Al Bangoura

Contact

Phone: 612-230-6404 Emailabangoura@minneapolisparks.org

Service

January 20, 2019- Present

Address

2117 W River Road Minneapolis, MN 55411

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Bio

Alfred K Bangoura is the Superintendent of Parks for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB), a nationally acclaimed independently governed park system with a nine-member elected Board of park commissioners. The MPRB encompasses 7,059 acres of parkland and water and serves more than 30 million visits annually to its 185 regional and neighborhood. Superintendent Bangoura runs the day-to-day operations of Minneapolis Parks, ensuring park operations and business are carried out and administered effectively and in alignment with the Board’s policy objectives. Bangoura maintains fiscal stewardship over the MPRB’s 156 million budget in addition to operations of the MPRB’s 14 departments focused on communications, community connections and violence prevention, park police, planning, asset management, environmental management, forestry, planning, recreation, finance, human resources, information technology and visitor services.

The Minneapolis Park system provides places and recreation opportunities for all people to gather and engage in activities that promote health, well-being, community and the environment.  Its 55-mile Grand Rounds Scenic Byway, extensive waterfront access, trail system, 49 recreation centers, 79 pool and beach facilities, 121 play areas, 100s of athletic fields and courts, 45 ice rinks, 12 formal gardens, seven golf courses, seven dog parks, six skate parks, five outdoor performance stages and diversified programming have made the park system an important component of what makes Minneapolis a great place to live, visit, play and work.

Bangoura is a strong visionary and respected leader in government affairs at the city, regional and national levels. He is a member of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and City Parks Alliance (CPA) and serves as Chair of the CPA Audit Committee and Co-chair of the CPA Development and Membership Committee. He is a Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) through NRPA. He is also a member of the esteemed American Academy of Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA). Bangoura is immersed in the Minneapolis community, fostering and developing relationships in the state and national legislature, business, arts and culture, philanthropic and faith-based communities. He is an active board member with the Minneapolis Parks Foundation and serves as co-chair and workstream leader of the Minneapolis Downtown Council and the Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District’s 2035 Vision: Health Care, Human Services and Wellness Committee. Bangoura was recognized by Twin Cities Business as one of their 2023 TCB 100 influencers, thought leaders and key players likely to be making news or driving change in the year ahead. Bangoura is a notable speaker at local and national gatherings, including serving as a panelist on President Biden’s White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health in September 2022.

Bangoura’s energetic and collaborative approach to leadership has transformed the MPRB to become action-oriented, guided by the Board’s vision and strategy. He challenges teams to innovate and develop partnerships internally and across the community, resulting in long-term, sustainable programs, improved community safety and stronger park and community alignments. In his time as Superintendent, he has led a variety of initiatives to enhance data collection, expand services, improve community connections and strengthen public and private partnerships.

Bangoura has 24 years of public service experience with the Minneapolis Parks (1995-2014, 2019- present). From 2015-2019 he served as Superintendent of Recreation in Mecklenburg County, NC. His early Minneapolis Parks experience includes serving as Director of Recreation and in six neighborhood parks across the city. While serving as a Director in Minneapolis and Superintendent in Mecklenburg, Bangoura restructured the recreation departments gaining him a strong reputation for his ability to understand organizational structure and people.

Bangoura earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of St Thomas and has masters studies in youth development from the University of Minnesota.

The Superintendent is appointed by the Board of Commissioners and provides leadership, vision and direction to the Park Board’s service areas, and implements Board policy. The Superintendent works with the Board and leadership staff to craft strategic and financial planning objectives. The Superintendent provides leadership to a staff of approximately 630 full-time and 1,500 temporary employees, oversees an annual operating and capital budget of almost $160 million, and serves as an ambassador to the community and other governmental agencies. The Superintendent’s Office is responsible for the executive management of the highly diverse services and operations of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. The Superintendent’s Office oversees park police, community connections and violence prevention, and communications and marketing.

Every year the Superintendent publishes an annual report highlighting the organization’s accomplishments. Digital copies of the annual report are available on the page linked below. Hard copies of the most recent year is available for public viewing at recreation centers and libraries in Minneapolis.

Click here to view Superintendent Annual Reports

Superintendents

Current and past superintendents have worked with commissioners, staff, and the community to make the Minneapolis Park System what it is today.

Mary Merrill (February 5 – October 2018)

Superintendent Emeritus Mary Merrill February 5, 2018 – January 20, 2019

 

jayne miller (november 2010-February 4, 2018)
Superintendent Emeritus Jayne Miller November 2010-February 4, 2018

 

jon gurban (2004-2010)
Superintendent Emeritus Jon Gurban January 1, 2005-2010 January 1, 2004-December 31, 2004 (Interim Superintendent)

 

mary merrill anderson (1999-2003)
Superintendent Emeritus Mary Merrill Anderson March 1, 1999-December 31, 2003

 

david l. fisher (1981-1999)
Superintendent Emeritus David L. Fisher April 1, 1981-January 5, 1999

 

del green
Del Green August 15, 1980-April 1, 1981 (Acting Superintendent)

 

charles r. spears
Charles R. Spears October 2, 1978-August 15, 1980

 

del green
Del Green July 15, 1978-October 2, 1978 (Acting Superintendent)

 

robert ruhe (1966-1978(
Superintendent Emeritus Robert Ruhe January 3, 1966-July 15, 1978

 

howard i. moore (1959-1966)
Superintendent Emeritus Howard I. Moore May 28, 1959-January 1, 1966

 

charles e. doell (1945-1959)
Superintendent Emeritus Charles E. Doell August 28, 1945-May 8, 1959

 

c.a. bossen (1935-1945)
Superintendent Emeritus C. A. Bossen November 30, 1935-August 28, 1945

 

theodore wirth (1906-1935)
Superintendent Emeritus Theodore Wirth January 1, 1906-November 30, 1935

 

william m. berry (1884-1905)
William M. Berry April 1884-December 4, 1905

Theodore Wirth Home

The following superintendents have resided in the Theodore Wirth Home and Administration Building, located in Lyndale Farmstead Park:

  • Al Bangoura
  • Jayne Miller
  • David Fisher
  • Charles Spears
  • Robert Ruhe
  • Howard Moore
  • Charles Doell

Theodore Wirth Home and Administration Building in Lyndale Farmstead Park