RECREATION & PARKS

615 S. McClelland Street
Santa Maria, CA 93454

The Department of Recreation and Parks' mission is to enrich the lives of the residents of Santa Maria through quality recreation programs and services; and to provide safe and well-maintained facilities and parks, while anticipating the changing needs of the community. The department operates 234 acres of developed parkland in 27 neighborhood and community parks, part of the 1,774-acre Los Flores Ranch Park property, the Abel Maldonado Community Youth Center, the Hagerman Softball Complex, Paul Nelson Aquatics Center, Elwin Mussell Senior Center, Veterans' Memorial Center and other community centers. The department provides programs in aquatics, youth and adult sports, therapeutics and senior services, Special Olympics, community classes and events, youth and teen programs, and Families For the First Decade programs. It also runs the City's Urban Forest Program.
* NEW * Name That Burro Contest
Recreation Guide
Leisure Action Plan 2006
Recreation and Parks Department Organizational Chart

photo-Alexander Posada, Director of Recreation and Parks ALEXANDER POSADA
Director of Recreation & Parks

City Phone: (805) 925.0951 x260
City Fax: (805) 925.4508
E-mail

EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT:

  • Social Services, San Jose State University
  • Social Work, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
  • Public Administration, La Salle University
  • Director of Recreation and Parks, City of Santa Maria
  • Interim Recreation Superintendent, City of Santa Maria
  • Recreation Supervisor, City of Santa Maria
  • Facility Manager, City of Santa Maria
  • Social Worker I, County of Santa Barbara
  • Recreation Specialist, City of Santa Maria
  • Recreation Specialist, Hayward Area District
  • Teen Counselor, City of San Jose

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:

  • Kiwanis Club of Santa Maria
  • United Way of the Central Coast
  • Santa Maria Affiliate Santa Barbara Foundation
  • Advisory Committee, Special Olympics Southern California
  • North County American Red Cross Disaster Services
  • American Red Cross

PERSONAL:

  • Marital status: Married
  • Children: Three
  • General interests: Travel and photography

DESCRIPTION OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

Responsible for the daily operations and management of the Recreation and Parks Department. Provide staff support to the City Manager's Office, City Council and Recreation and Parks Commission. Supervise a staff of 30 full-time and 32 permanent part-time, assigned to 5 major divisions: Parks, Landscape Districts, Urban Forest, Recreation, and Administration. Services are provided in the following areas: city parks (225+ acres), part of Los Flores Ranch Park, publicly managed trees (30,000+), street medians, storm basins and rights-of-way (45+ acres), Santa Maria Town Center landscaping and parking structures, 7 major recreation facilities offering specialty recreation classes and programs and support to community based recreation programs i.e., youth basketball, youth soccer, etc.

Mission Statement
To enrich the lives of the residents of Santa Maria and surrounding areas through the provision of quality recreation and park facilities, programs and services, while being intuitive and responsive to the leisure needs of our customers.

2011-12 Goals/Objectives

  1. Strive to maintain the highest levels of service to the public, while maintaining strong fiscal control over expenses, by utilizing a prioritization service delivery system to efficiently and effectively maintain parks and community buildings operated by the department.
  2. Increase sponsorship opportunities for business and civic organizations by developing sponsorship “packages,” replacing the current system of seeking individual event sponsors.
  3. Expand the current High School District aquatic contract to assume operation and maintenance of the new Santa Maria High School pool in the spring of 2012, in an effort to provide the public with access during non-school hours for community recreation programs and at the same time generate more revenue.
  4. Begin to develop an action plan to deal with the changing certification requirements from the American Red Cross, as they relate to instructional programs and services.
  5. Expand water safety education programs, provide low-cost venues for recreational swim activities, and promote health and wellness in the community.
  6. Continue working with non-profit organizations, schools, heath care providers, businesses, and funding partners throughout the Santa Maria Valley, in an effort to maintain quality recreational opportunities to all City residents.
  7. Expand marketing efforts and fund-raising opportunities in the community through P.L.A.Y., Inc.
  8. Target families and groups who are not regular users of departmental programs and services and assimilate them into participating in departmental-sponsored programs.
  9. Work with other departments to complete projects that directly impact the community’s leisure experience, including Fire Station construction at Preisker Park, Los Flores Ranch Development, as well as attempt to expand community participation in community events.
  10. Develop for Council’s consideration, a recommendation for proposed user fees and charges in an attempt to improve cost recovery of departmental services and activities.