New Leisure Services Director Chad McDonald said he is focusing on finishing ongoing projects before starting new ones.
McDonald took over for the retiring Rick Woods this month. He said finishing upgrades to the Cookeville Performing Arts Center and Cane Creek top his agenda.
“I want to see some of those projects get done first, we are right in the middle of all of those at the same time,” McDonald said. “But as far as long term projects and long term goals, my philosophy is to continue what we’ve been doing I think we’re doing a great job providing leisure services and recreation for the citizens of Cookeville, and I want to continue that tradition.”
McDonald said the biggest challenge of learning the role is learning parts of the role that were second nature to Woods.
“Rick Woods who retired on October third did a great job over 30 plus years leading this department,” McDonald said. “And personally I’d like to keep his goals and vision in place and work on what he always worked on which was which was trying to make the good life better for the citizens of Cookeville.”
McDonald said he plans to follow the advise of his advisory group and the master plan while he gets adjusted to the new role. McDonald said he will also learn a lot from the staff around him.
McDonald plans to create and expand green spaces, maintaining them to the highest quality. He aims to give children more safe spaces to play. McDonald recognizes the high demand for park events and amenities in Cookeville.
“Cane Creek Park gets a lot of use from fishermen and groups utilizing the shelters they can rent there so I don’t know if Cookeville is indicative of other communities, but we have a lot of demand in this community,” McDonald said.
