Parks & Recreation

The Parks and Recreation Department's mission is to provide indoor and outdoor leisure services to the El Paso community to develop skills, socialize, experience nature and live a healthier lifestyle.

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.

Management Team

Pablo Caballero
Director
[email protected]
(915) 212-8018

Claudia Cisneros
Admin. Services Manager
[email protected]
(915) 212-1715

Carlos Rodriguez
Recreation Programs Manager
[email protected]
(915) 212-1730

Vacant
Public Affairs Coordinator
[email protected]
(915) 212-1720

Karla Chavez
Parks Planning & Development Manager
[email protected]
(915) 212-1724

Enrique Valadez
Recreation Program Manager, Senior Division
[email protected]
(915) 212-1731

Brenda Romero
Recreation Programs Manager, Aquatics Division
[email protected]
(915) 212-1704 

Monica Vargas
Recreation Programs Manager, Sports Division
[email protected]
(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:

  1. The Board of Parks and Recreation shall advise on the improvement and development of parks and recreation facilities, services, and programs.
  2. 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.
  3. 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