The current New
Hanover County
Parks and Gardens manager will move up the ranks to
director on Tuesday, Dec. 11.
Tara Duckworth has been employed as manager
since 2010 and has a Bachelor of Arts degree in parks and recreation management
from the University
of North Carolina Wilmington.
County manager Chris Coudriet made the
announcement on Thursday, Dec. 6, about the position formerly held by Jim McDaniel,
who was terminated on Sept. 24. Since that time, the county parks and gardens
department formally separated from the Senior Resources
Center.
Duckworth’s responsibilities will include
coordination of parks bond projects, supervision of administration staff and
community group advocacy.
“Tara Duckworth brings a wealth of knowledge
and experience in parks and recreation facilities,” Coudriet stated in a press
release. “She is highly regarded among her peers and I’m confident she will
help New Hanover County
move ahead into a new era with our parks, green spaces and recreation
facilities.”
Duckworth will lead 47 full-time and 19
part-time employees who are responsible for managing the 31 county parks and Airlie Gardens.
