Steve Wright’s passion for working in parks and recreation extends far beyond his love for camping, hiking and bike riding.
It’s about accessibility. Nature, he said, doesn’t discriminate, and the outdoors doesn’t have lines.
As the new district manager for Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District, effective Aug. 3, Wright said it’s a privilege to provide the residents of Simi Valley, Oak Park and beyond with excellent amenities to enjoy.
“It's such a unique opportunity to be able to manage something that does not belong to any one individual but to the community,” he said. “To be fortunate enough to be a steward for a short time of these assets is a joyous responsibility.”
The board unanimously approved Wright’s appointment July 15, roughly four
months after District Manager Dan Paranick announced he would retire.
Paranick took a leave of absence in November after allegations surfaced of intoxicated and aggressive behavior at a Ventura County Young Republicans event. In February, a board member initiated legal action against the agency, accusing Paranick of harassing and discriminating against him due to his learning disability.
Wright has more than three decades of experience in the public and private sector, having previously worked as a vice president for the YMCA of Greater Houston and director of parks and recreation for the cities of College Station and Houston.
Most recently, he served as chief of strategic partnerships for Texas’ Harris County Precinct Four, which included more than 400 parks.
Preserving open space and third places — places separate from home or work — for the community is what he loves.
“It lets people reconnect with nature and reconnect with the outdoors, or connect for the first time,” Wright said. “People can feel safe and be who they are.”
A return to Simi Valley
When he learned of the opening at RSRPD, Wright was excited about the possibility of returning to the city where he and his wife raised their children three decades ago, the city where they learned to swim and play soccer. He was also excited to work with a smaller, more personal portfolio of 51 parks.
“As you go through different stages and transitions of your life, those things that maybe resonate or are more important to you are connectivity back to the community and getting to know people,” he said, referencing his small hometown of Willis, Texas in his Southern drawl. “Simi Valley is really embedded with community.”
Wright said the greatest challenge, and the greatest opportunity, for the district is to stay ahead of the curve as the definitions of parks and recreation, health and wellness continue to evolve.
“It's a matter of not resting on our past, not resting on our successes but trying to stay one step ahead,” he said. “That’s probably the biggest vision I've got for the district. I want us to lead. I don’t want us to follow.”
This, Wright said, can look like embracing the demand for pickleball courts and for biking trails or incorporating mental health into each project.
It means renovating the Rancho Santa Susana Community Park and Community Center to keep it relevant for residents and upgrading the Rancho Simi Activity Center to allow for recreation in the warmer months.
Wright said forward thinking involves collaborating with other government agencies and listening to diverse perspectives, especially from the younger generation.
“I want to create the atmosphere and the environment where everyone feels like their voices are heard,” Wright said. “It should never be the loudest voice that carries the room. It will be a diversity of voices.”
As a self-described servant leader, Wright said he believes trust is earned rather than given. He is seeking input from both Simi Valley and Oak Park residents and then following through on promises will build that trust.
The district manager said he looks forward to meeting and building relationships with community members, whether at board meetings or more organically on the trails.
“I love being outside,” Wright said. “I don't like being behind a desk. That's not where my constituents are, and that's not where my love is.”
Makena Huey is an investigative and watchdog reporter for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at makena.huey@vcstar.com. This story was made possible by a grant from the Ventura County Community Foundation's Fund to Support Local Journalism.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Recently hired Rancho Simi leader shares plans for park district
