“I grew up in the rec center. Before this was a career, it was just… life.”
Mario doesn’t remember discovering Parks & Recreation—because it was always there. His mom worked for the city for over 40 years, retiring as a director, which meant Mario spent his childhood moving through rec centers, programs, gyms, and fields like it was second nature. By 12, he was running score clocks and helping with concessions. By 14, he was officially on payroll.
Now, he’s nearly 20 years in—and still building within the system that shaped him.
Not Just a Role—A Build-It-Yourself Blueprint
If there’s one area Mario leans into hard, it’s teens. Because, in his words, they’re often the most misunderstood.
“When teens gather—especially in the inner city—people get nervous.”
So he flips that. Instead of shutting it down, he creates space for it. Through basketball. Through music. Through programs like The St Paul Get Down—where young people write, perform, and own their music. And maybe most importantly? They get to be together. Loud. Visible. Unapologetic. “In parks.” Which, he points out, is usually the first place they get told to leave.
A Full-Circle Kind of Work
Here’s the part that makes everything click. The things Mario creates now… are the things he wished he had growing up. Which means this work isn’t just impact—it’s personal.
“It’s kind of selfish,” he says, laughing. But it’s the best kind of selfish.“
What Makes a Strong Parks Team?
Mario could talk about this for hours—but if you strip it down, it comes down to a few things:
Buy-in from everyone
Trust from leadership
Space to try, fail, and build again
Real connection to the community (not just checking a box) Or, as he puts it:
“No job is too big or too small. And the best ideas? They don’t come from the top. They come from the people doing the work every day.“
Plot Twist: He’s in a Band!
You can see him front and center in full flow, and he isn’t just playing—he’s performing. As the frontman for Stocktopus, Mario blends indie-pop hooks with a powerhouse hip-hop delivery, backed by the raw energy of a full live band.
It’s the same ethos you see in his work: creative, collaborative, and community-focused. Now, as a father of two, that circle is complete. His art, his music, and his family aren’t separate worlds—they are one continuous flow of connection and creativity.
The Park Bench Q&A
After talking through the big themes of his life, we shifted gears. We wanted to see the world through Mario’s eyes in real-time, so we threw a few “this or that” choices his way to see where his gut landed.
Big crowd or one-on-one? Big crowd
Plan it out or figure it out as you go? Figure it out as you go
Early start or late finish? Early start
Park hang or nature trail? Nature trail
Sunrise or sunset? Sunset
At the end of the conversation, Mario said something simple:
“Saint Paul is alive and well—and it’s only getting better.”
And coming from someone who’s spent his entire life inside the system? You believe him.
Mario doesn’t just build programs—he builds community. From the court to the stage to the local park, he creates spaces where belonging isn’t an afterthought; it’s the point. It’s work rooted in a level of authenticity you simply can’t fake
Park Bench Perspectives is a recurring series highlighting the people behind St. Paul’s parks. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for future conversations.