Minneapolis Park Board names top three finalists for Superintendent

Posted on 7 November, 2018

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) today named the top three finalists in its national search for a next Superintendent of the Minneapolis Park System. Interviews and a public Meet and Greet scheduled for Tuesday, November 13.

“We believe our parks are for everyone. This means our next superintendent needs to be an advocate for the youth and families in our city who have so often been left on the margins. After a nationwide search, we are pleased to forward these candidates for consideration. In a field of competitive applicants from every corner of the nation, these three stood out to us as being able to advance this Board’s mandate of increasing our investment in youth, advancing the mission of the Park Board and building an even better park system for our guests and everyone who calls Minneapolis their home,” said Park Board President Brad Bourn.

The top finalists are, in alphabetical order:

Alfred Kent Bangoura, Recreation Superintendent, Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation, Charlotte, North Carolina – Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation, which includes Charlotte, NC serves over 1.1 million people. Bangoura currently oversees community and recreation services for the county’s 17 recreation facilities and 3 senior and active adult facilities. Bangoura is currently leading the construction and program development of the county’s first 100,000 sq. ft recreation facility. He is a Certified Park and Recreational Professional (CPRP) and has a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism.

Subhajeet Seve Ghose, Director, Louisville Parks and Recreation, Louisville, Kentucky – Louisville Parks and Recreation is a system of over 120 parks that covers over 400 square miles of Jefferson County. Some of Ghose’s responsibilities include 13 recreation centers, 9 golf courses, 2 Historic Homes and an Adaptive and Inclusive Recreation (AIR) center. Ghose has been nationally recognized for his work in Parks and has a B.S. in Economics and an M.S. in Management/Organizational Leadership.

Joseph Nicholas Williams, Director of Parks, Recreation and Youth Development, City of Oakland, California -The city of Oakland has 140 parks, 38 recreation facilities and serves roughly 95,000 enrolled participants annually. Oakland is one of the most ethnically diverse major U.S. cities, ranking 4th in diversity with a diversity score of 91.4. Williams is a Certified Parks and Recreation Executive (CPRE) and has been recognized by city administration and the mayor for refocusing on Oakland’s youth. Williams holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Morehouse College and is currently pursuing a Masters in Management and Leadership.

The MPRB Superintendent provides day-to-day leadership for the 6,811 acre nationally recognized park system. The Superintendent manages an annual operating and capital budget of $120 million and oversees the work of approximately 570 full-time and 1,170 temporary Minneapolis Parks employees who deliver programs, services and facilities that are responsive to the diverse needs of City residents and all segments of the community.

This superintendent search marks the first time in the MPRB’s 135-year history that community engagement played a strong role in determining the next superintendent. In May, the Board selected local recruiting firm KP Companies to lead the search for a new leader of the park system. From July through August, more than 22 listening sessions were held with community members, employees and other MPRB stakeholders to learn what qualities they sought in a Superintendent. This month, a community selection committee used information gathered during listening sessions to establish relevant criteria and prioritize candidates. Then an internal team comprised of President Bourn, Vice President AK Hassan and Commissioner Latrisha Vetaw narrowed the list to the top three finalists.

Park Board Commissioners will interview finalists during a public Special Meeting from 4-6:35 pm, Tuesday, Nov. 13, at MPRB Headquarters, 2117 West River Road, Minneapolis. A public Meeting and Greet with the candidates will be held from 7-8:30 pm at MPRB Headquarters. The 4-6:35 pm meeting and interviews will be streamed live on the MPRB Facebook page. Park Board Commissioner’s selection of a new Superintendent is expected to be announced in late November to mid-December.

Park Board Commissioners will interview finalists during a public Special Meeting from 4-6:35 pm, Tuesday, Nov. 13, at MPRB Headquarters, 2117 West River Road, Minneapolis. A public Meeting and Greet with the candidates will be held from 7-8:30 pm at MPRB Headquarters. The 4-6:35 pm meeting and interviews will be streamed live on the MPRB Facebook page.

Park Board Commissioner’s selection of a new Superintendent is expected to be announced in late November to mid-December.

Former MPRB Superintendent Jayne Miller resigned from the Park Board in February 2018 to take a position leading a public-private parks conservancy in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Superintendent Emeritus Mary Merrill was unanimously selected by the Board to fulfill Miller’s contract and to assist in the search process for the next superintendent