Jeff Watling has resigned as the city of Kent parks director to take a similar job with the city of Issaquah.
Watling spent 10 years as the Kent director of parks, recreation and community services. His final day is Friday. He starts his new job as Issaquah parks and recreation director on Aug. 1.
“I wasn’t looking for a new job, but was encouraged to apply,” Watling said in an email. “As I researched the opportunity, I saw it as a positive career opportunity to lead a department within a city that is going through a period of growth and exciting transition.”
Watling didn’t make the choice to change jobs easily.
“It was a very, very difficult decision,” he said. “What made it such a difficult decision was all of the people that I have had the great privilege of working with. I am so proud of what the department has accomplished and the work that is done every single day for Kent and the residents of Kent. That said, what I will miss most is the people.”
Prior to coming to Kent, Watling worked six years as the city of Sammamish parks director. He worked from 1993 to 2000 as a recreation manager for Metro Parks of Tacoma.
Watling will replace Anne McGill, who retired in March after working 33 years for the Issaquah Parks & Recreation Department, including 13 years as director.
Garin Lee and Merina Hanson will serve as co-interim park directors to replace Watling until a new parks director is hired, Mayor Suzette Cooke said when she announced Watling’s departure at a July 5 City Council meeting.
Lee, superintendent of parks operations, will oversee park operations, planning, facilities and the Riverbend Golf Course. Hanson, housing and human services manager, will lead the recreation, human services and cultural arts divisions.
“They will share this leadership that Jeff Watling has so expertly been able to achieve as one individual,” Cooke said. “Garin and Merina will continue their regular duties as well.”
Cooke said the city will hire a consultant to help find a new parks director.
“It’s going to take anywhere from four to six months to fill his position,” she said.
The interim directors and new director will face a challenge of fixing a park system with a maintenance backlog of more than $60 million. The council in June approved an extensive Park and Open Space Plan for renovations at more than 40 parks on the East Hill, West Hill, downtown and in the Green River Valley. The council has not figured out a funding package to pay for the renovations.
“Challenges are also opportunities,” Watling said when asked about the future of parks in the city. “The significant opportunity I see for Kent Parks remains capital funding. The recently adopted Parks Plan provides a road map for transforming our aging parks system into a vibrant and healthy parks system through strategic re-investments.
“Finding that capital funding will take a courageous conversation about the importance of Kent’s park system in Kent’s future. It is a terrific opportunity to help Kent be the livable community we all want it to be.”
Watling helped start Kent’s first Parks and Recreation Commission. He also helped begin the Green Kent Partnership with Forterra, a nonprofit environmental protection group, to help preserve Kent’s open spaces.
Watling, a 1985 Kentridge High School graduate, plans to keep living on the Lea Hill section of Auburn, just south of Kent. He is married with two daughters.
“We are staying put and love living in south King County,” he said.
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