Ashika Lal is the Parks Administrator for San Joaquin County, overseeing the Parks and Recreation Department and Micke Grove Zoo. With over 21 years of experience in parks and recreation, she is dedicated to enhancing community spaces and recreational opportunities. Ashika also currently serves on the California Park & Recreation Society's State Board of Directors as the Region 1 Representative.
Originally from Southern California, Ashika began her career in parks and recreation with the City of Downey in District 10. After moving to Northern California in District 2, she has worked for Fairytale Town, Carmichael Recreation & Park District and Southgate Recreation & Park District, gaining diverse experience in park operations, recreation programming, and community engagement.
Ashika hosted and produced the Timepass podcast, a show highlighting the experiences of first-generation children of immigrant parents navigating life, relationships and cultural expectations. After three successful seasons, in 2023 her podcast was syndicated on Rukus Avenue Radio, the leading South Asian radio and podcast network, which later joined iHeartRadio as the first South Asian radio station on a mainstream network in 2024.
She also serves on Sacramento State University's Department of Recreation, Parks, Tourism and Administration Advisory Committee. Passionate about mentorship, she enjoys sharing her knowledge in parks and recreation, leadership and communications with fellow professionals and students.