Council committee reappoints Joseph Winns to Indianapolis parks board

Joseph Winns was reappointed Wednesday to the Board of Parks and Recreation by the Parks and Recreation Committee of the Indianapolis City‑County Council after outlining his experience and priorities for the system.

Winns, who identified himself as a “25‑year park professional” and said he retired as parks director under Mayor Bart Peterson, told the committee he has served under multiple mayors and would use his national and local experience to advocate for reassembling park services split across departments. He said his priorities include ensuring enforcement of park ordinances (such as alcohol, firearms and parking rules) and restoring maintenance, forestry, greenways and land stewardship functions to a single, coordinated system.

The committee heard brief remarks of support from Councilor Bridal Delaney, who said she interned under Winns in the parks department, and Councilor Bridal (name appears twice in the meeting as the same speaker), both of whom asked to be added as cosponsors to the reappointment. A motion to reappoint Winns was moved and seconded and passed by voice vote.

Winns told the committee he recognizes the task may be difficult but said he will continue to press policy makers to “put this system back together” so park services can function as intended under the park ordinance.

The committee recorded no formal roll‑call tally in the transcript; the chair announced the motion passed after 'aye' votes and no opposition was recorded.