Interim Recreation Manager Justin Martin has been named as the city’s new Recreation Manger.

Assistant Chief Executive Officer Tamara Letourneau announced that the vacant Recreation Manager position would be filled by Martin. Serving as Interim Recreation Manager for the past several months and with extensive knowledge in youth programming, teen programming, camps, contract classes, recreation needs and parks, Martin is the perfect candidate.

Martin has been the city’s Recreation Supervisor since December 2014 and filled the roll of Interim Recreation Manger over the last few months with a seamless transition.

“Justin brings many years of experience in recreation to this position,” Letourneau said. “He has shown the ability to create a vision and lead a team to accomplish that vision with the utmost professionalism, integrity and creativity.”

With his extensive knowledge of the community and programming, Martin will continue to shape the city and it’s recreation needs through his new role.

The City of Costa Mesa invites residents to participate in public workshops intended to obtain input on the Open Space Master Plan of Parks and Recreation.

These workshops will be offered at two different locations to allow the greatest number of residents to attend and provide their input.

Additional, future public workshops are also being scheduled for later in the summer.

• Meeting 1A: The public workshop will be held on Wednesday, June 1 at the Costa Mesa Senior Center, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
• Meeting 1B: This public workshop will be held on Wednesday, June 8 at Lindbergh School, beginning at 6:30 p.m. 220 23rd St, Costa Mesa.
• RSVP to: cmparksupport@costamesaca.gov or (714) 754-5300.

Click here for more information.

SMART Camp, which is a collaborative program between the City of Costa Mesa and the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, will be back again this summer. The free summer camp will be held Monday through Thursday July 5 – Aug. 4 on the campus of Costa Mesa High School.

The Sports Camp will include: Aquatics, basketball, cheer, football, soccer, softball, tennis, track, volleyball and wrestling. The Music Camp will include jazz band and orchestra lessons and the Arts Camp will include two and three dimensional visual art projects and theatrical acting.

A new acting component has been added to the Arts Camp as well.

In an effort to increase participation, organization and registration, this year’s SMART Camp registration will be available online through the City’s ActiveNet registration software as well as in person at City Hall, Balearic Community Center, Neighborhood Community Center, and Downtown Recreation Center.

The Costa Mesa City Council is accepting applications to fill one vacancy on the Parks and Recreation Commission.

Applicants must live in Costa Mesa and be registered to vote.

This Parks and Recreation Commission assists the City Council and various City departments with issues related to parks and parkways.

There is one vacancy with a term expiration of February 2017. For further information, please contact Acting Parks and Community Services Manager Justin Martin at (714) 754-5065. Those interested must complete a Commission Application Form from the City Clerk’s Office or from the City’s website.

The completed application may be submitted online; mailed to Costa Mesa City Clerk at Post Office Box 1200, Costa Mesa, California, 92628-1200; faxed to (714) 754-4942; or hand-delivered to the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall, 77 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa.

The deadline to apply is 5 p.m., Friday, May 13, 2016. Appointments are tentatively scheduled for the June 7, 2016 City Council meeting. For further information, please contact the City Clerk’s office at (714) 754-5225 or cityclerk@costamesaca.gov.

City officials recently installed new fencing outside the Downtown Recreation Center in Lions Park.

The new fence will allow for an enhanced events space for both recreational use and private rental use, and will provide dedicated space to children who want to engage in recreational activities at Lions Park.

Expanded programming by Parks and Community Services will be implemented in this new outdoor space.

Costa Mesa real estate company Torelli Realty is proud to announce its annual Egg Hunt, “Egg-Citement” will take place this Saturday, March 26 from 9:30 a.m. to -12 p.m. at Tanager Park.

Torelli Realty has sponsored this event for over 25 years and it is a highlight of the spring season for children and adults alike.

Egg-Citement offers an Egg Hunt that is broken down into age groups for the children. The first round of the egg hunt for children from 2-4 starts at 10 a.m. and each successive age group goes for 15 minutes, grabbing candy and toys, until everyone gets through. There will also be pony rides, a petting zoo with small live farm animals, coloring and jellybean contests, and a bounce house.

The Easter Bunny himself will also be present and available to take photos with all attendees.

Besides being a highly anticipated event that brings the community together, Egg-Citement also gives local schools a chance to do some much needed fundraising. The event and attractions are free, however several local schools/organizations will be selling concessions to raise money for their programs.

Click here to see a flier about the event.

Costa Mesa Parks and Community Services staff attended that California Park & Recreation Society (CPRS) annual conference in Long Beach to pick up a big statewide award during the closing gala.

The Costa Mesa staff was one of only seven agencies presented with an “Award of Excellence” for creating community through innovative programming.

The city won the award for its Ranch Afterschool Program, which is a collaboration with the OC Fair & Event Center and the Newport-Mesa Unified School District.

During this unique after school experience,  students focus on agricultural concepts like gardening, livestock, and leather working.

The students have a hands-on experience caring for animals on the Farm which includes: chickens, sheep, pigs, goats, llamas, cattle, and horses.

They learn responsible animal care by cleaning stalls, grooming, and exercising the animals.

Additionally, the Farm dedicates land for each student to create and maintain an individual garden. Students’ gardening responsibilities include planting, watering, fertilizing, weeding, inspecting for pests and harvesting their plot.

