Cleveland could get a shiny new department dedicated to its parks and recreation centers. Council is expected to vote today on legislation introduced in May to create the standalone department. Currently, the city’s parks and recreation centers are split up and overseen by the Department of Public Works, the city’s third largest department.
City officials have pitched the change as one that will streamline city services and show residents that Cleveland is committed to local parks and recreation centers.
Cleveland Chief Operating Office Bonnie Teeuwen told council members in May that the move would help the city “provide a better service for our residents” and look for new grants and funding for recreation opportunities. Most other large cities also have separate parks and recreation departments, officials said.
Currently, the Department of Public Works oversees 10 city divisions that handle tasks such as the removal of about 156,000 tons of waste, spreading of 70,000 tons of salt on roads and more. (For reference, one ton is equal to more than 2,200 lbs.)
Prior to 2011, Cleveland had a standalone Department of Parks, Recreation and Properties before merging it with Public Works. At the time, city administrators projected that the merger could save Cleveland money by getting rid of repetitive operations and support services.
Departmental musical chairs
If a new department is approved, the public works director would pass the torch – and the responsibilities – of overseeing the city’s parks and recreation centers to a new director of Parks and Recreation. The director would be paid between $150,000 and $175,000 a year, according to an online job posting.
Aside from staffing and maintaining the city’s 172 parks and 22 recreation centers the department would also be responsible for city-owned golf courses and big performance venues such as the Public Auditorium and Music Hall and the Cleveland Browns Stadium, according to the proposed city ordinance.
Public Works would still maintain some of its park maintenance duties, but only for cemeteries, vacant lots, urban forestry and Rockefeller Park Greenhouse.
During the meeting in May, multiple council members questioned having responsibility for tree trimming and grass cutting split between departments. Members also suggested that urban forestry, which is the subject of many resident calls related to tree maintenance, should be its own division with a separate budget.
The new department would also oversee planning and permitting for special events. The current Division of Special Events works with Greater Cleveland Film Commission to support and coordinate projects to film movies, television shows and more in Cleveland. In 2021, the administration pushed to create a division to streamline and handle special events.
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