SPRINGFIELD – If Parks and Recreation wasn’t always Kenny Weigandt’s career path, it’s not a surprise that’s where he ended up.

Weigandt grew up around River Road Park and Recreation District where his father, Dale, worked for more than 40 years doing everything from maintenance to programming and supervising teams before serving as superintendent for more than a decade.

“I grew up as a Parks and Rec kid, not necessarily because of my dad’s job because quite frankly I didn’t know what he did, but I learned to swim at River Road pool, learned how to get in trouble at River Road and when I was in college I got a job in a school program there,” Weigandt recalled. “Without knowing it, everything I learned growing up came from Parks and Rec.”

Weigandt started working in marketing for a few companies and that eventually led him to Willamalane Park and Recreation District where nearly eight years later, he is the Deputy Director for Recreation and Community Services. His LinkedIn page lists him as “A big old fan of Parks and Recreation.”

“I loved Parks and Rec, but it was not something that I thought would be my career,” he said. “I was lucky to have such great experiences in multiple industries and that forced me to look at Parks and Rec different than I otherwise would have.”

After graduating from the University of Oregon in 2007, Weigandt worked in marketing at Oregon Community Credit Union, PacificSource Health Plans, and Ninkasi Brewing before joining Willamalane as the Community Engagement Supervisor in 2018.

“That role included marketing, communications, fundraising and development, and then I added more and more responsibilities including some legislative affairs lobbying work,” Weigandt said. “I worked to make sure I had strong relationships with SUB, the county, city and school district and from there, when I took over the director role it gave me a bigger platform to make decisions.”

After some staff reshuffling, the 41-year-old was promoted to his current position in September. The job description is … well, a lot to describe.

“I get to oversee all of our recreation programs, including aquatics at Willamalane and Splash, plus guest experiences and rentals, front desk and operations at Willamalane, Bob Keefer Center, the Adult Activity Center, Splash and Camp Putt,” Weigandt explained. “There are the youth and child care programs, a full-service preschool and myriad child care programs that operate out of Springfield schools.” Wait, there’s more. “Summer camps of all sorts, teen programs, fitness and athletics and memberships and leagues, group exercise and water exercise. All those things that keep you moving.” He’s not finished. “Then there is the services division, we operate a food pantry and community events and the adaptive recreation that have a big array of programs. It is hard in one breath to explain the whole array of what we have to offer, but that is why I like Parks and Rec. There is no limit to what we can offer as long as the community wants it.”

Michael Wargo, Willamalane’s executive director said Weigandt’s energy inspires teammates.

“Parks and recreation is in Kenny’s DNA honestly, I’m not sure he could turn it off if he tried,” Wargo said. “Through his passion for public art, storytelling, and analytical insight, he shows up for our community every day and Willamalane is incredibly fortunate to have him on our team.”

The community will have a chance to determine what services Willamalane will continue to offer when a proposed Local Option Levy is on the May 19 ballot.

Measure 20-384 would authorize a new property tax that would help pay for current park and recreation operations, including park safety, recreation programs, and wildlife efforts. It would cost property owners $0.25 per $1,000 of assessed property values.

“This would not allow Willamalane to expand or build new structures or facilities, but to continue offering services at the level we have been able to,” said Weigandt, who notes that as a public employee, “I can’t advocate or tell anyone how they should vote.”

“Our board of directors wanted to give the community options to tell us that this is what we should continue doing, or if we need to make adjustments. The levy gives voters that option and then we will listen. If it does not pass, we will have to adjust and that will be challenging with community impact, but we want to make sure people know their options on May 19,” he said. “I hope over time people have had enough good experiences at Willamalane that they will remember that at the voters box.”

Willamalane was named 2025 Employer of the Year by the Springfield Chamber of Commerce.

“Like any job, you have good days and bad days, but it is special to work out of the Keefer Center as my primary office because I can visit any facility,” Weigandt said. “On a rough day, all I have to do is walk down the hall to a preschool or gym or drive to the Swim Center or Adult Activity Center to see people doing healthy things and having a good time and that gives me a boost every time. Sometimes you need to be reminded of the purpose of what we are doing and the beauty of Parks and Rec is you see that every day.”

Weigandt served on the Chamber’s Board of Directors from 2022-25 where he saw how public and private partners can work together with small businesses in town.

Perhaps the best example of those partnerships is Willamalane’s 1Pass, which allows kids 18 and under access to 17 different summer activities including swimming pools, sporting events, and museums.

“The 1Pass supports small businesses and a lot of public agencies so it is mutually beneficial but everyone has to give up something to make it work and that lifts all businesses together,” he said.

“I have always been an advocate for what parks and recreation does for the community, but what really drew me to Willamalane is that I live in Springfield with two children. Before I came to work at Willamalane, my kids were five and three years old, and my wife and I kept discovering new Willamalane parks and programs that kept them active. Willamalane was one of the few things that helped burn their energy! I really wanted the rest of my community and neighbors to know what Willamalane had to offer, and that’s when I applied to work here. I just wanted to be a part of it.”

Weigandt, who recently ran the Eugene Half-Marathon as part of the team for Springfield’s Ronald McDonald House, said the move from marketing to leadership at Willamalane was a natural transition.

“In marketing, you are trained to listen to what the community wants and react to it and what we are doing with the recreational programs now with limited resources means that we have to listen to what our community wants,” he said. “Two years ago, we started a youth cooking program with a couple classes and we were not sure what the appetite would be and now every time we offer that class it fills up with a wait list. It is important to pay attention and listen. … You feel more collaborative with the community when you are listening and adapting.”