Agricultural education helps children learn about healthy food choices and teaches them different ways to access fresh fruits and vegetables.  Most importantly, students begin to understand the deep impact agriculture has in their lives past, future and present.

“This free program is a true collaboration and would not be possible without the support of the Orange County Fairgrounds,” said Ashley Ocasio, the city’s assistant recreation supervisor. “This strategic partnership provides many Costa Mesa youth the opportunity to experience an unique after-school program, in which the focus in on agriculture and farming”

The California Park & Recreation Society awards program recognizes outstanding achievement in the areas of facility design, park planning, marketing and communication, and community improvement and programming through demonstrating the principals of resourcefulness, execution, accomplishment and alignment with the parks and recreation mission.

The Costa Mesa Senior Transportation Program’s bus has recently undergone a makeover.  What was once a simple, traditional, white passenger bus is now a colorful piece of art that transports seniors to and from the Senior Center and to personal appointments throughout the City.

The bus has been coined as the “Costa Motion” and now bears the slogan of “Keepin’ Seniors Moving.”

The artistic design, which was created by City staff, incorporates an area for both City program advertising and Conference and Visitors Bureau advertising.

This is just another unique way to promote Costa Mesa as “the City of the Arts.”

The free fitness program for youth called the Happy Feet Youth Running Club allows local Costa Mesa youth to learn the basics in short and long distance running while participating in fun weekly practices and an end-of-season superhero themed 5K run through beautiful Fairview Park.

The program emphasizes teamwork, goal setting and healthy habits all while having fun exercising.

Each child will receive a free Happy Feet T-shirt as well as a complimentary entrance into the Costa Mesa Community Run.

The first practice and registration day are set to take place this Saturday, March 12 at Fairview Park.

Hank Lloyd, a longtime Orange County tennis professional who has run the Costa Mesa Tennis Center since 1999, received the Southern California Tennis Associations’ Curt Condon Spirit Award on Monday Feb. 1.

Given to an individual who has gone above and beyond in their promotion of tennis, the award was presented at the SCTA’s annual meeting in the Straus Clubhouse at the Los Angeles Tennis Center on the UCLA campus, just west of Pauley Pavilion.

Lloyd said winning the award was especially meaningful to him because it was named after his longtime friend Curt Condon.

“He was inspirational and very spiritual,” Lloyd said.

Lloyd grew up in Fullerton and played tennis at Sunny Hills High school. He spent 1977 and 1978 on the Pro Circuit tour after graduating from San Jose State University.

“I can’t imagine doing anything else,” he said of his tennis career.

Trevor Kronemann, the SCTA’s director of junior tennis, wrote Lloyd in a letter informing him of the honor.

“You have set by virtue of your exemplary conduct, leadership and expertise while coaching, directing tournaments and organizing events has earned you this substantial honor. Your favorable example has provided today’s players with an environment in which they can compete and excel.”

Costa Mesa’s Parks and Community Services Department has been chosen for the 2015 California Park & Recreation Society Award of Excellence for Environmental Stewardship for its Ranch Afterschool Program.

The Ranch Afterschool Program’s collaboration with the OC Fair & Event Center, the City of Costa Mesa, and the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, aids in providing a unique after school experience in which students focus on agricultural concepts like gardening, livestock, and leather working.

“The Parks and Community Services Department is honored to receive the California Parks and Recreation Society’s (CPRS) Award of Excellence in Environmental Stewardship, for the Ranch After-School Program,” said Ashley Ocasio, the city’s assistant recreation supervisor. “Children enrolled in this unique program learn first-hand what it means to be a farmer through lessons learned by cultivating farm land, gardening, raising and caring for livestock and creating leather crafts.”

The students have a hands-on experience caring for animals on the Farm which includes: chickens, sheep, pigs, goats, llamas, cattle, and horses. They learn responsible animal care by cleaning stalls, grooming, and exercising the animals.

Additionally, the Farm dedicates land for each student to create and maintain an individual garden. Students’ gardening responsibilities include planting, watering, fertilizing, weeding, inspecting for pests and harvesting their plot.

Agricultural education helps children learn about healthy food choices and teaches them different ways to access fresh fruits and vegetables.  Most importantly, students begin to understand the deep impact agriculture has in their lives past, future and present.

“This free program is a true collaboration and would not be possible without the support of the Orange County Fairgrounds,” Ocasio said.  “This strategic partnership provides many Costa Mesa youth the opportunity to experience an unique after-school program, in which the focus in on agriculture and farming”

The California Park & Recreation Society awards program recognizes outstanding achievement in the areas of facility design, park planning, marketing and communication, and community improvement and programming through demonstrating the principals of resourcefulness, execution, accomplishment and alignment with the parks and recreation mission.

The presentation of awards will take place at the annual Awards Recognition Banquet scheduled for Friday, March 11, 2016 at the Hyatt Regency Long Beach, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Today is the last day to register for the Costa Mesa Senior Center’s Sweetheart Dance on Friday, Feb. 12, 2016.

The event will go from 4-6 p.m. and will feature live music by entertainers Jim and Christina Starr.

Entry cost is $10 per person and includes a delicious dinner. Reservations will be accepted through today or until the event is full. Tickets will not be sold at the door.

The event will take place at the City of Costa Mesa Senior Center located at 695 W. 19th Street.

Reservations must be made in person and are required for entry.

Event is open to ages 50 and over. Please call (714) 327-7550 for additional information.