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Newport Parks & Recreation outlines staffing, programs and facility plans
Summary
Parks & Recreation Director Mike Kavanaugh and staff briefed council on staffing levels, program trends, facility updates and marketing efforts; department seeks to grow memberships, expand programming and complete park standards and asset management work.
Mike Kavanaugh, parks and recreation director, presented the department’s annual update to the City Council, reviewing staff structure, facility programming and recent capital and maintenance work.
Kavanaugh introduced his leadership team — Zach Koprowski (sports supervisor), Keeley Naughton (recreation superintendent), Chloe Hubbard (aquatics supervisor) and Scott Bernards (park maintenance supervisor) — and summarized the department’s responsibilities, which include parks, trails, the recreation and aquatic center, the 60-plus center, community gardens, two piers and several beach access points.
He told council annual and three-month memberships at the recreation and aquatic center are climbing while daily drop-in visits have declined; staff attributed the drop in part to economic pressure and to more users becoming members. Rental demand is mixed: shelter and field rentals increased in 2024 but some facility rentals fell when Big Creek Park was closed for part of the year.
Kavanaugh reviewed capital and maintenance accomplishments, citing the San Marino Parkway playground ribbon-cutting, large outfield renovation at Frankway Park, infield improvements at Betty Wheeler Park and Ocean Bay Trail wayfinding and signage. He said park staff installed maglocks on public restrooms to improve morning efficiencies and that the parks department continues to rely on a relatively small crew (about eight FTEs on the parks side) to manage many assets.
On programming, Kavanaugh described expanded special events and efforts to diversify offerings — for example, new dodgeball and triathlon programs, summer camps and “dive-in” pool movies when staffing allows. He said the department is exploring more trips, expanding marketing via newsletters and social media, and improving registration access through CivicRec.
Councillors asked about partnerships and fundraising; Kavanaugh said the parks foundation’s board recently expanded and that staff plan training and coordination with the city’s grants manager. Council also discussed bringing back or expanding events such as adult dances and offering incentives or promotions to boost participation.
Kavanaugh concluded by listing next steps: adopting park standards, launching asset-management records for park infrastructure, formalizing facility-use agreements for youth associations and pursuing sponsorship and branding opportunities to increase non-tax revenue.
