Former Grosse Pointe Woods lifeguard dives into new role heading Parks and Rec Department

GROSSE POINTE WOODS — A Grosse Pointe Woods native who spent much of his youth at the Lake Front Park pool has returned home to helm the city’s Parks and Recreation Department.

Owen Gafa’s appointment to parks and recreation director passed by a vote of 5-0 by the Woods City Council during approval of the consent agenda at a June 17 council meeting. City Councilman Kenneth Gafa — Owen’s father — abstained from the vote. June 17 also marked Owen Gafa’s first day on the job.

At a July 1 council meeting, Owen Gafa was sworn into office by City Clerk Paul Antolin.

Owen Gafa’s new job is a first for the Woods. His appointment comes in the wake of the council’s decision to make the position a directorship. Gafa’s predecessor, Nicole Gerhart, was the recreation supervisor. Gerhart left the Woods June 19 for a new job.

During a Woods City Council Committee of the Whole meeting June 3, the council considered City Administrator Frank Schulte’s suggestion that the city make the position a directorship.

Schulte said that changing the title would be in line with what most of the other Grosse Pointes have and “would better enhance all those improvements” the city has made to Lake Front Park.

“It seems to make sense,” City Councilman Michael Koester said.

The park, pool and community center had previously been under the purview of the Department of Public Works. Schulte said the DPW would continue to perform maintenance at the park, but creating a separate director means that “someone will be there (at the park) every single day directing (park) employees.”

Director of Public Services James Kowalski agreed with Schulte.

“We’re all still going to work together,” Kowalski said. “To me, it’s a smarter move.”

Other officials agreed.

“I think it’s a great idea, and the candidate seems to be very qualified,” City Councilman Todd McConaghy said.

Owen Gafa, 25, is currently a Grosse Pointe Woods resident. He most recently was working as the assistant pool manager for the Troy Community Center/Troy Family Aquatic Center, which he said has indoor and outdoor pools. Prior to that, he was a service technician for Beninati Pool and Spa in Utica and aquatics manager for Soaring Eagle Waterpark and Hotel in Mount Pleasant. From September 2017 to September 2021, he was the recreation assistant for Lake Front Park, where he worked closely with Gerhart. He was a lifeguard and lifeguard manager for the Woods pool from June 2014 to September 2017.

“It feels good,” Owen Gafa said of returning to his hometown and the park he has long loved. “It feels right. It feels like a full circle moment for me.”

City Attorney Debra Walling said the hiring of Owen Gafa didn’t represent a conflict of interest.

“Council member Gafa’s not in charge of hiring him or directly setting his wages,” Walling said.

Kenneth Gafa also had nothing to do with the city’s decision to hire his son. When they learned Gerhart was leaving, Kowalski and Schulte reached out to Owen Gafa to see if he was interested in applying for the position, based on his work history and experience in the Woods. Kenneth Gafa said he didn’t even know about this until after it happened.

City Councilwoman Vicki Granger has known Owen Gafa for years.

“It’s been a pleasure to see him work his way through the system,” Granger said.

Kenneth Gafa said his son’s love for the water started early, when he took swim lessons at Lake Front Park and later became a member of the city’s competitive swim team, the Woods Warriors. He said his son had been “living at the pool for a long time.”

“His mother and I are very, very proud,” Kenneth Gafa said. “He’s surprised us. We’ve watched him grow. We’re so pleased with the path he chose.”