Nearly three decades after teaching children how to swim and be safe at a city pool, Inger Erickson has been named Parks and Recreation Director for the city of Phoenix. Erickson started working for the city of Phoenix in 1988 as a lifeguard at Coronado Pool and since June of this year has been the acting director.
As director, Erickson will oversee Phoenix’s 182 city parks, 31 community and recreation centers, eight golf courses, 29 pools and 41,000 acres of mountain parks and desert preserves with 200 miles of trails.
“Ms. Erickson is a true homegrown success who understands the core values of a thriving parks and recreation department and the opportunities a world-renowned park system can create for residents and visitors,” said Ed Zuercher, Phoenix City Manager. “She is a progressive leader, educated in her industry with decades of local experience who will take the city’s excellent parks and recreation system to an even higher level.”
Erickson will oversee 1,075 full and part-time employees, an operating budget of $111 million, thousands of volunteers and 30 non-profit organizations. In addition, she will work with the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Board, an all-volunteer citizen group appointed by the Phoenix City Council. .
“It has been a pleasure to serve the city of Phoenix for the past 28 years and be a part of the amazing city team that provides quality services and programs in our Parks and Recreation Department,” said Erickson. “Working in the recreation field requires passion and partnerships and I’m dedicated to leading with passion and developing strong partnerships to grow and improve our parks system for all members of the community and visitors.”
Since 1992 Erickson has been a member of both the National Recreation and Park Association and the Arizona Parks and Recreation Association. She holds a bachelor’s of science in physical education from Grand Canyon University and a master’s of arts in organizational management from the University of Phoenix.