New managers hired for parks, rec department

Two Sackville residents were hired Monday night to help lead the towns parks and recreation department as it sets off in a new direction.

Rebecca MacLean, currently executive director of the Greater Sackville Chamber of Commerce, was appointed as manager of programs and special events for the soon-to be-revamped parks and rec department. Todd Cole has been hired on as the manager of parks and recreational facilities.

Town council announced earlier this winter that all of the communitys parks and recreational services will be consolidated under one roof when the parks and rec department is moved into the Tantramar Veterans Memorial Civic Centre in May. This move came following a review of the parks and recreation departments operations last fall.

Sackville Mayor Jamie Smith says he is optimistic the transition will be smooth.

Things are moving along quite well, he said Monday night during town councils regular monthly meeting. Weve now hired the people to fill our two management positionsand were working on the renovations at the civic centre for new office space.

Smith said $110,000 has been budgeted for renovations at the civic centre facility to accommodate new office space, which is expected to be located at the back of the building.

With an aging downtown parks and recreation facility that was said to be inadequate for the growing number of programs and services provided by the town, council has insisted that the civic centre will be the ideal base for the new expanded parks and rec department to be located.

The town will take over control of the civic centre from the board when the new model comes into effect May 1.

The newly-hired manager of parks and recreational facilities and manager of programs and special events will be integral members of the parks and recreation departments management team, under the leadership and direction of director of parks and recreation Paula McCloskey.

MacLean, as the full-time manager of programs and special events, will be responsible for the promotion, management and development of municipal recreational programs, leisure activities and special events.

Cole, the manager of parks and recreational facilities, will manage the scheduling, marketing, maintenance, operations and future developments of the towns parks and recreational facilities, including the civic centre, municipal park properties, green spaces, playgrounds, sports fields, tennis courts and the skateboard park.