Parks & Recreation

Parks & Recreation Department

The City of El Paso Parks & Recreation Department aims to provide indoor and outdoor leisure services to persons of all ages so they can develop skills, socialize, experience nature, relax, and live a healthier lifestyle.

The Parks and Recreation Department joins the ranks of elite park and recreation organizations across the country by earning accreditation through the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA).

The department places in the 1 percent of agencies nationwide, as well as being the 15th agency in the state to be nationally accredited. El Paso Parks & Recreation has been nationally accredited since 2018 and works to continuously meet 151 rigorous standards related to the management and administration of lands, facilities, resources, programs, safety, and services. Once accredited, the organization must uphold the standards by submitting an annual report which is reviewed again in five years.

Administrative Office

801 Texas Ave., 2nd Floor El Paso, TX 79901

Contact Us
parksandrecreation@elpasotexas.gov
(915) 212-0092

Management Team

Pablo Caballero
Director
CaballeroPE@elpasotexas.gov
(915) 212-8018

Emigdio Gonzalez
Assistant Director
GonzalezEX@elpasotexas.gov
(915) 212-7044

Claudia Cisneros
Admin. Services Manager
CisnerosCX@elpasotexas.gov
(915) 212-1715

Carlos Rodriguez
Recreation Programs Manager
RodriguezCA@elpasotexas.gov
(915) 212-1730

Raul Diaz
Media Specialist
DiazRX1@elpasotexas.gov
(915) 212-1720

Karla Chavez
Parks Planning & Development Manager
Chavezkx1@elpasotexas.gov
(915) 212-1724

Diana Cepeda
Strategic Initiatives Manager
CepedaDX@elpasotexas.gov
(915) 867-6261

Enrique Valadez
Recreation Program Manager, Senior Division
ValadezEX@elpasotexas.gov
(915) 212-1731

Brenda Romero
Recreation Programs Manager, Aquatics Division
RomeroBA@elpasotexas.gov
(915) 212-1704

Monica Vargas
Recreation Programs Manager, Sports Division
VargasM@elpasotexas.gov
(915) 212-1719

Lifeguard Training

Lifeguard Readiness Program

Learn the basic skills and training to become a lifeguard for the American Red Cross.

Open to ages 12 years and older.

Cost:
$24 for Residents
$30 for Non-Residents

Locations:
Memorial Aquatic Center | Tuesday & Thursday 7:45 p.m. – 8:15 p.m.
William W. Cowan Aquatic Center | Tuesday & Thursday 7:15 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.
Hawkins Aquatic Center | Tuesday & Thursday 6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Veterans Aquatic Center | Monday & Wednesday 6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Lifeguard Training & Classes

The City of El Paso Parks & Recreation is offering lifeguard classes.

Prerequisites:

Swim 300 yards, continuously demonstrating breath control and rhythmic breathing
Tread water for 2 minutes, using only the legs
Complete a timed event within 1 minute and 40 seconds

Find more information on lifeguard training classes dates here.

For registration and more information, please visit or call Memorial Aquatic Center:
3521 Copper Avenue
(915) 212-0524
Call Monday – Saturday 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. or Monday – Friday 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Participants must be 15 years of age on or before the last scheduled session of the course. Prerequisite: (Must attend every day of the registered class.) The classes are blended learning lifeguard courses; access to the internet is required to complete online portions of the course. All online portions are required to be completed by the first day of class.

Advisory Board of Parks & Recreation

Except for those powers granted in Section 2.20.060, the Board of Parks and Recreation shall act as an advisory committee to the Mayor and City Council in efforts to promote close cooperation between the City and all private citizens, institutions, and agencies interested in the establishment and development of parks and recreation activities.

The board consists of 9 members appointed by the Mayor and each City Council Representative. The board holds monthly meetings on the 2nd Wednesday of a given month, except for the month of December. A minimum of 5 members must be present in order to hold a meeting, The duties of the board are as follows:

The Board of Parks and Recreation shall advise on the improvement and development of parks and recreation facilities, services, and programs.
The Board of Parks and Recreation shall advise on park naming and shall review and provide input to the mayor and city council on other legislative matters submitted to the board by the director of the Department of Parks and Recreation.
The Board of Parks and Recreation shall create a subcommittee that will advise on developing a comprehensive tree management program for the care of trees, including proposed changes to the tree care ordinance, landscape ordinance, the city's approved list of plants to be planted on public property and within public rights-of-way, and guidelines for the planting, maintenance, and removal of trees.

Qualifications & Members

Members shall be residents of the city and known to be interested in parks and recreation.

All members will serve 4-year terms. Members shall not serve more than 2 consecutive terms. Appointments to vacancies that occur other than by expiration of a member's term of office shall be filled by appointment by the Mayor and City Council for the remainder of the unexpired term. Committee membership is not transferable or assignable.

Name	Date Appointed	Date Expires	Appointed By	Type
Adjemian, Michael	09/28/2021	10/14/2025	District 3	R
Aleman, Anna	11/17/2021	10/15/2025	District 2	R
Avalos, Benjamin	01/04/2022	10/14/2025	District 4	R
Bustamante, Ricardo	12/05/2023	10/14/2027	District 8	R
Carrillo, Marcella	10/12/2021	10/14/2025	District 7	R
Haddox, Timothy	06/11/2024	10/14/2025	District 6	R
Olivar, Sandra	02/13/2024	10/14/2027	District 1	R
Terrazas, Luis F.	05/07/2024	10/14/2027	District 5	R
Zuloaga, Deborah	02/16/2021	10/14/2025	Mayor	R