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Parks & Recreation

Department Organizational Structure

Vision: To connect all to the City of San Diego's diverse, world-class park system.

Mission: To provide healthy, sustainable, and enriching environments for all.

Karen Dennison
Karen Dennison
Assistant Director
619-235-1188

Tom Tomlinson
Tom Tomlinson
Assistant Director
619-533-3187

Address
City of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation
2125 Park Boulevard, MS 39
San Diego, CA 92101

Email - AskParks@sandiego.gov

Parks and Recreation Department Organization Chart (Revised February 2024)

Administrative Services Division

Division Profile

Louis Merlin
Louis Merlin
Deputy Director
619-235-5913

Rosa Abrego
Rosa Abrego
Assistant Deputy Director
619-840-9939

Key Services:

  • Administrative Services
  • Human Resources
  • Information Systems Management
  • Safety
  • Training
  • Volunteer Program

Administrative Services Division: Asset Management, Capital Projects, and Grants Section

Key Services:

  • Asset Management
  • Capital Grants Program
  • Capital Improvements Program – Design Review, Finance, Project Scoping
  • Five-Year Capital Outlook
  • Geographic Information Systems
  • Landscape Architecture
  • Parks and Recreation Board Liaison
  • Park Design Review and Plan Check
  • Small Project Delivery
  • Unfunded Park Improvements

Administrative Services Division: Fiscal Operations Section

Michele Kelley
Michele Kelley
Program Manager
858-373-7457

Key Services:

  • Budget Development and Monitoring
  • Financial Operations
  • Records Retention

Balboa Park Division

Division Profile Coming Soon

Jon Richards
Jon Richards
Deputy Director
619-433-2697

Key Services:

  • Balboa Park Maintenance
  • Balboa Park Operations including leaseholder relations
  • Permit Center and Special Events for Balboa Park, Mission Bay Park, Shoreline Parks, and other regional parks
  • Presidio Park Operations and Maintenance
  • Stakeholder Relations

Citywide Park Maintenance Services Division

Division Profile Coming Soon

Victor Nava
Victor Nava
Deputy Director
619-980-0659

Key Services:

  • Agronomy, Turf Care, Mowing, and Sweeping
  • Aquatic Feature Repair
  • Coastal Area Compliance
  • Equipment Repair
  • Get It Done Implementation
  • Irrigation Repair
  • Park Arborist and Tree Care
  • Pesticide Application
  • Playground Repair
  • Storm Water Compliance
  • Support Services
  • Water Conservation

Community Parks I Division

Division Profile

Steve Palle
Steve Palle
Deputy Director
619-235-1103

Key Services:

  • Park Operations and Maintenance for Council Districts 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7

    • Neighborhood, Community, and Mini Parks
    • Recreation Centers
    • Joint Use Operations
  • Downtown Parks and Civic Center Complex
  • Naval Training Center Park

Community Parks II Division

Division Profile

Gina Dulay
Gina Dulay
Deputy Director
619-525-8221

Nicole McNeil
Nicole McNeil
Assistant Deputy Director
619-917-9553

Key Services:

  • Park Operations and Maintenance for Council Districts 3, 4, 8, and 9

    • Neighborhood, Community, and Mini Parks
    • Recreation Centers
    • Joint Use Operations
  • Animal Services
  • Aquatics Citywide
  • Mount Hope Cemetery
  • Sports Leagues Citywide

Mission Bay and Shoreline Parks Division

Division Profile Coming Soon

Key Services:

  • Beach Mechanized Maintenance
  • Shoreline Park
    • Operations
    • Maintenance
  • Mission Bay Park
    • Events
    • Maintenance
    • Operations
  • Navigational and Safety Buoy Repair and Replacement

Golf Operations Division

Division Profile

John Howard
John Howard
Deputy Director
858-552-1785

Tim Graham
Tim Graham
Assistant Deputy Director
858-552-1634

Devin Cullen
Devin Cullen
Senior Golf Course Superintendent: Torrey Pines
858-552-1611

Wayne Carpenter
Wayne Carpenter
Senior Golf Course Superintendent: Balboa Park and Mission Bay
858-552-1183 / 619-235-1183

Key Services:

  • Management of the City's Municipal Golf Courses at Torrey Pines, Balboa Park, and Mission Bay
  • Operations, programs, and events at the City Golf Courses

Open Space Division

Open Space Division Profile
Maintenance Assessment Districts (MADs) Section Profile

Erika Ferreira
Erika Ferreira
Deputy Director
619-685-1323

Michael Jones
Michael Jones
Assistant Deputy Director, MADs
619-685-1307

Key Services:

  • Brush Management of City-Owned Open Space
  • Citywide Open Space Coordination and Maintenance
  • Gas Tax Street Median Maintenance Program
  • Maintenance Assessment Districts (MADs): Enhanced public landscaping and beautification along streets and in parks
  • Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP) and Vernal Pool Habitat Conservation Program (VPHCP) Compliance
  • Open Space Regional Parks and Park Ranger Program:
    • Black Mountain Open Space
    • Chollas Creek Watershed Park including Chollas Lake
    • Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve
    • Mission Trails Regional Park
    • Otay Valley Regional Park
    • San Diego River Park
    • Tri-Canyon, including Tecolote, Marian Bear, Mission Valley Preserve, and Rose Canyon
    • Urban Canyons

Park Ranger Division

Division Profile Coming Soon

Michael Ruiz
Michael Ruiz
Deputy Director/Chief Park Ranger
619-235-1153

Key Services:

  • Park Ranger Units:

    • Balboa Park, Chicano Park, Downtown Parks, Presidio Park
    • Community and Neighborhood Parks
    • Mission Bay Park
    • Shoreline Parks and Beaches
  • Emergency Response
  • Sidewalk Vending and Expressive Activity

Recreation Services Division

Division Profile

Sarah Erazo
Sarah Erazo
Deputy Director
619-525-8211

Salome Martinez
Salome Martinez
Program Manager
619-613-7488

Key Services:

  • Age Well Services
  • Civic Dance Arts
  • Come Play Outside and Parks After Dark Coordination
  • Community Recreation Groups
  • Recreation Center Funds
  • Recreation Equity
  • Recreation Programming and Events
  • Special Use Permits
  • Therapeutic Recreation Services