Patty Wieliczko would be the first to tell you she absolutely loves her job with the city of Thornton Park and Recreation in Colorado. In fact, just this year, Wieliczko earned a promotion to graphics and marketing coordinator — a title change that has brought her career full circle. After graduating from Wittenberg University with a degree in graphic design and a minor in photography, Wieliczko worked as an assistant artist at an advertising firm and then as graphics director for a Newark, Ohio-based printing company.

“Over the years, I had begun to realize that most everyone who had a computer had become their own graphic designer, with the aid of Microsoft Word and their favorite clipart package,” recalls Wieliczko. After 15-plus years working in graphic design, she longed for something different. Parks & Recreation magazine recently spoke with Wieliczko to learn more about what inspired her to make a career change and what makes her current position in parks and recreation rewarding.

Parks & Recreation magazine: How did you get your start in parks and recreation?
Patty Wieliczko: In the late 1990s, I met my future husband, left my beloved home state of Ohio and relocated to Colorado to begin a new chapter in my life. When I arrived, I took over a year off work to get to know my new surroundings. When my husband pointed out an ad in the newspaper calling for a special event assistant with the city of Thornton’s recreation division, I was intrigued. I thought, “How great would it be to go into work and be surrounded by ‘fun’ every day!” I interviewed for and was offered the job in March 2002. Within that same year, I also began working as a guest service specialist at the front desks of the community center and the recreation center. During quiet times at the desk, I would offer to design posters, flyers and the like for many of the recreation coordinators to keep myself busy. In 2006, a full-time visual arts specialist position was created, and I was once again wearing the hat of a designer, but under the fun and exciting umbrella of municipal recreation! It just all played out; it couldn’t have been a better road for me.

P&R: What’s particularly fun about serving the community?
Wieliczko: I love the fact that what we provide to the community directly affects people in a positive manner. I am fortunate that my office is located in our recreation center where every day, I get to see firsthand the community’s love of what we do and the positive impact it has on their lives. This is also evident at our festivals and special events, some of which draw upwards of 50,000 attendees.

P&R: What advice would you give someone who is interested in working in the parks and recreation industry?
Wieliczko: Go for it! There are so many exciting facets to this industry. I believe that just about anyone with a particular skill or talent that has an interest in parks and recreation can find their niche here. I’m living proof of it because I never thought I could use my degree in recreation — and it ended up being a perfect fit.

— Vitisia Paynich, Freelance Writer for Parks & Recreation magazine