CARPD: Leading with Purpose and Play

Stephen King once said: “In bowling and in life, if a person made the spares, the strikes would take care of themselves”. Consistently making good choices and following through with them, will create momentum and pave the way for greater achievement. This is what CARPD is all about and what all of us, park professionals, offer our communities.

Hello, I’m Dean Wetter and it is my honor to step into the role of President for CARPD; and, embark on this journey with all of you, advocating for the vital role our local parks and recreation services play in the lives of our communities.

Our industry has seen its share of fascinating recent developments, from the sober reality of wildfire impacts, to the ongoing challenges of legislation and inflationary costs, all meaning our parks are doing more with less and with greater purpose. These challenges underscore the critical need for continued advocacy and creative solutions. Being involved in the legislative process has made a difference in Sacramento - a testament to the power of our unified voice.

I want to thank Matt Duarte and his CARPD team for an incredible Conference. San Diego was a great location and as always, a perfect setting for great camaraderie, sharing of ideas and collaboration. One of those collaborations is the “Board Member Roundtable” program, bringing our elected officials together is invaluable and beneficial to all of us. Thank you to Past President Brian Danzl for your good leadership last year and a warm welcome to newly elected CARPD Board Member Jan B. Bissell.

No two districts are alike, and it is that diversity that makes us stronger when we work together. As I begin this role of President of CARPD, my hope is that there are no more Code Green Alerts, but if there are, I know we will come together and support each other as we continue to uplift our communities.

Dean Wetter

Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District

President, CARPD