The Sun
Sunnyvale's Newspaper

City appoints Walker to parks department

Robert Walker has been named Sunnyvale's director of Parks and Recreation after serving in the position in an interim capacity for the past year.

"Robert Walker has demonstrated the strong values of public service and commitment to our results-oriented management system that are consistent with the high standards of the city," City Manager Robert S. LaSala said. "In the short time that I have had the pleasure of working with him since I joined Sunnyvale myself in July, he has impressed me with his effective leadership for our parks and leisure services."

Walker first joined the city as superintendent of parks in 1988 and has been responsible for the operation, maintenance and capital improvements related to more than 500 acres of open space and nearly 50 parks, school sites and other recreational facilities under the parks division's care.

Since December 1996, he has served as interim director of the Parks and Recreation Department during the management transition following the retirement of former Sunnyvale City Manager Thomas F. Lewcock and the death of Parks and Recreation director John Christian last year.

Before coming to Sunnyvale, Walker was a parks supervisor for seven years for the city of Oxnard, and before that he served with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management.

"I am looking forward to the challenge of managing a parks and recreation system which already has earned an outstanding national reputation," Walker said. "Over the past year of transition I have been privileged to learn about the capabilities of both myself and our staff, and the experience has prepared me well to build on the strong tradition of service and innovation established by my predecessors."

The Sunnyvale Parks and Recreation Department has a staff of approximately 130 regular employees and up to 250 seasonal workers, and has a total annual operating budget of $12.5 million. The department was recognized by the National Recreation and Parks Association as a "gold medal finalist" in 1996, placing the city among the top four parks and recreation systems in the nation for its size category.

Walker is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts with a bachelor's degree in leisure studies and resources, and has an associate's degree in park management. He also holds a master's degree in public administration from the University of California Consortium. Walker lives in Los Altos with his wife and two sons.

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This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, December 17, 1997.
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