Fort Worth names Dave Lewis as first new park and recreation director in 33 years
February 14,2025
See full Fort Worth Report article by Cecilia Lenzen here.
Dave Lewis has been named to lead Fort Worth’s park and recreation department, succeeding longtime director Richard Zavala.
Lewis has worked for the city since 2019, first serving as the department’s assistant director over golf and athletics, then as interim director from July 2022 to October 2023. In his most recent role as deputy director, Lewis oversaw the department’s administration, golf and athletics, and recreation.
As director, Lewis promised a “new vision” for the city’s park system. He noted the department’s pending new master plan and Mayor Mattie Parker’s Good Natured initiative as two items that will provide a roadmap to becoming the “best park system in the country.”
“I am excited to usher in a new era for the park and recreation department,” he said in a Feb. 14 city news release announcing his hire. He starts in the role Feb. 17.
Out of the 100 largest U.S. cities, Fort Worth’s parks system ranks 91st, according to the Trust for Public Land’s 2024 ParkScore Index. The nonprofit organization scores parks systems on factors such as acreage, access, investment, amenities and equity.
Fort Worth scored lowest on amenities, coming in below average for availability of permanent restrooms, splash pads, dog parks, basketball hoops, playgrounds and senior and rec centers. The city spends $91 per capita on publicly accessible parks and recreation, a below-average investment compared with other major cities.
Zavala has led the park and recreation department since 1992. He is set to retire in April.
Assistant City Manager Jesica McEachern, who oversees the park and recreation department, said city management wanted to hire someone who could bring “a bold vision to further enhance our parks, community centers, aquatic facilities and natural spaces.” She believes they found that in Lewis’ “passion for our community, leadership and dedication.”
“Under Dave’s guidance — and with a commitment to innovation, accessibility and excellence — we’re confident that our city’s parks and recreational offerings will set the standard as the best in the nation,” McEachern said in the news release.
To identify Zavala’s successor, the city paid search firm Mosaic Public Partners $30,000 to lead the recruitment process. A job posting for the position was available Nov. 4 to Dec. 9, 2024. The city received about 30 applications for the positions, with four finalists identified in mid-January.
The three finalists Lewis beat out for the role are Daniel Betts, director of parks for the city of Cincinnati in Ohio; Oscar Carmona, former chief operating officer for the Hermann Park Conservancy in Houston; and Michael Kashuba, director of parks and recreation for the city of Amarillo.
Before joining Fort Worth’s park and recreation department, Lewis served as deputy director of Metro Parks Tacoma, which oversees parks and recreation services in Tacoma, Washington. He was the general manager for the Minor League Baseball team Tacoma Rainiers for nearly seven years. He holds a bachelor’s degree in science from Eastern Washington University.
Cecilia Lenzen is a government accountability reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at cecilia.lenzen@fortworthreport.org or @bycecilialenzen.
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