Park District will Move Headquarters to Rancho Cordova City Hall

Rosemont residents who have a question for their local park district will soon have to travel a little farther to ask it.

The Cordova Recreation and Park District is moving its district office from Hagan Park to Rancho Cordova City Hall next week.

“At this time, it is much more cost effective to move than to renovate the antiquated systems in the current administration office,” a press release quoted District Administrator Jim Rodems as saying. “We received a very good deal to rent new office space, centrally located in our expanding district.  It would have been foolish for us to turn it down.”

The district's Hagan Park location received a $643,000 makeover in 2011, funded mostly by state money. That renovation added landscaping, an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant walkway complete with a cascading water feature, and more. But the nearby offices were untouched.

"Upon review of a number of work flow and technology issues it became apparent that renovating the district offices would not be cost efficient," Becca Niles, a Recreation Coordinator and district spokeswoman, said in an email. "The move to the new office space will put the administrative functions in the middle of the district improving access and communication to the community while providing a state of the art working environment for staff at less than half the cost."

Niles said the Hagan Park offices will still be used for special events, and some maintenance and recreation staff will still be based there. Meanwhile, the park district plans for its new office at Rancho Cordova City Hall, 2729 Prospect Park Dr. Suite 230, to be open by May 15. The district offices will be closed this Thursday through May 14 for the move.

CRPD Says Finances Are Improving Thanks to Restructuring, Layoffs

Calling massive layoffs that cut a third of its workforce tough but necessary, the Cordova Recreation and Park District is touting its improving financial situation.

“Much of the work that needed to be done was internal and structural,” another press release quoted Rodems as saying. “I am amazed at the way our staff has stepped up and made crucial changes in a relatively short period of time. We have a great team, and we’ve made a lot of progress in 14 months.” 

The district highlighted a number of cuts it has made in an attempt to erase a $1.6 million deficit, including last year's layoffs (which saved $800,000) and a $220,000 reduction in "management overhead," according to Niles.

She said the district has been able to make due with a smaller workforce by redistributing the workload and reorganizing staff. Niles added the district has "generally managed our money in a more efficient manner."

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