City Names New Recreation and Park Director

City Manager John Russo has appointed Amy Wooldridge as the City of Alameda’s new recreation and park director, according to a city press release issued Monday afternoon.

Russo will introduce Wooldridge to Alameda at the City Council meeting on Tuesday, April 17. She will begin working in Alameda on May 7.

 The press release says,

"Wooldridge has served as the Recreation Director for the City of Pinole since 2004. She comes to Alameda with more than 11 years of experience developing and managing recreational programs.

"She founded the Pinole Youth Center and Summer Camp, Pinole Youth Commission, Pinole Community Services Commission, School of Performing Arts, Pinole Sports and Fitness Center, the Outdoor Cinema, and the Halloween Carnival and Community Service Day events.

"She designed, purchased and oversaw the construction of four playgrounds, and managed the renovations of a natural turf soccer field and tennis court.

"Wooldridge also successfully increased the Recreation Department’s cost recovery from 56 percent to 95 percent in one year; and increased Senior Center membership by 50 percent and reduced the City’s financial contributions by half.

"Prior to joining the City of Pinole, Wooldridge worked for the Pacific Center for Human Growth, the Volunteer Center of San Francisco, the Albert L. Schultz Jewish Community Center, the University of California at Davis, and the City of Mountain View Parks and Recreation Department.

"She serves as Executive Director for the Pinole Youth Foundation, managing the Board of Directors and fundraising activities such as special events, grant proposals, volunteer coordination, and contract management."

You may read more about Wooldridge in this earlier article from Pinole Patch.