Sven Leff: Overseeing 96 parks and more

CEDAR RAPIDS - Sven Leff, Cedar Rapids's parks and recreation director, stared working in the industry part time in high school and through college. He received a bachelor's degree in recreation management from St. Cloud State University, in Minnesota, and a master's degree in business administration from Portland State University in Oregon.

Leff worked in the industry for over 20 years in Minnesota, Nevada and Iowa. Now 44, Leff joined the city staff as recreation superintendent in April 2011. He was named parks and recreation director in April 2013.

How did you decide to come to Cedar Rapids?

Cedar Rapids had many acres of beautiful parkland, outstanding outdoor aquatic facilities, a good mix of young and senior staff member and a vision for the future. I thought I would be challenged and would grow as a professional while contributing to flood recovery and progress in the city.

In addition, Cedar Rapids offered a better cost of living, higher quality schools, less crime and more community participation than where I was coming from (in Reno).

How many employees, parks, golf courses and swimming pools do you manage?

The Parks and Recreation Department oversees 96 parks, four municipal golf courses, six pools, two sports complexes, the McGrath Amphitheatre Cedar Rapids, Ellis Boat Harbor, Ushers Ferry Historic Village, Prairie Park Fishery and much more. We also provide over 1,000 recreational classes each year. We have 52 permanent staff members and supervise 543 seasonal employees and volunteers year-round.

How would you characterize the city's park system?

We have an expansive, well-planned park system that is diverse and has unique features like Ellis Boat Harbor and Ushers Ferry Historic Village. Our more than 3,000 acres of park is historic and cherished. We are fortunate that 80 percent of the city's open space and natural areas lie within flood plains, so it can assist with flood control.

But this also creates barriers to develop this park land. We have some of the best aquatic facilities in the state, but we have a deficiency in indoor recreation space.

In the years ahead, the city will see the emergence of three greenway areas along the west side of the Cedar River. When will it arrive and how will it add to the city's attractions?

The recreational greenway elements will arrive gradually over the next five to 20 years as the flood control system is installed. We hope to work with private partners on some pieces so we may see them happen more quickly.

As we complete the riverfront sections, they will become part of the identity of Cedar Rapids. They will become some of the reasons people want to move here, live here or come here on a weekend.

Are there enough golfers to support four city-owned courses?

We believe so, although we are challenged like other cities across the country with the declining participation in golf. Our mix of golf courses is attractive to local golfers and golfers from all over Eastern Iowa who regularly play here.

We are working hard to compete in the public golf market, so each course works on player development programs and ways to increase golf rounds throughout the year. In 2011-2012, the last fiscal year before flooding affected Jones Golf Course, our operations were the strongest and revenues fully supported golf operations.

What does 2015 look like for the oft-flooded Jones Golf Course?

Re-establishing the turf, greens and bunkers at Jones last fall was very successful, so we should be ready to open all 18 holes by the end of April. We are hopeful that 2015 and 2016 will be dryer years to help further recovery of the course.

Our staff does a great job creating options for long term planning for Jones so we will be ready if we have additional wet years.