Most of Mark Leyman’s childhood and adolescent memories are set to the backdrop of the great outdoors.
As a kid growing up in the coastal town of Laguna Niguel in South Orange County, Leyman spent his days windsurfing, kayaking, paddling, surfing and camping at Dana Point Harbor with his family. And he remained active as a teenager, playing volleyball at Dana Hills High School and working at a local YMCA as a recreation leader.
During his time at San Diego State University, where he studied recreations, he even spent a summer on the coasts of the Caribbean, coordinating performances, events and activities for both young and old passengers on a crew ship.
“I was always a little bit involved in everything,” said Leyman, 43, who resides in Redondo Beach with his wife Barbara and 6-year-old son Wil.
This week, Leyman effectively began his new role as director of Manhattan Beach’s Parks and Recreation Department, replacing longtime head and retiree Richard Gill.
Leyman, who after college joined the facility operations team at Redondo Beach’s Spectrum Club, said it was there he realized his affinity for community-based recreational programs. He soon moved onto work for the City of Tustin, where for six years he served as the community services coordinator.
“I didn’t know a whole lot about municipal government, but I learned a whole lot there,” he said, adding that his responsibilities included overseeing the city’s transportation program, volunteer program and ‘Concerts in the Park’ series, to name a few.
In 2000, Leyman left Tustin for Manhattan Beach, where he was initially brought onboard to the city’s Parks & Rec Department as a community program supervisor. After two years, he was promoted to sports and aquatic manager.
During his 11 years in the role, his accomplishments included developing an effective field policy for prioritizing and maximizing use among Manhattan Beach’s numerous community-based user groups, including American Youth Sports Organization, Mira Costa Pony and the Manhattan Beach Sand and Surf Club.
“[Leyman] is very well-versed in our award-winning Parks & Rec programs, partnerships and goals,” City Manager David Carmany said. “He has already accomplished a lot for the city during his time here, and I am very confident that he will do an excellent job…”
As the new director, Leyman hopes to continue the legacy of “good work” and provide a “continuum of services across the board, from older adults to cultural arts, recreational services, sports and aquatics.”
“It’s kind of a dream in that this community is extremely involved,” Leyman said, explaining that his department averages 20,000 to 25,000 registrations year-round for activities and programs. “For a city this size, that’s unbelievable.”
Leyman says he is especially optimistic about the trajectory of the city’s growing collaborations, namely with the Manhattan Beach Unified School District, with which it is contemplating an expanded joint-use agreement that would allow greater access to school fields and pool.
“That’s what I’m looking forward to—providing even more programs and services, and hopefully more collaborations,” Leyman said. “I think there’s a lot of opportunity there.”
