San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer announced Thursday the appointment of Herman Parker to the vacant position of Park & Recreation Department director.
As the former director of community services for Santa Barbara County, Parker has 28 years of public sector experience in developing, managing, and implementing parks, recreation, community and cultural services, events and policies.
Parker’s annual salary will be $160,000.
“San Diego’s park system is a great source of our city’s pride,” said Faulconer in a statement. “I’m confident that Herman Parker’s skills and talents will be a major asset to the City’s diverse park system, which includes some of the nation’s most beautiful and scenic parks, beaches and open space, as well as the community and neighborhood-based recreational facilities.
Prior to joining the County of Santa Barbara, Parker served in various capacities for Temecula for 20 years. He began his career in recreation as a supervisor for the County of Los Angeles serving the areas’s under-served youth.
The parks and recreation position has been vacant since November, when former director Stacey LoMedico was promoted to assistant chief operating officer for the city.