Daily Inspiration: Meet Janine Prado

Today we’d like to introduce you to Janine Prado.

Hi Janine, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m the Director of Recreation and Community Services for the City of Santa Clarita. Which basically means, I bring the fun. But I also bring the caring. I have devoted my career to creating programs to help keep kids and families healthy, happy and engaged, whether it is leading award-winning campaigns such as the Drug-Free Youth in Santa Clarita Valley or the Heroin Kills symposium or playing a key role in the design and programming of our new multi-million-dollar Canyon Country Community Center. During the pandemic, I oversaw the reopening and rehabilitation of the City’s only ice rink. The former Ice Station was decades old and had not seen any renovations over the years. When it shut down due to the pandemic, the community clamored for the City to buy the facility and breathe new life into it. The City team embraced this opportunity and transformed what is now known as The Cube – Ice and Entertainment Center powered by Valencia by FivePoint. I also committed to serving not only as the director, but also as an ice skater. I showed up most mornings at 7:45 a.m. to check in on the facility and to understand the people, their needs and the culture. I am proud to say that The Cube is now thriving, seeing 4000,000 ice athletes through the doors every year, and well surpassing revenue projections. As I near retirement, there is one more massive undertaking on my horizon, much like The Cube.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
With the success of The Cube, the City team is now taking on the plans for The Rink. Another ambitious City project, we are in the middle of construction for the brand new state-of-the-art The Rink Sports Pavilion. This 25,701-square-foot facility will soon serve as the only roller rink in Northern Los Angeles County. Anticipated to be a hot spot for the roller-skating community, it will offer a rotating schedule of DJs for a wide range of theme nights, imaginative cocktails, delicious bites and never-ending fun. This is sure to be the place for birthday parties and other gatherings. During the day, The Rink will live up to the “Sports Pavilion” part of its name. Offering indoor courts for the fastest-growing sport in the country – pickleball – but also space for basketball and volleyball. The challenge with this new facility is more of an opportunity: how to program the multi-faceted site to best serve City residents and the SoCal region as a whole.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Bringing a roller-skating rink to Santa Clarita was a brand-new adventure for me. Having never overseen a roller rink before, I immersed myself in everything roller skating—and yes, I quickly learned they even have conferences. My team and I headed to Las Vegas for the Roller Skating Association Convention and Trade Show, where we met some of the most committed, creative and passionate people I’ve ever encountered. This is a community deeply dedicated to keeping the industry thriving, offering programs for people of all ages and skill levels, and supporting one another to ensure roller skating continues to roll forward. I was inspired by how they blend the nostalgia of the sport with the nuances of today, from imaginative theme nights to experiences designed to appeal to skaters of all ages and interests. And of course, no roller rink experience would be complete without slushies—an iconic part of roller-skating culture with an impressive variety of flavors, though I’ll admit cherry is my personal favorite.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Something that might surprise people about me is that before rinks and recreation facilities, a huge part of my life revolved around horses. I owned horses for 18 years and rode competitively in traditional English disciplines, spending countless early mornings and long days in the saddle. My horse, Gabol, was more than a partner in competition—he was a teammate and a constant teacher. What I loved most about the sport was the camaraderie and sense of community, along with the deep trust and connection that develops between rider and horse. That relationship, built on patience, discipline and mutual respect, shaped the way I approach leadership and teamwork today and continues to influence how I build programs and spaces that bring people together.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://SantaClarita.gov
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cityofsantaclarita/?hl=en
• Facebook: @cityofsantaclarita
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/city-of-santa-clarita/
• Twitter: @santaclarita
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CityofSantaClarita