Even though he’s going from having a staff of around 50 to one a fraction of that size, that doesn’t concern Steve Richardson. In fact, it’s just the opposite.
“I’m excited because this gives me an opportunity to be more hands on,” he said. “This is why I got into this profession. I realize I’m going to have to wear a lot of different hats, but I’m excited about the challenge.”
Richardson took over the helm of the Sedona Parks and Recreation Department on Nov. 4, replacing Rachel Murdoch, who left for another job in the area. Originally from Mesa, he grew up working for the parks and recreation department there, doing everything from summer camps to refereeing sports. After graduating with a degree in parks and recreation from Northern Arizona University, he stayed in the field, most recently serving as the parks and recreation director in the mining town of Morenci, in the southeastern part of the state.
“I wasn’t looking, but I saw the opening and I’ve always had a special place in my heart for Sedona,” he said. “Going to school in Flagstaff, I was down here quite often. Aside from my family and I loving the outdoors, a big part of my decision was because of the city of Sedona’s great reputation.
“It was somewhat of a tough decision to leave, but the idea of living in this area was very attractive. I was looking for a place to plant roots and raise our kids.”
Sedona Assistant City Manager Karen Osburn said the assessment and selection process for this position was a rigorous one.
“Steve was the unanimous choice of all our interviewers, which included parks and recreation staff, a city department head panel and a panel of citizens and other stakeholders,” she said. “Steve brings a wealth of experience and an obvious passion for recreation and for serving the community. We couldn’t feel more fortunate to have found Steve and to have him join our team.”
Following the extensive hiring process, he said he felt good about his interview and it made him realize just how much he wanted the job.
“I was excited and a bit relieved because you never really know,” he said of getting the call that he’d been chosen for the job. “Then my brain started racing in terms of the transition and moving. But looking at the big picture, this was definitely the right decision. So far everything has been great. I’m very blessed to have such a great staff of recreational professionals.”
Richardson said he’s excited to offer some ideas for new or existing programs and events, but first he wants to establish the trust among his staff and the community. He plans to do that by meeting as many people as possible and sharing his ideas.
“There are so many community members and groups that want to be involved, which is nice,” he said. “A lot of it is supporting what they have going on like the WineFest and Mountain Bike Festival. I want to look at those events and see how we can add value and further support them.
“I like to focus on what brings people together. I’m evaluating all of our current events, programs and venues to see where we can improve and where we may be lacking. Offering programs for all ages is crucial. We want to be an all-encompassing parks and recreation department and ensure that we check all the boxes when doing so.”
As an avid outdoorsman and competitive obstacle course racer, Richardson took those skills to the next level and competed in 2017 on the popular NBC show, “American Ninja Warrior.” Even though he never made it on the televised portion, he said it was a great experience. In fact, he plans to audition again this year.
“You first have to fill out an application followed by a three-minute video talking about why you want to be on the show and then you wait and hope to be chosen for the show,” he said. “It was a unique experience. My whole family was there. It was a lot of fun. They film all night long — in fact, I didn’t compete until around 4:30 a.m. But I’m glad I did it and hope to get another opportunity to do so.”
