Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Recreation Programs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Baldwin Park hires two recreation staffers; pickleball program draws regional players
Summary
The Baldwin Park City Commission on May 5 introduced two new recreation staff members and heard a recap of a recent pickleball tournament that drew about 40 participants from surrounding cities. Staff described plans to expand programming and pursue grants for outdoor courts.
The Baldwin Park City Commission introduced Jimmy Wong as a new full‑time program coordinator and Pablo “Gus” Vasquez as a program specialist and heard a staff report on a recent pickleball tournament during its May 5 meeting.
The personnel announcements came during the commission’s report of officers. Manny Carrillo, a long‑time city staff member who introduced the hires, said the city welcomed both employees to expanded roles in Recreation and Community Services.
“Hello, everybody. Thank you for having me today,” Jimmy Wong told the commission as he described his background in supervising services and his new responsibilities. Wong said he oversees facilities at the community center and manages adult and youth sports programs. He also said he is overseeing applications for a summer street market and will assist staff training for July events.
Wong and staff also summarized a two‑day doubles pickleball tournament held recently at Morgan Park. “We had over — we had 40 participants,” Wong said, and named Raising Cane’s, Gearbox and Jigsaw as sponsors that donated giveaways and three new nets. He said players came from nearby cities including Azusa and West Covina and that staff plan to continue regular open play on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Wong said the tournament charged a $20 entry fee per person and was staged over Saturday and Sunday because the gym’s three temporary pickleball courts created scheduling constraints. He and other staff said the city has applied for grants to install outdoor pickleball courts at Morgan Park.
Commissioners and staff praised the new hires and the program’s early popularity. “We hit the gold mine at that job fair with Jimmy,” Carrillo said when introducing Wong. Commissioners suggested staff will evaluate whether to continue free open play or add nominal fees and to pursue grant funding for permanent outdoor courts.
Clarifying details: The tournament was a two‑day doubles event with about 40 participants; three new nets were donated; regular public pickleball hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3 p.m.–9 p.m.; tournament entry was $20 per person; staff reported grant applications to add outdoor courts at Morgan Park.
The commission’s announcements also noted other upcoming recreation events and staffing assignments as the department prepares for summer programming.
