Long Beach Announces Retirement of Director of Parks, Recreation and Marine
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Long Beach, CA ~ Long Beach, CA - After 47 years of dedicated service in the public sector, Brent Dennis, Director of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) for the City of Long Beach, has announced his retirement. Mr. Dennis has held this position since July 2020 and has made a lasting impact on the city's parks and recreation programs.

City Manager Tom Modica praised Mr. Dennis for his leadership and positive influence on the Parks Department and the community. He stated, "Brent is a true leader who brought an undeniable culture of positivity, care, and respect to our department. His dedication has left a lasting impact on our parks and recreation programs, our city organization, and our Long Beach community."

As Director of PRM, Mr. Dennis oversaw all community recreation programs and services in Long Beach. This included managing over 2,800 recreational and educational classes annually as well as operations for Long Beach Animal Care Services. His team was responsible for maintaining 166 parks, 26 community centers, two historic sites (Rancho Los Alamitos and Rancho Los Cerritos), two major tennis centers, one of the busiest municipal golf systems in the country with five courses, and the largest municipally operated marina system in the nation.

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During his tenure as Director, Mr. Dennis prioritized park beautification and emphasized the importance of a healthy urban forest. He also encouraged positive activation of parks and fostered collaborations throughout the community. Under his leadership, PRM implemented several impactful initiatives such as new vision plans for Martin Luther King Jr. Park and Scherer Park, a citywide pickleball master plan, feasibility studies for skateparks and a North Long Beach pool.

Additionally, Mr. Dennis introduced innovative programs like the Park Ambassador Program and implemented sustainable practices such as using solar-powered LED lighting to illuminate holiday trees in Alamitos Bay.

As he prepares to retire this summer, Mr. Dennis will be celebrating the completion of major renovations and enhancements at multiple Long Beach parks, including El Dorado Park West, El Dorado East Regional Park, Bixby Park and Bandshell, and MacArthur Park. Ribbon-cutting events for these projects will take place the week of July 21-26.

Reflecting on his time in Long Beach, Mr. Dennis expressed mixed emotions about his retirement. He stated, "After an unforgettable five years in Long Beach, it is with bittersweet emotions that I announce my retirement and begin my next chapter." He also shared his pride in the culture he helped shape within the department, referring to them as the "Department of Fun and Furry Friends."

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Mr. Dennis began his career as an entry-level landscape architect for Columbus, Ohio's parks department after graduating from Ohio State University. He then held significant leadership roles in Grand Rapids, Mich., San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, City of Anaheim Community Services Department, and Tucson Parks and Recreation Department before joining Long Beach.

Aside from his professional achievements, Mr. Dennis is also an avid art collector and has donated many of his original paintings to support local nonprofits. In retirement, he plans to move to Buckeye, Ariz., travel, spend time with family, and focus on his passions for painting, gardening and volunteering.

Mr. Dennis' last day in active service as Director will be on August 8th of this year with his formal retirement taking place on September 7th. In the meantime, Stephen Scott will serve as Acting Director while the City conducts a national recruitment to permanently fill the position. The recruitment process is expected to be completed before the end of this year.

Filed Under: Government, City
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