Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Names New Leader from Country’s #1 Park System

Top executive of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board to become president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy

(December 6th, 2017) Jayne Miller, currently Superintendent of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, is moving to Pittsburgh. Moving to become president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. Recently serving at Minneapolis Parks which ranked multiple times as the #1 park system in the country. That’s by the Trust for Public Land.

Following a national search, Miller was chosen to replace Meg Cheever. Meg, who founded the Parks Conservancy and also has served as its president and CEO for 21 years. Therefore, Cheever will retire at the end of March 2018.

Under Miller’s leadership, the Minneapolis Parks system was named #1 among U.S. park systems for the last five of Miller’s seven years. Miller’s accomplishments also include forging an agreement with the city of Minneapolis to provide an additional $250 million in funding over 20 years. All for the City’s 160 neighborhood parks. Thereby reversing decades of chronic underfunding. Plus and more importantly establishing the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. Yet establishing them as the leaders in racial and economic equity work.

In her current position, Miller has also been actively engaged as an industry professional. Furthermore a community member.

She has been a board member of The City Parks Alliance. That’s a national organization based in Washington D.C. She’s been a board member of the international organization World Urban Parks and the Minneapolis Urban League. Furthmeore the Minneapolis Parks Foundation, Meet Minneapolis, Sports Minneapolis, and St. Anthony Falls Heritage.  Consequently, Miller also has served as a Founding Member of the Editorial Board for the Journal of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism in Public Health.

Similarly and prior to her appointment as Minneapolis Parks Superintendent. Miller also served as director of the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority. It’s a five-county regional park system in southeast Michigan. As well as serving Community Services Area Administrator for the City of Ann Arbor. Finally she held a number of other positions with the city of Ann Arbor. That spanned for more than 22 years.

Finally, Miller holds a master’s degree in recreation administration from the University of Maryland. Plus and a bachelor’s degree from Midland University in Nebraska.

In conclusion, Miller assumes her new position on February 5, 2018. Finally, she will work alongside Meg Cheever in a two-month transition period. In conclusion, that period goes through March 31.

Source: Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy