Parks' DeWitt-Rickards Named one of Nation's Top "30 Under 30"

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person smiles with crowd of people sitting in chairsbehind them

Riley DeWitt-Rickards, winner of “30 Under 30” Award, at the Mira Mesa Epicentre renovation groundbreaking in January.

One of the County’s own, Riley DeWitt-Rickards, has been honored as one of the top 30 parks and recreation workers under the age of 30 in the entire nation.

DeWitt-Rickards, 28, a Project Manager with the County Department of Parks and Recreation, was named as one of the elite “30 Under 30” for 2025 by the National Recreation and Park Association’s (NRPA) in its February magazine.

The nonprofit NRPA is a national association based in Virginia that champions the importance of parks and the work of the people who help create, build and maintain them.

“It feels great to be recognized,” DeWitt Rickards said, “especially in the field that I love so much! My executive team recommended that we should apply for this award a year or so ago. I found out (I won) at the same time as everyone else—when the article was published! One of my coworkers congratulated me and sent me the article. That’s how I found out I had received the award.”

DeWitt-Rickards, who will celebrate their third anniversary with the County in March, was chosen as a “30 Under 30” member for being the lead project manager for seven projects valued at $70 million and for co-managing three other initiatives. Those projects included leading the $13.5 million Village View Community Park in Fallbrook from design to construction. The 6.8-acre park project broke ground in 2023 and is expected to open this spring.

DeWitt-Rickards was also noted for volunteering to manage the Mira Mesa Epicentre renovation, a project designed to revitalize the epicentre as a County-operated community center.

That project broke ground last month and will ultimately include a pickleball and basketball court, a community garden, rentable community space, music and game rooms and study and work areas.

DeWitt-Rickards graduated from UC San Diego in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in management science and worked as a project manager with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance before coming to the County.

So, at the age of 28, is DeWitt-Rickards aiming for another “30 Under 30” award?

“I think the 30 Under 30 is a one-and-done award,” DeWitt-Rickards said. “But the NRPA has scholarships for young professionals that I hope to apply for so that I can continue to expand my knowledge in the field. I would love to pursue graduate education in parks and recreation!”