Park Board Item - Jerome Krieger, Senior Parks and Recreation Manager
Title
Title
Honoring Park Board Chair Jeff Bird
end
Background
Jeff Bird has been involved with the Blaine Park Board since 2004 and has been the Chair of the board for the last 10 years. In his 18 years of being on the board he has been involved with the planning, financing and development of 18 brand new parks, as well as 48 other existing parks in the City of Blaine. He was very influential with the design of Town Square Park (Tom Ryan Park), the Harmon Killebrew Miracle League Field, which is the city’s baseball field for those with disabilities and the Lexington Athletic Complex. It was Jeff’s idea to name Peterson Park after our retired Parks and Recreation Director, Jim Peterson. Jeff also had the brilliant idea to feature a park every month at the Park Board meeting, to not only give more knowledge to the current Park Board, but to all of the citizens who were watching the meeting at home on television.
Jeff has a great passion for Parks and Recreation that started back in the 80’s when he worked for the Columbia Heights Parks and Recreation department. He continues to work with our local youth athletic associations, Eagle Scouts and volunteers at numerous Parks and Recreation special events. Jeff makes it a habit to visit all 66 of Blaine’s parks at least twice a year to see how they are looking and who is using the park. Jeff has been a great leader for all of us in Blaine and is a wonderful advocate for the Blaine Parks and Recreation Department. His leadership in working with the Natural Resource Conservation Board here in Blaine has helped develop more trails and open space for the citizens of Blaine to recreate. Jeff was recognized in 2016 by the Minnesota Recreation and Parks Association as the recipient of the Parks and Recreation Board and Commission Award! A yearly award given to the states top board and commission leaders.
Jeff, the staff would like to thank you for all of your time, dedication and hard work to make the Blaine Parks and Recreation department the best it can be! We are forever grateful for all of your input and leadership!