Staff from the Sunrise Recreation and Park District attend the Citrus Heights ACCESS Luncheon on April 21. Back row, from left are, James Joseph, Wayne Edmundson, Doug Randle, Jacob Polito and Jeff Rivard. Middle row, from left are, Justin Hershey, Jaime Fonseca and John Repetti. Front row, from left are, Amanda Camacho, Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce board chair; Kevin Huntzinger; and Sheri Merrick, chamber executive director. Photo by Ornella Rossi

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - What roles do parks and recreation play in shaping a city’s growth and sense of community? That question was at the center of discussion Tuesday, April 21 as local leaders and business professionals gathered at the Citrus Heights Event Center for the monthly ACCESS Citrus Heights Luncheon.

Held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Citrus Heights Event Center, 6300 Fountain Square Drive, the event featured Sunrise Recreation and Park District Administrator Kevin Huntzinger as the guest speaker, with lunch provided by Pancho Villa BBQ and sponsorship by the Rotary Club of Citrus Heights.

According to Chamber Executive Director Sheri Merrick, Huntzinger brings decades of parks and recreation experience, including nearly 20 years with the city of Rocklin. “Kevin has fostered relationships with community groups and local leadership to enhance parks and recreation opportunities on a local and regional level,” Merrick said.

Huntzinger, who has led the district for about 2½ years, focused his presentation on the scope of services provided within Citrus Heights and how the district manages public resources.

“The district administrator provides executive leadership to ensure the district delivers high-quality parks, facilities and recreation services aligned with board policy and community needs,” Huntzinger said. “What I see my job as is the critical link between board policy and the day-to-day operations, ensuring the visions of our board become results.”

The Sunrise Recreation and Park District maintain 17 developed neighborhood parks and 10 open space parks in Citrus Heights, totaling 392 acres. Amenities include 23 playgrounds, 251 picnic tables and 52 sports fields and courts. The district also operates two pools and two community centers.

Huntzinger said the district’s approximately $7.7 million operating budget is largely funded through property taxes and recreation program fees, with about $6 million allocated to salaries, benefits, services and supplies.

“We want to make sure everyone in the community can understand what we’re doing and how we’re doing it,” he said. “Transparency and accountability build trust and confidence within the community.”

Programs offered by the district serve a wide range of residents, including youth and adult sports camps, aquatics classes and special events. During the 2025–26 season, about 19 sports camps served roughly 1,620 residents, while aquatics programs include swim lessons, public swim opportunities and lifeguard training.

“Our programs deliver health and wellness benefits by improving physical fitness, supporting mental health and fostering social connection,” Huntzinger said.

He also emphasized partnerships with local agencies, including police and fire departments, as key to maintaining safety and expanding programming.

Before the keynote address, representatives from the Rotary Club of Citrus Heights, sponsors of the luncheon, highlighted the organization’s local and global service efforts. Bill Van Duker, a longtime member of 57 years described Rotary as a “service above self” organization. Notable projects mentioned by Duker included distributing dictionaries to third graders, providing shoes underwear and socks to local students, contributing $100,000 toward a planned veterans memorial and global eradication efforts of polio in partnership with the Gates Foundation and the World Health Organization.

During the luncheon, the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce also presented a $2,000 donation to the nonprofit Single Mom Strong. The funds were raised during the March 10 Community Awards Dinner.

The next ACCESS Citrus Heights Luncheon is scheduled for May 19 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Citrus Heights Event Center and will feature Sacramento Metro Fire District Chief Adam House. For more information or tickets, visit https://chchamber.com/.