The City Parks Alliance Board of Directors voted in five new board members, one new officer, and two new committee chairs at its spring board meeting. The new members took their seats on the board as of July 1. They bring a depth of experience in parks, urban design, and environmental conservation and represent the public, private, and philanthropic sectors. The Board also voted in one new officer and recognized several members rotating off the board.
New Board Members Bring Diverse Experience to City Parks Alliance
Brad Dick is the Chief Operating Officer for the City of Detroit based in Detroit, MI. As the COO, he is responsible for the following departments: Detroit Building Authority, Detroit Water & Sewerage, Municipal Parking, Public Lighting Authority, Public Lighting, Greater Detroit Rescue Recovery, Department Public Works, General Services, Airport, Information Technology, and Construction and Demolition. Previously Brad served as Director and Deputy Director of the General Services Department (GSD) from its creation in July 2006. He was tasked with centralizing the governmental support functions that make city services possible. He has been a major force behind departmental initiatives that have saved the city nearly $30 million since his department’s inception. In 2016 Brad led the team to update the City of Detroit’s Parks & Recreation Master Plan and implement the $12 million Phase 1 renovation of 40 neighborhood parks. Under his leadership, more than 160 parks have been renovated and updated. Brad is also leading the team to develop the Joe Louis Greenway, named for the legendary boxer. When complete, it will connect roughly 30 miles of former (and often blighted) railroad tracks, viaducts, roads, and vacant lots into a non-motorized connector through the cities of Hamtramck, Highland Park, Dearborn, and Detroit. Brad’s career spans private and public service and crosses cultures, having worked in the US and abroad leading innovative human service capital programs.
Chad Kaufman is the President of Public Restroom Company based in Minden, NV. At a young age, Chad began his career serving the parks and recreation industry. Now as President of Public Restroom Company, he makes it his priority to build partnerships and alliances with customers and industry peers. Chad also works to educate the industry and public leaders about the importance of access to safe and clean public restrooms in parks, including as a board member of the American Restroom Association, discussing important trends and best practices to reduce issues in public restroom design and construction, and on the National Recreation and Park Association Business Council.
David Saltonstall is the Vice President for Government Relations, Policy, and Community Affairs at Central Park Conservancy based in New York City, NY. David has spent his career at the intersection of policy, politics, and parks. In his current role with the Conservancy, he is focused on building relationships with City Hall’s new leadership and overseeing engagement with the Park’s many external stakeholders. Prior to his arrival at the Conservancy, he was the Assistant Comptroller for Policy for the New York City Comptroller, and before that, he was City Hall Bureau Chief and Senior Correspondent for the New York Daily News, where he won a George Polk Award for investigative reporting.
Carolyn Scotchmer is the Executive Director at TD Friends of the Environment Foundation (TD BANK) based in Toronto, Ontario. Scotchmer leads Foundation operations and a team of Regional Managers to support community-based environmental initiatives across Canada. She is also part of TD’s Social Impact Leadership Team and supports the Canadian corporate environmental giving portfolio for TD Bank Group to help deliver on the bank’s corporate citizenship platform, The TD Ready Commitment. Before joining the bank in 2012, she spent more than ten years in the charitable sector in Toronto and Calgary, developing and managing programs focused on community development through urban greening and community gardening. Carolyn currently serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors for Environment Funders Canada. She also sits on the City Parks Alliance Funders Learning Network Advisory Group as well as the Executive Management Committee for the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority’s Partners in Project Green.
John Slack (ASLA, NOMA, LEED AP ® ND, RELi AP) is an Associate Principal of Urban Design/Landscape Architecture at Perkins&Will based in Minneapolis, MN. Exploring all but Alaska during his upbringing with his military family, John grew fascinated by how people use urban spaces and the unifying role of parks in connecting people. John’s work is influenced by his early travel experiences and his love for nature, art, as well as his Japanese culture. John’s range of award-winning work includes large-scale urban design, public realm, and park and open space projects that focus on sustainable place-making, healthy and equitable community design, and resilient urbanism. A long-term mentor with the Urban Land Institute and Former Vice President of the City of Minneapolis Planning Commission, John seeks to serve his broader community and believes in the strength of relationships to get things accomplished.
New Board Treasurer and Committee Chairs Selected
The City Parks Alliance Board of Directors also voted in Jesse Brackenbury as Treasurer. Previously Craig Obey served as Treasurer for the last three years during the pandemic crisis. City Parks Alliance is grateful for his steady, calm leadership and oversight of our finances.
Two new committee chairs were also selected. Corey Wilson is the new Finance Committee Chair and Al Bangoura is the new Audit Committee Chair.
Board Thanks Long-Time Members for their Service
The Board of Directors also thanked three departing board members for their service.
Andres Andujar completed his ninth and final year on our board. The Board noted with appreciation his contributions as Audit Committee Chair and as a member of the Finance Committee, as well as the private sector park development perspective he brought through his leadership of the Hemisfair Park project in San Antonio.
Maura Lout stepped down from her position as Executive Director of the Institute for Urban Parks at the Central Park Conservancy in June and departed the board as well. Maura was a dedicated member of the Strategic Planning Committee and the Program Committee. The Board thanked her for her many contributions to CPA and for elevating the professional network of urban parks leaders during her leadership of the Institute.
The Board also thanks Luis Romahn for his many years of service. Luis has elevated urban parks globally as the founder of the National Association of Parks and Recreation in Mexico and now through his leadership at World Urban Parks. His enthusiasm and passion for the need to provide local green space in cities has strengthened the international urban parks movement immeasurably.
“One of City Parks Alliance’s key strengths is our Board of Directors. Their leadership and oversight, along with their unique perspectives on how parks can be a driving force for healthy, sustainable cities, ensure our organizational stability and that we’re fulfilling our mission, ” said City Parks Alliance Executive Director Catherine Nagel.
“Thank you to all the departing board members for their service, and welcome our new members. The diversity of our fellow members of the City Parks Alliance Board of Directors not only strengthens our governance but also provides creative insights into how CPA can leverage the power of parks in shaping equitable, resilient, and thriving cities,” noted City Parks Alliance Board Co-Chairs Maria Nardi and Mitchell Silver.
