Former PARD Director McNeeley resigns from top post at The Trail Conservancy

In a surprising turn of events, Kimberly McNeeley has resigned from her position as CEO of The Trail Conservancy after less than six months on the job.

McNeeley had previously served as director of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department until her resignation in May. She took the helm of The Trail Conservancy on June 10.

Responding to an inquiry by the Austin Monitor on Tuesday, the nonprofit organization provided the following statement: “Kimberly McNeeley has resigned and will be stepping down as CEO of The Trail Conservancy, effective December 31. She is stepping down to focus on personal and family priorities and to allow the organization to benefit from leadership that is best aligned with its goals.”

The statement added that the board is “confident and excited” to start another search process for McNeeley’s successor.

The conservancy, a 501(c)(3), formed a partnership with the city in 2022, giving the nonprofit authority to operate and maintain the 10-mile Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail along Lady Bird Lake.

Parks Department watchers have been critical of the city’s partnerships with nonprofits, citing little financial transparency or public oversight.

McNeeley had been with the parks department for 14 years, becoming its director in 2019. City Manager T.C. Broadnax recently announced his selection of Jesús Aguirre to lead the department after a national search. Aguirre, who will start his new position in January, was formerly the CEO of Waterloo Greenway and is chair of the National Recreation and Park Association and the Children and Nature Network. He previously worked for parks departments in Seattle and the District of Columbia.

Photo by Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

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