The Division of Recreation and Parks exists to enhance the quality of life and to foster a sense of well being and community for the citizens of Henrico County. This is accomplished through management of resources and by facilitating leisure services and recreational opportunities in safe and well maintained environments.
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Neil Luther is the Assistant Director of Recreation and Parks. Neil began his career in recreation and parks in 1992 as a planner with the Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation Department before moving in 1997 to Charlotte, NC to take a position as Natural Resource Planner with Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation. He also served as a Principal Planner for the City of Charlotte overseeing land use and transportation planning before moving back to Richmond to take a job as Assistant Parks Planning Supervisor with the Division in 2002 and was promoted to Parks Development Supervisor in June 2006. The Assistant Director's office can be reached at 501-5104.
MANAGEMENT TEAM
The Management Team was created in 1989 and consists of the Director, the Assistant Director and representatives from six sections within the Division. These positions include the Business Manager, Park Services Manager, Parks Planning Supervisor, Management Specialist II, Recreation Managers and the Research & Development Coordinator.
BUSINESS
The business section is responsible for the financial compliance and control of the Division including coordinating, preparing, submitting, and monitoring the Division's capital and operating budgets. Please contact Louise Evans, Controller, at 501-5101 for further information.
PARKS PLANNING
Parks Planning is responsible for coordinating the needs assessment, long range planning, acquisition, citizen input, master planning, and project management processes for the Division. Call Al Azzarone, Recreation & Parks Planner at 501-5120 for more information.
PARK SERVICES
Park Services is responsible for maintenance services to over 105 park and school locations, natural resources management, as well as the repair and preventive maintenance of 121 existing Recreation and Parks structures and facilities. To learn more about Park Services Operations, call Ray Pauley, Park Services Manager, 727-8200.
RECREATION SERVICES
Our Recreation Services include Recreation Programs, Sports, Facilities, History, and Special Programs. Call Debbie Nolen, Recreation Manager, at 501-5l13 or karen Perkins at 501-5130 for further information.
The Division of Recreation & Parks began during the Depression. In 1934, organized summer recreation programs were offered at three schools. From 1940 until 1945, summer recreation (June to September) was supervised and administered under the direction of the Henrico County Welfare Board. In 1945, under the County Manager form of government, the responsibilities of public recreation in the County were delegated to the Superintendent of the Department of Education.
In 1950, Recreation & Parks was transferred to the General Government area and placed under the part time leadership of Mr. Ellett R. McGeorge, Jr. In 1956, Mr. McGeorge was appointed as Director. He held this position until his retirement in 1988. Recreation was recognized as a full time operation in 1969 when the County of Henrico Board of Supervisors voted to create the Division of Recreation and Parks. Three bond referendums, $7.5 million in 1977, $7.1 million in 1989, and $16 million in 2000 have enabled the Division to build a sound foundation through the construction of numerous parks and facilities.
Perceiving the need for more citizen involvement, the County of Henrico Board of Supervisors established the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission in 1976 and the Historic Preservation Advisory Committee in 1990.
Currently, the Division has grown to 175 full time employees and up to 400 part time employees depending on the season with an operating budget for fiscal year 2008-09 of $17.5 million.