July 1, 2009
Parks and Recreation Veteran Named Director
The city of Phoenix has announced the appointment of Dale Larsen as director of the Parks and Recreation Department.
Larsen, who will oversee a $94.5 million budget and workforce of more than 1,300, has worked in the public parks and recreation field for 37 years. He has been with the city of Phoenix for 25 years, serving as the assistant parks and recreation director since 1984, and during this time served as acting director during several periods, including most recently until his appointment.
“Dale combines a wealth of crucial experience with a true passion for the mission of parks and recreation,” City Manager Frank Fairbanks said. “City parks and recreation programs are an anchor in so many of our communities, and Dale has a long track record of getting results and a demonstrated commitment to community involvement, youth, and neighborhood services.”
Prior to coming to Phoenix, Larsen worked for the Milwaukee County Park Commission. He is past-president of the American Academy for Parks and Recreation Administration, past-chairman of the National Parks and Recreation (NRPA) Association Commission on Accreditation for Parks and Recreation Agencies, and a past-president of the Arizona Parks and Recreation Association. He is the current chair of the National Research Committee for NRPA.
In 2007, Larsen served as an executive on loan to Arizona State University. He also is a co-author of college text books on parks and recreation management and currently serves as a Professor of Practice at ASU, teaching courses on management and leadership.
During his career with Phoenix, Larsen has been a community steward dedicating his time and expertise to programs such as COMFORT, a reading and recreation program for homeless children and River Rampage, an outdoor adventure river rafting program for disabled teens and teens at risk. In addition, he has invested in the professional development of hundreds of city employees through his presentations on motivation at the city’s Supervisory Academy.
Media Contacts:
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