Department Organizational Structure

Divison Profile

Louis Merlin, Deputy Director (619) 235-5913

• Information Systems Management 

Jon Richards, Assistant Deputy Director (619) 533-6527

• Human Resources
• Safety
• Training

Michele Kelley, Program Manager

• Finance and Budget

Michelle Abella-Shon, Program Manager

• Asset Management
• Capital Improvements and Grants Program

Divison Profile

Steve Palle, Deputy Director (619) 235-1103
Geographic by Council Districts 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7

• Neighborhood, Community, and Mini Parks
• Recreation Centers
• Joint Use Operations
• After School Programs
• Downtown Maintenance
• Naval Training Center Community Park

Divison Profile

Gina Dulay, Deputy Director (619) 525-8221
Geographic by Council Districts 3, 4, 8, and 9

• Neighborhood, Community, and Mini Parks
• Recreation Centers
• Joint Use Operations
• After School Programs
• Citywide Recreation Programs:
  • Aquatics
  • Therapeutic Recreation Services Program
  • Age Well Services Program
• Mount Hope Cemetery

Tim Graham, Program Coordinator 619-525-8226

• Animal Services

Divison Profile

Mike Tully, Deputy Director (619) 235-1100

• Beach and Shoreline Park Maintenance
• Citywide Maintenance Services (including moving, sweeping, aquatic features, park forestry and irrigation)

Christina Chadwick, Assistant Deputy Director (619) 533-6518

• Balboa Park Operations, Maintenance, and Park Ranger Program
  • Civic Dance Arts
• Mission Bay Park Operations, Maintenance, and Park Ranger Program
• Presidio Park Operations, Maintenance, and Park Ranger Program

Michael Ruiz, Chief Park Ranger 619-235-1153

Divison Profile

Scott Bentley, Deputy Director (858) 552-1634
John Howard, Assistant Deputy Director (858) 552-1785

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

Devin Cullen, Senior Golf Course Superintendent,  (858) 552-1619

• Maintenance of Torrey Pines North and South Golf Courses

Wayne Carpenter, Senior Golf Course Superintendent (619) 235-1183

• Maintenance of Balboa 18 and 9 Golf Courses and Mission Bay Golf Course

Divison Profile

Erika Ferreira, Deputy Director (619) 685-1323

• Brush Management of City-Owned Open Space
• Citywide Open Space Coordination and Maintenance
• Gas Tax Street Median Maintenance Program
• 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 Lake and Creek
  • Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve
  • Mission Trails Regional Park
  • Otay Valley Regional Park
  • Tri-Canyon, including Tecolote, Marian Bear, Mission Valley Preserve, and Rose Canyon
  • Urban Canyons
• San Diego River Planning Support

Program Profile

Michael Jones, Assistant Deputy Director (619) 685-1307

• Special Benefits for Public Amenities, including:
  • Greenbelts
  • Open Space (enhanced and natural)
  • Parkway landscaping
  • Parks
  • Streetlights
  • Street medians (landscape and hardscape}

Divison Profile

Sarah Erazo, Deputy Director (619) 525-8211

• Recreation programming and events

Salome Martinez, Program Manager 619-613-7448

• Recreation Equity