Meet Danielle Crook, Executive Director, Parks & Recreation
Hometown: Rockford, Illinois
Age: 43
Education: Bachelor of Science in mass communications and psychology, University of Evansville; Master of Science in family and consumer sciences, Illinois State University
Family: Husband Chris; two daughters
Parks Executive Director Salary: $101,000
Having risen through the ranks at the Department of Evansville Parks and Recreation since 1999 โ when the figure skater was hired as an ice skating instructor at Swonder Ice Arena โ Executive Director Danielle Crook knows the department and how some city residents perceive it.
Crook says a lack of maintenance at existing properties is the most common complaint parks officials receive and something the department prioritizes while striving to make parks safer and accessible for all.
โParks should not just be for specific ages or demographics,โ Crook says. โThey should be for everyone, and that has not really been true of the parks up to this point. Weโre focusing on whether that means improving sidewalks and curb ramps, making more accessible play structures, or easier access in and out of our facility. Thatโs all part of it.โ
Parks officials want to add amenities, and Crook cites Wesselman Park as a spot where those goals are coming to fruition. A 16-court pickleball complex and a new accessible playground are open, and more is coming as Wesselman grows to include former Roberts Municipal Stadium land.
Crook says she โfell in love with the cityโ after coming from Illinois in 1999 to attend the University of Evansville. She took on the assistant managerโs role at Swonder in 2006 and was its general manager from 2016 until 2022 when then-Interim Executive Director of Parks and Recreation Steve Schaefer promoted her to deputy director.
Mayor Stephanie Terry named Crook executive director in late December, days before taking office.
Crook says it wasnโt until taking the top job that she finally watched โParks and Recreation,โ the irreverent sitcom that aired on NBC from 2009 to 2015.
โThe show is relatable for anyone working in the parks and rec field for sure,โ Crook says. โIt does a good job of describing the variety of challenges that you are faced with in this type of work.โ
What To Know About Parks and Recreation
A five-year master plan for Parks and Recreation, released in 2023 by a consultant, spells out many challenges the department faces. It cited several maintenance concerns, and Crook says the department has hired an additional crew to tackle those. In total, Evansville manages 46 community, neighborhood, and pocket parks; more than 12 miles of paved trails; and other facilities such as five neighborhood swimming pools (two of which are currently closed), four golf courses, two disc golf courses, boat ramps, the C.K. Newsome Community Center, the Pagoda, Swonder Ice Arena, and Deaconess Aquatic Center.
