Onnig Bulanikian, Director of Community Services & Parks
Tereza Aleksanian, Deputy Director
Administration, Recreation & Community Services, Human Services
Chris Peplow, Interim Park Services Administrator
Park Services, Park Planning & Development
Judith Velasco, Workforce Development Administrator
Workforce Development Board Administration, Verdugo Jobs Center, Glendale Youth Alliance
Arsine Isayan, Homeless Programs Manager
Homeless Programs
The Community Services & Parks Department’s (CSP) mission is to enhance the quality of life by providing safe, and well-maintained parks and public spaces; preserving open space and historic resources; providing services that address the physical, recreational, social, and economic needs of the community; and creating opportunities for renewal, growth and enrichment.
CSP is responsible for 286 acres of developed park land and over 5,000 acres of open space. The department consists of 47 parks and park facilities, including 37 parks, the Civic Auditorium, 4 community centers, 6 sports facilities, and 4 historic buildings.
In carrying out its mission, the department is responsible for:
the safety, security and maintenance of the park facilities;
planning, design and development of new parks and park facilities, and the rehabilitation and expansion of existing parks and park facilities;
youth recreation programs, including at-risk youth programs;
a comprehensive summer and year-round youth employment program, employing over 400 youth per year;
senior recreation programs, including nutritional meals and case management;
youth and adult sports programs;
an aquatics program consisting of one pool, swim and water polo teams and 5 wading pools;
operation of and programming at four community centers, which experience over 155,000 drop-in visits per year;
monitoring and maintenance of over 5,000 acres of open space and trails, including volunteer trail safety patrol, trail maintenance, wilderness park restoration, and interpretive programs;
youth, adult, and senior life-long learning classes;
9 day camps at 6 different locations;
facility reservations and rentals, including operation and rental of the Civic Auditorium;
event planning and equipment rental;
job training and business assistance through the operation of the Verdugo Jobs Center, a one-stop employment and training center which serves over 30,000 walk-in visitors;
planning and administration of state and federal grants, including technical assistance and funding to non-profit organizations to provide social services;
