City Manager Appoints Justin Long to Lead Recreation and Parks Dept
Published on June 27, 2023
Today, Alameda City Manager Jennifer Ott announced that she has selected Justin Long to serve as the Director of the Alameda Recreation and Parks Department (ARPD). Justin Long is a highly skilled parks and recreation professional who comes to the City of Alameda with extensive experience, including executive oversight of park operations as the Deputy Director of Parks for the City of San Jose, the Assistant Superintendent for Environmental Stewardship for the Parks and Recreation Board of the City of Minneapolis, and the Operations Manager for the City of Atlanta’s park system. Justin is also a landscape architect and resident of the City of Alameda.
“Following an extensive and competitive search, I’m excited to welcome Justin to the executive team at the City of Alameda and look forward to working together to enhance the park and recreation experience for the Alameda community,” stated City Manager Jennifer Ott. “Justin’s landscape architecture background, executive parks experience, and commitment to innovation, equity, and service excellence makes him an ideal candidate for this position.”
The ARPD Director will report to the Assistant City Manager and work closely and collaboratively with the City’s executive team. ARPD is California’s 3rd oldest recreation program, managing 26 parks spanning 200 acres, 17 recreation facilities, oversight of the 45-hole golf course, and a diverse array of programming and events for people of all ages.
ARPD staff includes 31 full-time and more than 300 seasonal part-time employees and 250 volunteers, and has an annual operating budget of $13 million, along with a $7 million capital budget.
“I am excited about the opportunity to bring my skills and expertise to the City of Alameda and contribute to the continued success of the Recreation and Parks Department,” remarked Justin Long. “I am passionate about the field of parks and recreation, especially in my hometown, and will strive to create meaningful and equitable experiences for all community members.”
The City would like to thank David Leimsieder, Acting Recreation and Parks Director, for serving in this role since the beginning of the year as we recruited and appointed this position.