Chris Piperno, Parks Maintenance Worker
Chris Piperno joined JC Parks this summer as a Parks Maintenance Worker on the Athletics and Ballfields crew. He was born and raised in Long Island, New York, and after graduating high school, attended Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida, where he played college baseball. Chris went on to coach college baseball from 2014–2024 before making the move to parks and recreation. Today, his work focuses on the preparation and maintenance that goes into keeping athletic fields safe, playable, consistent, and looking their best.
One of Chris’s favorite parts of the job is simple: “My favorite part of the work that I do is the crew I work with.”
He’s been impressed by the quality of the machines used by JC Parks, something he says he didn’t expect when he started. He’s also found that the work ethic of his crew stands out. While laying sod for the new River Market, Chris saw that firsthand. “It was all hands on deck and everyone was doing something to get the job done.” That experience reinforced something he values in his coworkers: “I value work ethic & everyone here has it and steps up to get the job done.”
AJ Ferrell, Program Manager Youth Day Camps
Amberlyn “AJ” Ferrell joined JC Parks full-time in June 2026 as the Program Manager, Youth Day Camps and Active Living, but this isn’t her first time working for Parks. AJ first joined the department as a camp counselor in 2019 and eventually became a camp leader and assistant camp director, roles she held through the summer of 2025. She then spent a year working for the Department of Higher Education after teaching high school English for seven years before returning to JC Parks when longtime Program Manager Angie retired this year. With her background in education and years of experience with summer camps, AJ was excited to step into a role that combines working with kids with the planning and organization that happen behind the scenes.
“Being an education major, I am so glad to be working in a position that allows me to continue working with children, while also getting to plan and organize on the admin side of camps,” AJ says. She especially enjoys the simple moments that make summer camp special, from playing games with kids to watching them enjoy the “innocence, simplicity, and joy” of childhood. At the same time, stepping into a full-time leadership role has given her a new appreciation for everything that goes into making those moments happen. After previously working as Angie’s assistant director, AJ thought she had a pretty good idea of what the job involved—but the amount of administrative work still surprised her. “I know Angie always seemed to be busy when I was working part-time, but I never knew what occupied all of her time. Now I do!”
This year, AJ is focusing on thoughtful changes rather than reinventing the programs. For Youth Day Camps, she wants to take a closer look at how each camp’s daily schedule is structured, introduce new games and activities, and make small changes that keep things fresh for returning campers. For Active Living, her goal is to help more people discover the group and the activities it already offers, while creating more opportunities to connect with the broader community. She points to the Teddy Bear Picnic and the Active Living group’s visit to camp this summer to help with tie-dye as examples of the kind of interaction she’d like to see more often.
Jill Mumm, Seasonal Parks Maintenance Staff
Jill Mumm joined JC Parks this season as a seasonal employee on the Forestry crew, working alongside City Forester and Arborist Simon Schroeter. Her work takes her throughout the parks system, where she helps check on tree health, responds to community reports of downed limbs, trims trees, and works alongside other maintenance crews to keep trees and surrounding areas safe and accessible. Sometimes that means making sure branches aren’t interfering with sidewalks or landscaping work; other times, it means simply keeping an eye on the health and condition of the trees that make up our urban landscape.
Jill’s background makes the work a natural fit. She is studying wildlife ecology and conservation, and she’s interested in how caring for trees in an urban environment can also support local wildlife. Since starting with JC Parks, she says she’s learned a lot about the hands-on work that goes into caring for trees. “Trees are healthy, it takes a lot of work to keep them that way and make sure they’re in good shape — not growing into the sidewalk, getting wrapped around things they shouldn’t.” Her work with the Forestry crew has given her a chance to put her interest in ecology into practice while gaining experience caring for trees throughout the community.
Jill will continue working with JC Parks through October, contributing to the day-to-day work that helps keep our parks safe, healthy and welcoming. Her role is one example of the many ways seasonal staff support JC Parks during our busiest time of year. Across divisions, seasonal employees help maintain parks and facilities, care for athletic fields and landscapes, support recreation programs and pools, and take on the extra work that comes with serving a busy community. We’re grateful to Jill and all of our seasonal staff for the time, energy and care they bring to JC Parks. Their work makes a real difference, and we appreciate having them on the team.