William Frederickson, Jr. (1910- ). From part-time director of the picnic bureau in 1930 to general manager of one of the nation’s largest recreation and parks departments–that has been the success story of William Frederickson, Jr., during a career that spanned 45 years.
He was recognized nationally and throughout California as a leader in the public recreation and park movement. "When I first came to the Department’s picnic bureau in City Hall as a UCLA student," Frederickson recalls, "I remember how lucky I was to have a part-time job. They were selling apples on the street and there were long food lines in those days. Unemployment was high, but our City parks were extremely busy. I guess this was due to the fact that people had a good deal of leisure time on their hands and looked to recreation outlets to help forget their troubles."
Frederickson’s first assignment in the former Playground and Recreation Department was to issue permits and to organize picnics in the various parks. "I would distribute a ‘picnic kit’ which included games, bats, balls, burlap sacks, etc.," he said. "I also spent weekends running recreation programs at picnics for large groups."
In a career that spans the administration of four mayors, he moved up the ladder until he was named general manager of an agency which has grown to be one of the largest and most respected in the U.S. with 5,500 full and part-time employees. During his career as a recreation director and supervisor of recreation, he worked at Oakwood, Venice, Stoner, Mayberry and Manchester recreation centers.
He was also supervisor of aquatics at the Los Angeles Swim Stadium, a maintenance supervisor, and superintendent of recreation before moving into the top spot. The only interruption in service occurred when he served with the U.S. Navy in World War II, MWR, leaving as a lieutenant commander in the reserve.
Frederickson, who graduated from Hollywood High School in 1927 and from UCLA in 1931 (BA Economics), where he was captain of the Bruin’s water polo team, did his graduate work at USC in recreation administration.
He is a founding member of the National Recreation and Park Association and served on its Board of Trustees. He is also a past president of the American Recreation Society and California Recreation Society, a member of League of California Cities, life member of California Congress of Parents and Teachers and numerous other professional and civic organizations.
Frederickson was also a co-founder of Los Angeles Beautiful and a recent recipient of a "Daisy" award for his consistent support of beautification of Los Angeles parks.
In 1968, he was designated as the Mayor’s Youth Coordinator and was summoned by then Vice President Hubert Humphrey to Washington D.C. to set up a program to deal with providing youth with summer jobs and recreation programs. "Working in the recreation and park movement all these years has been most rewarding to me," said Frederickson. "I can honestly say there has never been a dull moment in this exciting field, and I’m extremely pleased that I have been able to play even a small role in bringing recreation programs to citizens of Los Angeles from the inner city to the San Fernando Valley." "It’s the kind of career that is people oriented," he continued. "There’s nothing as gratifying or satisfying nor is there anything quite like it."
During his tenure as general manager, the Department expended an estimated $40 million in capital improvements, as well as acquiring some 2,200 acres of valuable park land. Not only has the department’s regular recreation programs at 144 recreation centers been expanded during his service as head of the agency, but he has also played a major role in bringing together youth serving recreational agencies from the Board of Education, County and City into a permanent coordinating council.
Among some of the Department’s achievements in which he was personally involved: development of Travel Town in Griffith Park; construction of the $12 million Los Angeles Zoo; creation of the Center Services Association at most recreation centers, which insures community-based support of programming; and decentralization of the Department’s recreation program to five separate areas of the city.
Adoption of the dewelling unit construction tax meant funds for development of additional parks, including acquisition of land for Westwood Park, Wattles Park and Japanese teahouse, Santa Monica Mountain Park, opening of the Convention Center, acquisition of Bee Canyon, (largest park–670 acres--to be added in 35 years). He also played a role in the supervision of such federal programs as Emergency Employment Act and Comprehensive Employment and Training Act; and played a major role in the Department by taking over management of El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Park.
Besides his other noted professional involvements, Frederickson was
President, California Recreation Society; President, League of California
Cities, Recreation and Park Section 1969-70 Committee on Community Development
1971. He also served on the Southern California Association of Governments
Council of Park and Recreation Administrators; City of Los Angeles Mayor’s
Youth Coordinator; Governor’s Committee on Roles and Responsibilities in
Recreation Among Government Agencies and in the Private Sector; Governor’s
Committee on Recreation Problems in the Urban Impacted Areas.
Sources:
Materials Obtained from Los Angeles Parks and Recreation