Brandy Clark, Recreation and Community Services Manager

This is a series of articles intended to introduce to the community key members of the City’s Team of employees who serve Manteca residents through their respective positions and areas of expertise.

Brandy Clark, Recreation and Community Services Manager for the City of Manteca celebrated her 21st year of service to the City this past August,  Clark says she works for the City because she enjoys making a positive difference in people’s lives in the City.

Clark attended Golden West School and graduated from Manteca High. Growing up in this area, she took part in many of the programs that the City still offers. She recalls taking her first ballet class and performing at various events in town. “Organizing events is one of my passions,” she says.

“I loved attending those events in the past, and now as a member of the Recreation & Community Services Department, I have the opportunity to help create wonderful events.” Clark added, “When I attend events, I often run into people I went to school with and their children, as well as teachers who taught me. It’s a great feeling to see familiar faces, people I know and care about.”

When asked about her favorite aspect of her job, Clark replies, “I enjoy leading a team of professionals who are genuinely passionate about their work.  It makes my job a lot easier, and we work together seamlessly, sharing the same objectives and visions. Everyone is committed to rolling up their sleeves and working hard to achieve our collective goals.”

“Some people don’t understand what we do.  Some may think we play dodgeball and jump rope all day. Actually, we’re working hard to give community members the ability to live and play in Manteca.”

There’s no such thing as a typical day at work for Brandy. Every day is different, some days she’s engrossed in emails, budgets, and programs. On other days she’s in the field attending events and talking to people to make it all work well.

Some days are spent planning future programs.  “I am always looking for ways to improve the department, its procedures, and programs, and working with the team to ensure our department is running as efficiently as possible. It really is the best job!” said Clark.

Given her lifelong history with the city, it’s no surprise to learn that she has been active in the community, outside of work. She taught dance classes for many years and served as vice president for the Noon Kiwanis.

Clark was recognized as the Kiwanis Member of the Year for 2020-2021 and is currently the treasurer for the Kids’ Sake nonprofit. In January, she will be joining the Boys and Girls Club of Manteca/ Lathrop as a board member.

Clark serves as the Manteca Parks and Recreation Foundation’s staff liaison. She noted that they are always ready to assist with community events and non-profit organizations. She also serves as the liaison to the Recreation & Parks Commission.

Clark served as the past liaison to the Manteca Youth Advisory Commission and the Manteca Senior Advisory Committee. She founded the Angel Tree program that provides gifts to lonely, ill, or homebound seniors during the holidays. Clark was also the co-founder of the For Kids’ Sake program which provides Christmas gifts to over 2,500 children each year. She was recognized as the 2014 Humanitarian of the Year for the City of Manteca.

Looking ahead, Clark emphasizes the significance of funding the Recreation Department. She acknowledges that her departmental needs are similar to those of other departments. The City provides many programs and makes the most of our spaces and facilities, but meeting the high expectations of all residents can be challenging.

“As our community continues to grow at a rapid pace, it is our responsibility to provide services that meet the needs of our residents. With an increasing population, there is a greater demand for extensive community services, such as an aquatics center. However, many people are unaware of the substantial expenses associated with building, staffing, and maintaining such a facility,” explained Clark.

“Without funding, the foundation of any endeavor weakens.  It’s the lifeblood of any project or idea. Let’s talk about how we can secure the funding we need to make our goals a reality!”

Clark emphasizes that the Parks Division is responsible for maintaining the parks, while the Recreation & Community Services is responsible for programming them. The Recreation & Community Services Department is the only City Department where residents visit because they want to, not because they are obligated to do so.

Throughout the summer of 2023, over 2,500 residents participated in group or private swim lessons. It’s clear that our parks are a beloved destination for our residents; for example, Woodward Park is always bustling with visitors on weekends. The Trunk or Treat event held at the end of October had an attendance of over 3,000 children.

In her limited free time, Clark enjoys hanging out with her family on their property riding dirt bikes, and sitting around the fire pit. She also enjoys Friday night football games, volunteering, cooking, planning, and decorating for family events.

About the City of Manteca

Manteca is a full-service City with police, fire, public works, water, trash and sewer services. For more information, call the City Manager’s office at (209) 456-8000, email: Feedback@manteca.gov, or go online to https://www.manteca.gov.

Incorporated in 1918, Manteca has a diverse population of 88,772. Manteca grew at 24.4 percent from 2010-2020 and continues to grow at an accelerated pace. The City has 28,454 households with a median home price of $500,017. The median annual household income is $90,640.