Palmdale’s Smith-Brady Elected to CPRS Board

PALMDALE – The City of Palmdale’s Parks and Recreation Manager Keri Smith-Brady was recently elected as a member at large for the District 15 board of the California Park and Recreation Society (CPRS).

“I’m honored and excited to be part of an organization as important and vital as the CPRS,” Smith-Brady said. “I look forward to engaging with other board members and sharing all the great programs and events we have here in Palmdale, as well as learning more about programs in other communities that we may be able to incorporate here as we continually strive to provide the very best for our residents.”

Founded in 1946, CPRS is a nonprofit, professional and public interest organization with more than 4,000 members.  CPRS membership is well-distributed, with 86 percent of the 525 park and recreation agencies in California boasting at least one CPRS individual member.

CPRS is the only park and recreation organization that has created a strategic plan for the profession. “Creating Community in the 21st Century” is the action plan for parks and recreation in California.  This plan positions the profession as vital partners for creating strong communities through people, parks and programs.

The CPRS is governed by the Board of Directors composed of nine elected officers and two section representatives. The organization is organized geographically into districts and by special interest sections. The 15 districts and seven sections are governed by CPRS members who provide local and/or specialized training programs and networking opportunities at the community level.

The goals of a district board member are to improve member skills, knowledge, development and networks. Example functions include:

• Workshops that address training relevant topics
• Trainings to inform and promote the unified vision, values and mission statewide
• Promoting the call for educational sessions, and
• Providing professional development grants and/or scholarships.

Smith-Brady, began working at the City of Palmdale in 1989 as a Program Leader. In her current position as Manager, she oversees Parks & Recreation, the Palmdale City Library, Palmdale Playhouse and DryTown Water Park.

For more information, contact the parks and recreation department at 661-267-5611.

(Information via press release from the city of Palmdale.)