Director of Parks and Recreation leaving to join Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy

The director of Parks and Recreation will be leaving his role with the city for a position with the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, Mayor Bill Peduto announced.

Ross Chapman, who started working for the city in 2010 in the Department of Human Resources and Civil Service, was promoted to deputy director of the Department of Parks and Recreation in 2017, and then became the department’s director in 2018.

“Ross Chapman is a passionate, caring and effective leader who uses data, equity and residents’ personal experiences to thoughtfully inform decisions,” Peduto said. “The Citiparks team has been incredibly effective in adapting to the post-pandemic world because of his leadership of being open to new ideas, new possibilities and effective solutions. He has reinforced that public park programming is important because it is for all.”

Under Chapman’s leadership, Citiparks provided service for over 100,000 residents annually.

With Chapman at the helm, the department distributed over 1 million free meals to eligible children and seniors throughout the covid-19 pandemic, offered virtual education, art and enrichment programs and activities for children and families during the pandemic and created partnerships with more than 25 organizations throughout the city to engage residents in a variety of programs.

Chapman also helped the Department of Public Works to expand the Rec2Tech program for city youths to learn critical technology skills, obtaining about $700,000 in grant funding and securing laptops and other technology equipment for youth tech programs.

The Department also delivered large-scale investments, including a new $1.2 million Paulson Spray Park and Playground in Lincoln-Lemington, the new Morningside Healthy Active Living Center, upgrades to Wi-Fi connectivity at more than a dozen community recreation and senior centers and pickleball and basketball courts citywide.

Chapman is leaving his post with the city to serve as the director of Park Operations and Civic Partnerships with the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. The newly-created position aims to support the mission of the nonprofit’s work and provides strategic leadership in creating an equitable and inclusive park system.

Chapman’s final day with the city will be Nov. 1.