Parks and Recreation District to get new general manager
By Sophia Fischer sfischer@theacorn.com

Tex Ward

After 38 years with the Conejo Recreation and Park District, longtime general manager Tex Ward is retiring, effective Aug. 21.

Jim Friedl, assistant general manager, has been chosen by the district's board of directors to take Ward's place. Tom Hare, facilities manager for the city of Thousand Oaks, will join the district as administrator of parks and planning, formerly overseen by Friedl.

"Jim Friedl will do an excellent job and Tom Hare is a good replacement for Jim," Ward said.

The changes mark the end of a significant era in which the district grew into one of the largest recreation departments in the state, with 43 parks, including five community centers; a wide range of programming for all ages; and 85 full-time employees, plus an additional 300 staff members hired during the summer to run camp programs and classes and serve as lifeguards.

At a meeting of the district's board last week, Ward, 64, was recognized for his contributions. Representatives from the city, Conejo Valley Unified School District, AYSO, family and friends recognized Ward, whom Mayor Dennis Gillette described as quiet, modest and approachable.

Jim Friedl

"Tex has brought a management style that I believe is responsible for the absolutely superb recreation and parks services we have in the community today," Gillette said.

Those programs include all ages, from the very young to the most senior, added Gillette. He credited Ward with helping to secure the 184-acre Conejo Creek parkland 30 years ago, which extends in all directions around the Thousand Oaks Library/senior center/teen center complex, including an undeveloped section. "What that has done is provide our community with a central park," Gillette said.

Ward helped create important community partnerships, including the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency and the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority to preserve and manage thousands of acres of local open space.

"We produced a lot more than would have been the case," Ward said.

He also paid tribute to the community.

"We wouldn't have done what we've done without a very supportive community," Ward said.

Tom Hare

Born in Texas, Ward grew up in Wyoming, where recreation was a part of his life early on. His dad was a professor of outdoor recreation at the University of Wyoming. Ward himself held recreation-related jobs such as camp dishwasher, lifeguard, golf course employee, and groundskeeper.

"Every job I ever had was associated with the field," Ward said.

After earning a master's in recreation and park administration from Washington State University and serving in the Army, Ward joined the Conejo Recreation and Park District in 1968, when he was 26 years old, as director of parks. The district had four parks, one community center and 10 acres of land.

"There wasn't much to manage at the time," Ward said.

A year later he became general manager. The district itself was formed in 1962, two years before the city was established. It is an independent body with an elected board of directors, unlike parks departments in other cities and states that fall under the jurisdiction of their cities.

Ward will continue as an advisor to the district.

"I'm very encouraged about where the district is," Ward said. "It's debt-free, has an outstanding staff and a strong base to build on."

Jim Friedl

Friedl is a local guy, having lived in Agoura Hills since 1977. After graduating from Pepperdine University School of Law in 1993, Friedl joined the city of Thousand Oaks in 1994 as assistant city attorney. In 1999 he became deputy city manager and in 2003 joined the Conejo Recreation and Park District as assistant general manager. He served as a planning commissioner for Agoura Hills from 1994 to 98 and as director of the United Way of Ventura County. He's also a member of the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District board of directors and a youth sports coach and referee. Friedl says he's spent the last 21/2 years working closely with Ward to learn as much as he can.

"I would like the great employees here to know that the parks and rec district as they know it will remain as they know it," Friedl said.

His goal is to complete the park master plan, which includes developing five or six more pieces of property, and improving existing facilities.

"As Tex Ward puts it, you spend years putting the cake together and somebody else gets to frost it," Friedl said.

Friedl also credits the community with the strength and success of the district.

"The community spoke early on and said we value open space and parks and recreational facilities," Friedl said. "This is a family-oriented place."

Tom Hare

That sense of community is what attracted Hare to Thousand Oaks. A Pittsburgh native, Hare first came to California through his service in the Navy. He earned a master's in business administration from Cal State Fullerton. Hare and his family live in Newbury Park, which reminds him of the neighborhood he grew up in.

"I love the city of Thousand Oaks, and working for this organization gives me a better opportunity to serve the community," said Hare, who has coached local youth sports and will now work with those leagues through the district. "It's the same job I was doing with the city but cooler."

When Hare joined the city eight years ago, there were nine facilities. Now there are 16.

"Tom is extremely capable in terms of facility management and he is a natural leader," Friedl said.

The projects Hare will work on include the new 8-acre parking lot to be built at Conejo Creek Park South and the development of the Lang Ranch community park and the Northwood neighborhood park.

Elizabeth Perez, project manager for the city, has been named acting facilities manager in place of Hare.