotlights CITY OF SANTA MARIA

A Santa Maria Style Summer

By Barbara Wiley; Edited by Jasmine Gonzalez

In Santa Maria, each summer unfolds with its own unique stories, and this year was no exception. The Recreation and Parks Department orchestrated an innovative blend of fresh and familiar summer programs, catering to residents and visitors of all ages.

Throughout the 2023 Summer Concerts in the Park series, Santa Maria’s Sunday afternoons reverberated with melodious tunes.

Spanning eight weekends, the concerts showcased an eclectic mix of live bands, spanning genres from classic rock and pop to timeless Motown hits. These performances transformed the park into a lively gathering, perfect for picnics, dancing, and relaxation on the emerald lawn. With each passing weekend, attendance surged, a testament to the concerts’ popularity.

The July 4th Jamboree orchestrated by the City’s Special Events Team drew over a thousand participants.

This patriotic celebration encompassed music, indoor and outdoor games, swimming, and crafts.

The City of Santa Maria’s remarkable commitment to outdoor equity manifested in the Santa Maria Outdoor Recreation Experience (SMORE), buoyed by the California

Outdoor Equity Grant. A series of environmental education classes and outdoor excursions aimed at fostering a deeper connection with the natural world. SMORE offered a diverse array of classes and excursions catering to participants of all ages, from infants to seniors.

Buena Vista Park’s historic cabin served as the hub for these classes, preparing attendees for realworld experiences in the region’s

stunning natural landscapes.

Topics spanned from butterfly migration to ocean mammals, campfire safety to birdwatching.

Enriching these lessons were excursions to destinations like Pismo Beach Butterfly Grove and the Channel Islands, solidifying classroom knowledge with hands-on experience.

The grant extended to free beginner swim lessons, kayak training, and

HAVE SOMETHING EXCITING TO SHARE? CPRS Individual and Agency members are invited to submit Spotlight articles for inclusion in a future issue of the magazine. Send your news briefs (up to 1,000 words) and images to: Alisha Herriott | alisha@cprs.org | 916-665-2777

52 CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION | FALL 2023

paddle board lessons. Encouraging higher learning, SMORE organized college exploration trips to major California universities, enriching high school students’ academic aspirations.

SMORE Family Camps underscored the grant’s community-focused spirit, accommodating thirty to one-hundred Santa Maria residents. These campouts, held at picturesque sites like Cachuma Lake and Jalama Beach, fostered nature

immersion through hikes, beach walks, and stargazing. Participants spanning all ages formed lasting bonds, connecting over shared experiences.

A standout initiative was the weeklong free summer camp at Camp Ocean Pines, where sixty-two children aged 10-16 embraced independence and camaraderie.

Daily updates reassured parents, capturing their children’s memorable moments.

As the curtain descends on Santa Maria’s summer, attention shifts to the upcoming fall and winter programs. Expectations are high for events like the Lunar Eclipse Star Gazing Party, Dia de los Muertos Festival, and holiday decorating contest. From SMORE Family Camps to whale watching trips and island visits, Santa Maria’s spirit of community engagement and recreation promises to shine even brighter in the upcoming seasons.

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888-464-9663 | www.izoneimaging.com

Wayfinding | Interpretive Panels | Trail Signage CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION | FALL 2023 53

CPRS Spotlights CALIFORNIA PARK & RECREATION SOCIETY

CPRS Welcomes New Community Engagement Coordinator, Colleen Lafleur Colleen Lafleur (she/her) joins CPRS as the Community Engagement Coordinator. Born and raised in the Midwest, Colleen studied horticulture (Green House Crop Production and Sustainable Botany) at the University of Illinois. Her professional background is in Membership Development working at both the Chicago Botanic Gardens and the Tucson Botanical Gardens. Colleen has a knack for connecting people and has served as the Development Chair and governing board member at the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Tucson Boys and Girls Club. She is passionate about volunteering and giving back to the community. She received her CADM certification from Northwestern University specializing in fundraising storytelling and developing direct

mail campaigns. Colleen is excited to engage the CPRS community via online networking, events, and continuing education. She looks forward to helping members navigate their membership benefits and learn all about the amazing CPRS programming.

Since moving out west Colleen has embraced the outdoors, becoming an avid hiker and camper. She loves to paddleboard in the summer and ski in the winter. Taking time to learn the botanical names of the wildflowers growing in this area is her new favorite pastime. She has two green thumbs and is always happy to adopt a struggling houseplant or give good plant advice. She is also a loyal servant to her Italian Greyhound puppy, Ivy.

California

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LOOKING TO ADVERTISE? If you would like more information about advertising, contact Todd Pernsteiner at todd@pernsteiner.com or call (952) 841-1111. Visit www.bit.ly/CPRSmagazine or scan the QR code to view the advertising media kit.

54 CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION | FALL 2023

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CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION | FALL 2023 55 Acid-Rite is a registered trademark ® of Axiall Ohio LLC

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