Simply Re-Creating Enterprises: Striving to Protect and Save That Which is Ours!

Audree V. Jones-Taylor, President and Principle Consultant of Simply Re-Creating Enterprise, is a Published Author, Practitioner and Advocate for Parks, Recreation, Conservation, Preservation, Open Space, Trails and Play. She retired as the Director of the City of Oakland Parks and Recreation in 2015. Prior to joining the city, she served as the Superintendent in the City and County of San Francisco. Audree has over 40 years in the profession of parks and recreation with stops along the way in Redlands, San Bernardino and Long Beach, CA.

Accomplishments during her tenure with the City of Oakland Park and Recreation included rebuilding the community and organizational trust through community engagement and focus groups. She was very successful in establishing community partnerships with the public and private sectors, resulting in over 28 million dollars for capitol improvement funds to improve parks and facilities. She re-built the credibility of the organization through extensive training with her employees and through the implementation of policies and procedures that directed their daily operations. In addition, Audree has a proven track record in working in collaboration with non-profit organizations to leverage funding and programs to increase program offerings for the children through seniors.

Audree was the first female Director in the more than 100-year history of the City of Oakland and believes her purpose is to expose, empower, engage and excite others about our natural spaces and play. Although retired, Audree remains a strong voice and continues to be committed and dedicated to her work, constantly advocating and conveying the message of the value of the profession of Parks, Recreation, Conservation, Preservation, Open Space Trails and Play through non-traditional ways. Audree is a known leader in the profession and was featured in the September 2012 National Parks and Recreation Association magazine - Changing Demographics. Audree strongly believes that encouraging play and recreation and increasing our awareness of all of society’s built in environmental resources such as parks, trails, shorelines, lakes and open spaces, creates healthier lifestyles and an improved quality of life. For those reasons Audree has always reached out to the health communities, housing coalitions and organizations who understand the value of treating the whole person, including our babies and children. Her commitment is to remove the risk factors of poverty, obesity, trauma, adverse childhood experiences, hypertension, stress, high blood pressure, and cardio-arrest through education and involvement. Audree’s educational background includes: a Masters Degree in Leadership of the Arts, St. Mary’s College of California; a Business of Science Degree in Business Administration, University of Redlands; and a Liberal Arts Degree with an emphasis on Childhood Development and Recreation, Chaffey College.

In addition, over her 40-year span in the Park and Recreation profession, she has presented at State and National Conferences on parks and recreation and has conducted many focus groups, workshops, community forums, community open houses, trainings and presentations locally and nationally.