Director Of Parks, Arts And Recreation

Grand Prairie, Texas Seeks Director of Parks, Arts & Recreation

The City of Grand Prairie, Texas, is the 7th largest city in DFW and the 15th largest City in Texas. The community is home to more than 200,640 people. The City’s ideal location, excellent access, forward-focused local leaders, and hometown feeling are just some of the qualities that make Grand Prairie attractive to residents and new businesses.

The City of Grand Prairie Parks, Arts & Recreation system is one of the finest in America. Not only has the department won the highest award in the industry — the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Gold Medal Award — but it has done so twice, in 2008 and 2017. In addition, the department is nationally accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA), an honor shared by relatively few agencies in the U.S. With its many diverse features, the department includes more than 5,000 acres of parkland; world-class parks and facilities; a wide array of exciting program opportunities; and numerous special events throughout the year, including Prairie Lights, a drive-through holiday light park that attracts more than 200,000 visitors annually, and Main Street Fest, a three-day festival along the historic Main Street in downtown.

Grand Prairie is seeking a visionary servant-leader with a confident and collaborative management style who is excited to oversee an award-winning and multi-faceted Parks, Arts & Recreation Department. Under the direction of city management, The Director of Parks, Arts & Recreation is responsible for leading, planning, and managing all activities and operations of an accredited and award-winning department, overseeing 650 employees and a $58 million annual budget comprised of seven operating funds and multiple enterprise funds.

The right fit for this role will have experience with and knowledge of all aspects of park and recreation amenities and programming, from traditional community venues to cutting-edge initiatives, and will strategically manage the department’s operational goals, working closely with elected and appointed leaders to ensure they reflect the vision established by City Council and embraced by the community. Candidates should have at least 10 years of experience in Parks and Recreation for a public agency, including five at the director level. Professional certifications are a plus.

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