WATSONVILLE — A number of years ago, Nick Calubaquib was preparing to take a test that would propel him into UC Santa Cruz’s teaching credential program.
The East Bay native knew he liked working with kids, and always imagined himself as a teacher.
But on one “beautiful morning” in Santa Cruz, with the waves pumping, Calubaquib had an epiphany.
“Is this really what I want to do?” he recalled thinking at the time. “Do I want to be in a classroom teaching the same thing year after year?”
During that time, Calubaquib was working for the City of Santa Cruz’s recreation department, an area that he grew up in and “fell in love” with, he said.
So, he un-enrolled from UCSC and enrolled in the master’s in recreation program at San Jose State, and never looked back.
Calubaquib was recently hired as the director of the City of Watsonville Parks and Community Services Department, overseeing the city’s 26 parks, 30 full-time employees and nearly 50 part-time workers.
Describing his new position as a “homecoming,” Calubaquib previously worked for the City of Watsonville in the 2000s, working his way up from a temporary recreation leader to a recreation superintendent. He left in 2011 to work for the City of Morgan Hill’s recreation department.
But he said he always hoped he could find a job on this side of the hill, as he was commuting to Morgan Hill from his home near Watsonville daily.
“Watsonville really was the most viable place,” he said. “I love the team here, I love the community here. It’s been really rewarding to work in this community.
“When the job opened here, it was almost a dream to be able to apply for this position.”
Calubaquib said he took the advice of former parks director Pat Donahue, who told him before she retired that if he wanted to be the director of the department, he would have to leave and come back in order to “grow and expand your horizons.”
“It all came full circle,” he said. “It’s super exciting to be back and be in the role I’m in to make some positive change.”
Calubaquib said he wants to expand the programs the department currently offers, in a way that is efficient and not a drain on the city’s general fund.
“I see my role as taking the good things we are doing and take them to great,” he said.
Facility improvements are also on his list. The Ramsay Park Family Center, Calubaquib said, will soon receive a new coat of paint both inside and out, and the department is working with a local artist to create an installation on the Main Street side of the building.
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Summer programs
With summer break beginning next week for Pajaro Valley Unified School District, the Parks and Community Services Department has a number of programs and events lined up to keep children busy.
Registration is now open for Camp W.O.W. at Ramsay Park. The camp, which runs June 18 through Aug. 10, is open to children ages 6 to 12. Every week includes a different theme, with activities and field trips scheduled that relate to the theme.
Camp Wowzers is making its debut this year, which is a summer camp designed for 3- to 5-year-olds.
Other programs include the Summer Aquatics Program at Watsonville High School, featuring swimming lessons as well as recreational swimming for all ages.
The programs are in addition to special events throughout the summer, including the Watsonville Strawberry Festival, Music in the Plaza and more.
For information, visit www.cityofwatsonville.org/595/Parks-Community-Services.
