The Columbus Parks and Recreation Department has named Nikki Murphy as associate director of recreation. Murphy previously served as the director of sports programs since 2015.
Her promotion was announced Friday in a press release from the department.
“We are thrilled to have Nikki in this key leadership role,” said Mark Jones, director of Columbus Parks and Recreation. “Over the past five years, she has exemplified our core values and helped the department move forward. As Associate Director of Recreation, she will be instrumental in guiding our continued success.”
In her new role, Murphy will supervise the aquatics director, director of sports programs and recreation/Columbus Gymnastics Center Program Manager.
Before joining Columbus’ parks department, she served as the director of the Washington Township Parks Department.
As director of sports programs, Murphy was responsible for management of all sports programs, including youth and adult sports, Hamilton Community Center and Ice Arena, Greenbelt and Par 3 golf courses and tournament scheduling.
She was also part of the recent five-year Master Plan and an active member of the city committee on the Fair Oaks Mall and Donner Center planning team.
The associate director position is new to the department. It was added after recommendation from an extensive study of the department’s structure by the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands.
Eppley suggested reducing the director of park and recreation’s direct reports from nine to five employees to increase efficiency. The institute also recommended title changes for two positions. The positions of director of park operations and director of business services were revised to be associate director positions, and the new titles have been updated on the salary ordinance.
