City names new Parks and Recreation director

For immediate release
Sept. 22, 2008

City Manager Marc Ott today announced the appointment of Sara Hensley, Director of Parks and Recreation in Phoenix, to lead its nationally recognized parks system.

The appointment is a homecoming for Hensley who began her career as a Program Supervisor with the Austin department in 1985. Since then she has led parks and recreation departments for the Champaign Park District of Champaign, Ill., as well as for the cities of Virginia Beach, Va., and San Jose, Calif.

She has been director in Phoenix since 2006. Hensley will begin Dec. 1, taking over for Acting Director Stuart Strong who did not apply for the job and will remain as an Assistant Director.

"Ms. Hensley has led some of the premier parks departments in the country and will bring that valued experience to Austin’s renowned parks," City Manager Ott said. "She understands Austin’s love of the outdoors, its stewardship of the environment and the goal of Austin becoming the fittest city in the country."

The Phoenix parks system includes 37,000 acres of public parks, desert mountains and preserves. It has an annual budget of $110 million and about 1,100 employees

The Austin Parks and Recreation Department encompasses more than 16,700 acres. The department has a budget of $55.3 million and about 570 employees. In 2007, the department received national accreditation from the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies.

Hensley was one of two finalists who met with the community in August. In May, community members participated in two public meetings that provided comments in developing the profile for the recruitment of the Director. That feedback was instrumental in establishing the characteristics, knowledge and expectations used in the national search.