Leader in Oak Park recreation retires

Dennis Anderson After 16 years of working with the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District, Dennis Anderson, the long-time recreation supervisor in Oak Park, is retiring.

Since 1989, Anderson’s responsibilities for the district have included supervising recreation programs, classes, special events and sports leagues for Oak Park.

He also assisted in the production of the Fourth of July fireworks show in Simi Valley, teen fairs and Rock at the Wall teen concerts.

“Dennis has done a great job of providing fun and interesting programs for the community,” said General Manager Larry Peterson. “We will miss his contributions, but are very thankful for what he has accomplished.”

After graduating from Cal State Long Beach with a bachelor’s in recreation administration, Anderson began his recreation career in the city of Lakewood.

In 1978, the Conejo Valley hired Anderson as a senior recreation supervisor in charge of the district-wide programs for adult and youth sports, seniors, aquatics and special activities.

Anderson took a position with the Coca Cola Bottling Company of Los Angeles in 1980 as a youth market development manager, covering Sacramento to San Diego and southern Nevada.

Renee Peace The work gave Anderson the opportunity to work with professional sports teams such as the Los Angeles Dodgers and the former Los Angeles Rams, as well as serve as a Coca Cola host for the 1984 Olympics.

After nine years with Coca Cola, Anderson decided to return to recreation and parks and was hired as the recreation supervisor for Oak Park by the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District.

Anderson’s proudest accomplishment during his 16-year tenure was the opening of the Oak Park Community Center and Gardens.

“One of the highlights of my working career was when the community center opened. It gave me the opportunity to work more closely with my staff,” said Anderson. “It is exciting to see programs in progress, meet the students from dance, cheerlead-ing, painting, the seniors, jazzercise and so on.”

Anderson is hoping his retirement will afford him more time to enjoy his hobby which is RV camping. Without the worries of work, he’s hoping he can escape to some of his favorite camping destinations for weeks at a time.

Anderson still wants to work part-time after his retirement. He’s already volunteered to be the co-chairman of the upcoming Boy Scout Camporee for the Thousand Oaks area.

An open house retirement reception will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Tues., Feb. 14 at the Oak Park Community Center and Gardens at 1000 N. Kanan Road.

Rancho Simi named Renee Peace to be Anderson’s successor. Prior to this assignment, Peace worked in the district’s Simi Valley office.

Peace has a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in radio, TV, film and marketing from Cal State Northridge and is currently working towards a master’s in public administration.

Peace has prior recreation experience with the cities of Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. She’s been an employee of the Rancho Simi Recreation and Parks District since 2002.

“I look forward to having fun as if asked to draw and create on a brand new drawing board,” Peace said.