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Dave Lewis named Fort Worth Parks and Recreation director as longtime director Richard Zavala transitions
Summary
City named Dave Lewis as the new Parks and Recreation director (effective the day prior to the Feb. 18 work session); Richard Zavala will serve through April before retirement and has been named interim assistant city manager in the near term.
Fort Worth officials introduced Dave Lewis as the new Parks and Recreation director at the Feb. 18 City Council work session. City Manager and staff praised Lewis027s experience in local parks leadership and said he became effective in the role the day before the meeting.
Staff recognized Richard Zavala for 33 years with the parks department; officials said Zavala intends to retire this spring but will remain through April and has been moved to an interim assistant city manager assignment while the city opens the recruitment for a permanent replacement. "We knew that replacing somebody with 33 years of leadership to the park and rec department was a very big, critical decision for us," City Manager said during his introduction.
Dave Lewis said he joined Fort Worth in 2019, previously oversaw golf and athletics and most recently served as deputy director for parks and recreation; he cited the Greenprint parks master plan and the mayor'7s green space initiative as priorities. "Our vision is to be recognized as the number 1 park system in the country," Lewis said.
No formal council vote was required for the appointment during the work session; staff said more information and an April presentation on the Greenprint master plan would follow.
