Rodems named Lodi's interim Parks and Recreation director

Jim Rodems, director of the Hutchins Street Square Community Center, has been named interim Parks and Recreation director effective Monday.

Rodems will continue his role as community center director.

According to a statement released by the city of Lodi on Friday, Steve Dutra, who has served as interim Parks and Recreation director the last year, will return to his position as park superintendent. Rodems will split time between Hutchins Street Square and Parks and Recreation.

While the city had considered merging the departments into one, it abandoned that idea during budget deliberations in the spring. Despite Rodems now overseeing both departments, they will continue to operate separately.

City Manager Blair King said in the statement that having one person oversee both departments will improve inter-departmental cooperation and coordination, such as allowing residents to sign up for Parks and Recreation and Hutchins Street Square programs at the same locations.

Rodems has a bachelor's degree in recreation administration from Fresno State University. He worked as a recreation leader for the city of Fresno's Parks and Recreation department, and managed arenas and facilities for Fresno, University of California, Riverside, California State University, Fullerton, University of California, Davis and, through sports management firm IMG, the city of Stockton.