November 2023 - Parks & Recreation - 12

WE ARE PARKS AND RECREATION
NRPA Welcomes Four New Members
to 2023-2024 Board of Directors
E
ach year, during the NRPA Annual Conference, NRPA officially
welcomes its incoming class of board members. The
NRPA Board of Directors reflects our membership, which
includes professional and advocate leaders in the park and
recreation movement; park and recreation agencies and organizations
representing the public, private, voluntary, commercial and industrial
sectors; firms supplying park and recreation products and services; and
individuals and civic groups interested in the park, recreation, conservation,
health and equity fields. This year, we welcome four new members
to the 2023-2024 NRPA Board of Directors.
Anthony-Paul " AP " Diaz
Superintendent, Seattle Parks
and Recreation
Seattle, Washington
Anthony-Paul " AP " Diaz is the
26th superintendent of Seattle
Parks and Recreation since the
city's founding in 1869. He manages
a department of 2,000 staff
and more than 500 parks, lake and
ocean shorelines, environmental
coastal lands, and seascapes with
an operating and capital budget of
$760 million.
Diaz is committed to equipping
others for success and empowering
people and organizations to
maximize their potential while
amplifying
the
narrative
that
parks and open spaces are essential
civic infrastructure that is
fundamental to the vitality and
vibrancy of a city. He is a proud
proponent of parks and open
12 Parks & Recreation | NOVEMBER 2 0 2 3
spaces changing the trajectory
of cities throughout the world
in service of equity, innovation,
climate action, resiliency and
advancing healthy lifestyles in a
world of competing challenges
and constant change. He is an
instructor in transformational
leadership and cultural diversity
and thrives in areas where he can
make a mark or help others make
theirs.
Diaz is framed in wanderlust,
law, music, parks, arts, cultural
venues, equity, sport and the pursuit
of happiness. He is passionate
about life, people and place
making. He studied diplomacy
and international politics at
Georgetown University's School
of Foreign Service in Washington,
D.C.,
graduating
with
a
Bachelor of Science in foreign
service. He also has a Juris Doctorate
from Loyola Law School in
Los Angeles.
Diaz has served as past chair of
Parks & Recreation magazine's Editorial
Advisory Board, is a member
of World Urban Parks and an
instructor at NRPA's Directors
School.
| PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G
Kathryn Ott Lovell
President and CEO, Philadelphia
Visitor Center Corporation
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Kathryn Ott Lovell is president
and CEO of the Philadelphia
Visitor Center Corporation. She
joined
the
corporation
in
July
2023, bringing significant leadership
experience and service to the
City of Philadelphia, most recently
serving as the commissioner of
Philadelphia Parks and Recreation
(PPR) since 2016.
As
PPR commissioner,
Ott
Lovell instituted the department's
first
strategic plan, which established
a renewed vision and set
in motion a powerful
trajectory
toward an equitable and exceptional
park and recreation system
that connects people to each other,
enriching experiences and the natural
world. She has led innovative
initiatives to activate Philadelphia's
parks and engage residents and visitors
citywide, including Enhanced
PlayStreets, Swim Philly, The
Oval+, Parks on Tap and the Philadelphia
International Unity Cup
soccer tournament.
Ott Lovell also has spearheaded
ambitious park projects, including
the transformation of FDR
November 2023 - Parks & Recreation

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