Meet Jonathan 'Ace' Katayangi, Lafayette Parks, Trails & Rec Director

LAFAYETTE, CA — Jonathan Katayangi started working for the City of Lafayette in 1997 when he was a hockey referee as a teenager. Now, as the city’s Parks, Trails & Recreation director, he manages several programs including Recreation Programs (preschool, childcare, camps, classes, and enrichment for all ages), Senior Services, Senior Transportation, Youth Services, and park-related services. He is also the staff liaison to the Parks, Trails & Recreation Commission, Parks Subcommittee, Trails Subcommittee, and Senior Services Commission.

"I’ve been a recreation leader, coach, referee, camp counselor, party host, maintenance worker, building attendant, coordinator and supervisor, and finally became the PTR director in 2016," Katayangi said. "I used the name ‘Ace’ as a counselor in a program where all the Recreation Leaders were required to use a ‘Camp Name.’ It got to the point that more people knew me as Ace than Jonathan, so when I became the director, I was asked, ‘Are you going to drop Ace?’ and I replied, ‘No way; Ace has had too much fun with the families of Lafayette, and he still has a lot of work to do.’”

He wears many hats. A typical day can include writing reports, creating content for the department, and working with the volunteer commissioners and staff. He is very fortunate to have four direct-report staff members and 16 volunteer commissioners. His day involves collaborating with them and other city staff to achieve the goals of the Parks, Trails and Recreation Department.

There are a lot of emails, phone calls, meetings, reports, agendas and all the other things that come with working in city government, but the people, the staff, the volunteers, and the community center visitors keep that work vibrant and enriching.

"My offices are at the Lafayette Community Center, so I often take work calls as I hike in the park, and I get to have my meetings in the same rooms the community enjoys their programs in.”

Katayanagi is thankful for the volunteer commissioners, who are an extension of staff who help with reports, inspect trails and track grant applications and opportunities.

Katayangi says each day is a new adventure.

"I am very lucky to have a strong team," Katayangi said. "Working Parks and Recreation in Lafayette is especially interesting because we also get to coordinate and collaborate with talented and interesting external organizations, including local nonprofits, the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, East Bay Regional Park District, Lafayette and Acalanes school districts, and user groups like youth sports teams that utilize our parks and facilities."

He is very happy to work in a community that supports Parks, Trails and Recreation programs and services. Many may not know that the Recreation Program budget is an enterprise fund. This means that while the general fund pays for park and facility maintenance expenses, it does not subsidize the recreation programs, which are self-supporting. The Recreation Department can only exist with the community's support.

"it is rewarding to know that the programs and services we provide are needed and wanted by the residents," Katayangi said.

"The Senior Services Commission is working to create an age-friendly community, and a slogan that has come to life is ‘From acorn to oak tree, Lafayette is age-friendly," Katayangi said. "The Community Center is an age-friendly place, housing the Tiny Tots Preschool, senior center, playground, After School Awesome Care, the Spirit van transportation program, and programs for all ages. Fundraisers, weddings, celebrations of life, concerts, dances…all these things happen at the Community Center, and I get to work here every day. I'm lucky."

With all the activities Katayangi performs for the city, he also makes time to serve as a member of the state of California’s Park & Recreation Society. He loves volunteering at the annual Art & Wine festival and recently participated in the Lafayette Citizen’s Police Academy and Lamorinda CERT training.

Katayangi earned a bachelor of arts in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, in 2005 after graduating with an associate degree from Diablo Valley College.

For more information, email LafayetteListens@LoveLafayette.org, call 951-685-2111, or visit https://www.lovelafayette.org.