Intro
Mission Director ' s Note
To enrich the quality of life in Garner by offering a diverse system of parks, recreational facilities, programs, and cultural resources.
Town Management
Town Council Buddy Gupton, Mayor Demian Dellinger, Mayor Pro Tem Phil Matthews Gra Singleton Kelvin Stallings Elmo Vance
Full-Time Staff
Town Administration Jodi Miller, Town Manager John Hodges, Assistant Town Manager Matt Poole, Assistant Town Manager
Erik Anderson, Recreation Program Manager( Yeargan Park) Erica Arrington, Recreation Program Specialist Matt Beard, Parks & Greenways Planning Manager Torrey Blackmar, Recreation Program Manager( Senior Center) Colleen Bockhahn, Recreation Program Manager( Parks & Nature) Elesha Burt, Recreation Customer Service Specialist Catherine Dalton, Parks & Recreation Superintendent( Parks & Nature) Martha Engeman, Marketing Coordinator Martha Fisk, Recreation Program Specialist Jon Jackson, Recreation Program Specialist Kevin McClaine, Recreation Program Specialist Maria Muñoz-Blanco, Director Shelby Paustian, Special Events Coordinator Jamari Prim, Recreation Program Specialist Zach Pritchard, Parks & Recreation Superintendent( Recreation & Athletics) Sara Shaw, Recreation Program Manager Jonathan Shearin, Performing Arts Center Supervisor Brandon Smith, Recreation Customer Service Specialist Christine Sicinski, Parks & Recreation Superintendent( Arts & Culture)
The 2024-2025 fiscal year marked the 54th year of official existence for our department, created by ordinance adopted by the Town Council on February 17, 1971. And what a busy year it was! More than 21,000 program hours; nearly 490,000 visitors to our parks. Those are pretty cool numbers and they reflect how the Garner Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department serves our community. This annual report highlights the activities and programs that kept our team moving forward throughout the fiscal year, striving to deliver high quality recreational and cultural programs in our parks and centers.
This was a year of change and movement. We celebrated new projects, made meaningful progress on capital projects, saw our youth leagues fill to capacity, welcomed new team members, and said goodbye to valued colleagues. This was also a year of growth for Garner, with new developments coming to fruition and many new families calling Garner home( and happily becoming parks & rec participants!)
As we reflect on the accomplishments of 2024- 2025, I want to recognize the efforts of the PRCR staff, committed stewards of our parks and centers, and enthusiastic promoters of the importance of recreation in a healthy and vibrant community. Town Council and Town Administration are steadfast supporters, and their guidance and belief in parks and recreation is deeply appreciated.
In the inspiring words of English philosopher John Locke,“ He that will make good use of any part of his life must allow a large part of it to recreation.” That’ s what we’ re here for.
Maria Muñoz-Blanco, Director of Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources