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Prosper moves Parks under Public Works; special events shifted to Community Engagement
Summary
Town manager Mario Kanazares told the Park and Recreation Board that an October 1 reorganization moved Parks & Recreation under public works and development services to consolidate field operations; special events were reassigned to a new Community Engagement and Experiences group.
The Park and Recreation Board of Directors heard on Oct. 9 that the town has reorganized departments and reassigned Parks & Recreation to Public Works and Development Services, while special events staff were moved to a new Community Engagement and Experiences unit.
Town Manager Mario Kanazares, who said he has been in the job about 20 months, told the board the changes took effect Oct. 1 and were intended to create operational efficiencies as the town grows. "We've moved boxes around. No one lost pay," Kanazares said, describing the shifts as administrative rather than personnel reductions.
Dan Baker, parks staff who led the board presentation, said moving parks under Chuck Ewins' purview aligns field operations and public-works functions such as mowing and equipment storage. Baker described the change as a better fit for the department’s day-to-day work.
Kanazares said special events were reassigned to a hybrid department that includes communications and downtown design. He called the reassignment a chance to market Prosper and better coordinate events with future lodging and tourism activity. "We have a really top communications team," Kanazares said, noting forthcoming hotels and regional sporting events that will increase visitor traffic.
Board members asked how the moves will affect marketing and event planning. Kanazares said staff vacancies and existing communications resources will be used to market events and downtown activity more consistently with the town’s priorities. Baker said parks operations will remain involved with events planning and that the functional change will not cut parks out of special-events work.
Board members did not take an action vote on the reorganization; the presentation was informational. Several members thanked Kanazares for the briefing and sought follow-up on how the new structure will support field operations and a potential shared service center for parks and public-works facilities.
