Redburn named parks director

Finding out what the community wants and needs from the city's parks and recreation department will be a priority when Dana Redburn takes the helm as Nevada's new parks and recreation director in October.

The department has been without a permanent director since August 2010, and the city has been actively searching for a director since Ryan Renwick resigned as interim parks and recreation director earlier this year.

Redburn, a Nevada native, is currently working at the Fair Acres Family YMCA in Carthage where she has worked for the last 2 1/2 years. Before that she worked at the Osage Prairie YMCA for 9 1/2 years.

Redburn said that when people in Carthage hear that she is from Nevada they often mention all of the nice parks that Nevada has.

"I'd like to hear them say 'you have beautiful parks and the opportunity for families and people to grow. Wow, what a strong community,'" she said.

She said one of the strengths of Nevada's parks and recreation department is the support it receives from the city council as well as the city manager.

The community center has a great staff, Redburn said. Phil Burris, the new community center supervisor has a lot of ideas for new programming, she said, adding that being from Nevada will allow her to help Burris tap into local resources he may not be aware of and to overcome difficulties in adding programs.

While the parks department has a good staff, fulfilling her vision for Nevada's parks system and Nevada will require cooperation between the city and the YMCA, Cottey College, Nevada Regional Medical Center, area manufacturing companies and other organizations, she said.

Redburn said one she is considering to find out what people here want and expect from the parks and recreation department would be to try a small scale Photovoice project. This would involve have a group of people take digital cameras and photograph what recreation means to them.

It could be an overflowing trash can in the park, although she hopes that would not be the case, or the golf course or kids playing -- what it means to them.

"It would help identify things we need to work on," she said. The photographs will also be valuable for advertising and marketing the department.

While programming for youth is a priority, she is also interested in addressing the needs of older people who may not be interested in athletic activities.

There are a lot more than sports activities.

"We could do ghost hunts," she said.

In Carthage they have them at the Kendrick House, starting with a dinner followed by a tour of the house in the hopes of seeing a ghost, she said.

"We need to find out what the community expects and what they would like us to do," she said.