| Breaking Barriers: Meet the Women Leading the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department | https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/parks-and-recreation/2293 | Parks and Recreation | | 3/30/2022 3:00:00 PM | https://www.phoenix.gov/newssite/Lists/NewsArticle/Attachments/2293/Parks-female-leadership-for-Newsroom.png | | Breaking Barriers: Meet the Women Leading the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department | <div class="ExternalClass4D74E8DA854E4E7186C933D0C9ED2274"><html>The views from the 16th floor of Phoenix City Hall are endless and intriguing. Beyond the cityscape structures of downtown Phoenix, many natural structures stand. If you're facing north, Camelback Mountain and Piestewa Peak are easy finds. Turn east, and, with a squint, you'll find Papago's Hole in the Rock. One more turn to the right and South Mountain will take center stage. <br><br>Look down and you'll catch the iconic rabbit, owl and fox of Margaret T. Hance Park. Off in the distance to your one o'clock, Cesar Chavez Park is just big enough that you may spot it, (with some help from a Parks department employee).<br><br>Woven into the fifth largest city in the U.S. are more than 200 miles of hiking trails and 185 parks. At the helm of one of the City of Phoenix's largest department are five strong women, who share the responsibility of maintaining community centers, playgrounds, hiking trails, lakes, ponds, pools and more. <br><br><strong>Meet the Women Leading Phoenix Parks and Recreation</strong><br><br>Half of the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department Parks management team are women, and many work 16 stories high in Phoenix City Hall, yet these female leaders got their start on the ground floor and in the field.<br><br>Paving the way for part-timers is Director and Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation Cynthia Aguilar and Tracee Hall. Aguilar started with the department in 1997, working as a part-time recreation leader with the afterschool program at Loma Lina Elementary School. <br><br>Aguilar is the second consecutive female to run the department. She oversees the entire department including a staff of 1,480, and is leading the charge to create a Parks master plan, focused on inclusivity across the City. <br><br>Hall's first job with the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department was working part-time at the South Phoenix Youth Center for the Teens in Training program as a job counselor, helping youths find jobs in the area.<br><br>In her role as Assistant Director, Hall currently oversees the Northeast, South, Natural Resources and Special Operations divisions. She currently has many major projects on her plate such as the Cesar Chavez Community Center (opening summer 2022), repairs to the Eastlake Pool, Aquatics hiring, land recognition signage and the Cholla Trail realignment project. <br><br>In 2018, Deputy Director of the Management Services Division Theresa joined the Parks and Recreation Department after having worked for more than a decade in various city departments. A mother herself, Faull has passed her own mom's message down to her daughter. <br><br>Faull said a former female supervisor served as her mentor, who instilled the philosophy of awareness in Faull, saying to become aware of the big picture and to be knowledgeable of all happenings within the City, making the transition to another major department doable and seamless. In her position, Faull is responsible for managing the department's budget and accounting, information technology, procurement, and administrative services.<br><br>Deputy Director of the Northwest Division Jan Sherwood started her career in the Parks and Recreation Department in 1996 working at the Cave Creek Sports Complex, now named for Rose Mofford, as a recreation leader. More than two decades later, Sherwood oversees 51 parks, five community centers and three neighborhood centers. <br><br>The Northwest Division produces four major special events every year: the PHXam Skateboard Contest, After Dark in the Park, Light Up and Boofest. <br><br>Northeast Division Danielle Poveromo first worked as a park manager for the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Project. When she first started in the maintenance field, many men questioned whether if Poveromo was in the right job. <br><br>In leading the Northeast Division, Poveromo oversees 65 parks, six community centers and two art facilities. Her team also provides oversight of four non-profit operators including the Shemer Art Center, Thunderbird Arts Center, Mountain View Community Garden and the Roadrunner Farmers Market.<br><br>According to the latest data (2020) by the National Park Service, men have always, and still largely, outnumber women in the park's workforce. As of 2020, 5,829 of the National Park Service's more than 15,000-person workforce is female. Aguilar said she's proud of the female leadership who helps lead Phoenix's department. <br><br></html></div> | https://www.phoenix.gov/parks | News | | parks-and-recreation | Parks and Recreation Female Leadership Standing In Front of Phoenix Logo at City Hall | Parks & Rec | | | | | | Adam Waltz | 602-781-1334 | 602-534-6648 | | | adam.waltz@phoenix.gov | | | | | | | | | PhoenixParks | From the field to City Hall |
