Parks director confirmed; new director outlines safety, maintenance and Lily Endowment projects amid budget concerns

The Indianapolis City Parks and Recreation Committee approved Proposal 2-14, confirming Britney Crone as director of the Department of Parks and Recreation and heard an extended departmental update on projects, safety staffing and budget pressures.

Crone told the committee she is a lifelong Indianapolis resident who formerly served as director of community outreach in the mayor's office, led the mayor's neighborhood advocate team and the mayor's action center, and previously worked as chief communications officer for the Office of Public Health and Safety. She said she plans a listening tour of parks staff and facilities and described public-safety work underway: "We welcomed our very first park safety administrator, and we're exploring how to build what I would like to refer to as trauma-informed systems for our staff, but also the neighbors who visit our parks," she said.

Crone and department staff said the city is moving ahead on a large set of projects funded by the Lilly Endowment and the…