AP Diaz is the Superintendent of Seattle Parks and Recreation and a member of Mayor Bruce Harrell’s Cabinet. He has over 27 years of professional experience. He previously served as the Executive Officer & General Counsel for the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, helping lead many high-profile matters, including transformation, restoration, and the management model for the iconic Greek Theatre and preparation and development of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games’ PlayLA Youth Sports legacy initiative.
In Seattle, AP manages and oversees 500 parks, special sites and facilities, 2500 employees, a $1B operating and capital budget, the Parks District Levy, along with governance, legal, support and policy matters related to the Park Commission, City Council, City Attorney's Office, Mayor's Office and the Seattle Park Foundation.
AP serves on many high-level civic community organizations as a board member for the Seattle Aquarium, the Seattle Zoo, the Washington State Arboretum and the Seattle Art Museum’s Olympic Sculpture Park.
AP is an active, licensed lawyer with the State Bar of California, with a pending application for the Washington State Bar and is a graduate of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and Loyola Law School. He holds a Bachelor of Science in International Politics and a Juris Doctorate degree.
He is an Adjunct Professor at Seattle University Law School and a Judge Pro Temp for the Los Angeles Superior Court.
As a lawyer, AP litigated hundreds of matters in the City Attorney’s Criminal Branch, including 30 jury trials and practiced municipal law in the Civil Division's Municipal Law Branch, as legal counsel to the Los Angeles City Council, various City Departments and as lead contract counsel for the Los Angeles Police and Fire Departments. Previously he practiced law at Knapp, Petersen & Clarke and served as a Judicial Extern for the California 2nd Appellate Court.
AP is a board member for the National Recreation and Parks Association, an executive board member for World Urban Parks, and a fellow of the American Academy for Parks and Recreation Administration and a member of Hispanic Professional in Parks and Recreation Administration.
AP enjoys teaching Law, Adult Development Theory & Transformational Leadership; is a faculty member for NRPA’s Director’s School teaching Park Planning & Development, Marketing, Communications and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Past Chair and member of the Parks & Recreation Magazine Editorial Advisory Board.
AP is a third generation Angelino, born in Hollywood and raised in Santa Monica, CA. He enjoys travelling, teaching, running, swimming, tennis and being a new resident to the Pacific Northwest. He likes to read biographies, keep abreast of local, national and international affairs. AP is a proud Mexican-American, lawyer, friend, ally and self-coined “Seattletino!”
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Thursday, March 20, 2025
10:30 AM – 12:15 PM PST