Meet Austin’s new park director finalists

Austin has unveiled the three finalists for the new director of its Parks and Recreation Department and is holding a meet-and-greet event Wednesday, Nov. 13, so that Austinites can meet them in person. The finalists, whose full bios can be read here, are:

• Jesús Aguirre, who has served as CEO of the Waterloo Greenway, and currently serves as board chair of the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) and the Children and Nature Network (C&NN). Aguirre has a background in education and has also worked as “a middle school science teacher, a public charter school co-founder and co-director, a school district level administrator, and ultimately as chief state school officer for the District of Columbia,” according to a press release from the city.
• Oscar Carmona, who most recently served as COO for Houston’s Hermann Park Conservancy and has also worked as the director of the Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department and assistant director for Dallas’ Park and Recreation Department. According to the press release from the city, he “currently serves as chair of the board for the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) and the chair of the board of the Children and Nature Network (C&NN) and is a member of the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration. ”
• Angela Means, who is the current interim director of Austin’s Parks and Recreation Department and has additionally held executive-level jobs at Austin’s Housing, Development Services, and Code departments. “Means’ professional journey also includes significant contributions to the City of San Diego, where she held pivotal roles in the Department of Finance and the Office of the Independent Budget Analyst,” according to the press release.

The meet and greet will take place at 6 p.m. (doors open at 5:30) at the Conley-Guerrero Senior Center, located at 808 Nile St., Austin, TX 78702.

This whisper has been updated to reflect the fact that Robert Brent Dennis is no longer a finalist and Oscar Carmona has taken his place.