New Director of Park and Rec Takes the Reins at Santee Lakes

If enthusiasm counts for anything at all, things should soon get very interesting over at .

There’s a new guy at the controls there, and he’s got a world of experience and some very good ideas about the future of the Lakes and the recreation district around them.

Jonathan Skinner arrives as the Director of Parks and Recreation at crown jewels from a supervisory position with the city of Reno, NV, and behind that, 30 years of experience in recreation-related programs all over Southern California.

Some people fall into careers like that, maybe as a result of something else.

Not Skinner.

He was headed this way from the start.

“I started working in this field early on. I knew from the start this is what I wanted to do”, Skinner says.

“I went from Lompoc High School to Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, and the on to Cal State Northridge for my bachelor’s degree, and eventually wound up with a Master’s degree in public administration”.

While doing that, Skinner continued to work and build experience at a number of cities and special districts all over Southern California.

From there to Incline Village, Nevada, then on to Reno, and now to Santee.

“I knew this would be a good experience, because I did a lot of research, and what I found out is that Santee Lakes and the Recreation district is very innovative. I could learn a lot here, and hopefully accomplish a lot for the District.”

Skinner cited the at the Lakes as just one of many things the Park has done over the recent years to compete for the entertainment dollar- and he makes no bones about the fact that Santee Lakes IS in competition for the dollar.

“We have to draw people here. We have to provide them with an experience here at Santee Lakes that will not only make them want to come back, but to bring their friends and families here as well.”

This is a bit more of a challenge than it might have been at the cities Skinner worked at in the past.

When you run into working for a city, there’s always the ability, or at least the temptation, to go to the city for money to make up your budget shortfall.

That is not an option here.

“. We don’t get a penny from , for any reason. If we need something, and there isn’t money in the Lakes Foundation bank account, then we do without until there is money in the bank, or we improvise.”

Last year, $3.8 million came in through that gate and $2.5 million went right back out for the cost of running the operation.

“The remaining $1.3 went into improvements to the park around the Lakes, and there are always things that need to be fixed- the boats, the playground equipment, you name it, and it breaks or wears out.”

Skinner is spending much of his time outside the park, talking to any groups that are willing to hear his message.

His job involves selling the Lakes and the park as much as it does operating the Lakes and the park, and he knows it.

He and his son are living a split existence right now. They’re living in Santee, where his son is already in school, and active in , while his wife and daughter stayed behind in Reno, so his daughter could finish her senior high school year in the same school.

Drop by the Lakes and talk to Skinner if you get the chance.

Or, you might drop by and volunteer at the park. Skinner is clear about the fact that he couldn’t really run the park without his corps of volunteers, and he appreciates them greatly.

Too bad Jonathan and I are separated by some 20 years- if we weren’t, we probably would have met on the football field or the basketball court- he playing for Lompoc High, and me playing for arch-rival Santa Maria High.

I told him we used to beat Lompoc like a drum when I was in high school- he told me the same thing about what his school used to do to us.

Wonder which one of us is right...