Redding resident, outdoor enthusiast, promoted to be Redding community services director

City of Redding employee Travis Menne has been appointed to be director of the city's Community Services Department, it was announced Tuesday.

The wide-ranging department includes recreation programs, park and trail development, libraries, park maintenance and communications, along with oversight of Big League Dreams Park, Redding Civic Auditorium, California Soccer Park, the Redding Rodeo and other facilities, according to the department's website.

Menne, 36, was selected to lead the department ― which supervises about 132 people who work in the parks, recreation, maintenance and communications offices ― following the retirement of longtime Redding employee Kim Niemer, according to Redding City Manager Barry Tippin.

Menne was senior projects coordinator in the department.

He also was the "stand-out candidate among many strong contenders," Niemer said in the announcement.

Tippin said that Menne worked alongside Niemer "for the last seven years of her 27-year career with the city."

Menne said he began transitioning into his new post on Oct. 15. Of the coming year, he said, “Business will be booming, in terms of grant-funded projects."

Among his department's current high-profile efforts are revamping South City Park near City Hall and developing the new Panorama Park on Redding's northwest side, which will contain the city’s first community recreation center.

According to the announcement, Menne will "bring passion, drive, creativity and inclusivity" to the community services director's role. He said he wants to ensure the department “works on community outreach and collaborative efforts" and empowers members of community.

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“We routinely call ourselves the ‘fun department,'" Menne said. "We build the things that bring a quality of life to this community. It’s unimaginably rewarding to do this work.”

Menne has North State, southern Oregon roots

Born in Medford, Oregon, Menne grew up in the North State.

He graduated from Central Valley High School, then earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Chico State University. He returned to Redding earning a master’s degree in public history at Sacramento State University, he said.

Menne's first jobs were in construction. He participated on projects in Yosemite, Crater Lake and Fort Vancouver national parks and the Lewis and Clark National Monument. That work ignited his interest in helping create open spaces and parks in Redding.

Menne took his first job with the city of Redding in October 2016. He started as assistant project coordinator, then moved up to senior project coordinator, developing "parks, trails and open spaces," Tippin said.

Since 2016, Menne has helped bring in more than $20 million in grant money for city projects, Tippin said. His past projects include the Caldwell Skate Park, Caldwell Jr. Bike Park, downtown tree planting, and Northeast Crossing, Salt Creek, Canyon Hollow and Kum Bay Xerel Open Space Area trails.

Menne lives with his wife, Kayla, and their two children, ages 5 and 7. He likes mountain biking, riding dirt bikes, camping and other family outdoor activities, he said.

Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica in the Get Out! Nor Cal recreation Facebook group. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Redding has a new community services director, Travis Menne