City Manager Lori Ann Farrell Harrison has given the City Manager Leadership Award for July to Recreation Supervisor Kevin Stoddart.

“Kevin’s passion for providing creative recreational opportunities to the residents of Costa Mesa is much appreciated,” Farrell Harrison said. “His effort and diligence in all of his tasks make him truly deserving of the Leadership Award. I’m thankful he is part of our team.”

Stoddart currently supervises the Downtown Recreation and Aquatic Center, and oversees the Senior Citizen programs, the Aquatic Center, the Downtown Recreation Center, the Teen Center, and now the Norma Hertzog Community Center.

During the last 12 months, Stoddart has been instrumental in reopening the Aquatic Center, the first official recreational program to reopen after Covid Closures. This required new policies and procedures that helped pave the way for other programs to reopen.

The Aquatic Center is in full swing, with lessons, aerobics, and lap swimming currently in operation. In addition, Stoddart worked with the Fire Department to develop a plan for the opening of a Cooling Center at the Costa Mesa Senior Center during last year’s heat wave.

This coordinated effort provided shelter for numerous Costa Mesa residents.

Stoddart led staff in bringing COVID testing clinics and Vaccination Pods to the community, both at the Costa Mesa Senior Center and offsite at Hoag Hospital. He coordinated with Public Services on training and understanding all of the components of the Norma Hertzog Community Center and helped facilitate the Movies in the Park at IKEA and on the Event Lawn at Lions Park.

Stoddart took over SMART Camp this summer, and worked with Newport-Mesa school district officials and staff to bring that program back to glory.

Even with all these projects Stoddart led his staff in handling his regular duties, including the OCTA Grants and Agreements, the hiring of two new Program Coordinators, and the training of multiple Aquatics staff.

Stoddart first joined the City of Costa Mesa in 2011 as a part time lifeguard. He climbed the ranks promoting first to Recreation Leader in 2013, Recreation Coordinator in 2015 and Recreation Supervisor in 2020.

Stoddart holds a bachelor’s degree in criminology, law and society from UC Irvine.