NEW HAVEN, CT – Today, Mayor Justin Elicker announced the appointment of Maxwell (Max) Webster as the new Director of Parks for the City of New Haven, beginning November 12th.

“Our parks are among our city’s most treasured assets where residents go daily to enjoy time outdoors, exercise and play sports, and spend time with family and friends. We’re committed to ensuring our parks, playgrounds, and green spaces are welcoming, well-used, and well-maintained places for all New Haveners to enjoy,” said Mayor Justin Elicker. “I’m excited to welcome Max Webster back to New Haven as our new Parks Director and for him to bring his experience, knowledge, and expertise from across the country to build on and strengthen the work we’ve been doing to enhance our local parks, playgrounds and green spaces.”

As Parks Director, Webster will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day maintenance of and long-range planning for the city’s parks, parkways, forests, and recreational facilities including athletic fields, playgrounds, splash pads, pavilions, and more. The City of New Haven has over 2,200 acres of parkland across 100 park sites, with 96 percent of residents living within a 10-minute walk to a park. Soon, the City of New Haven. The Parks Department also offers and facilities a variety of free and low-cost outdoor recreational activities and programs for residents, and works in partnership with the city’s Youth and Recreation Department, local organizations, sports leagues, and parks friends’ group to support children, youth, adult, and community-based activities and programming.

"I am excited to return to New Haven as the city’s new Parks Director and look forward to serving alongside the dedicated staff of the Parks Department to steward the Elm City’s parks, green spaces, and urban forest,” said incoming Parks Director Max Webster. “New Haven is blessed with an incredible amount of parkland and, working in partnership with the community, I’m committed to ensuring New Haven has a high-quality, vibrant, and inclusive parks system that promotes outdoor recreation, health, wellness, and environmental sustainability.”

Webster brings to the job a decade of experience in parks and green space management, conservation and public policy. Most recently, Webster served as the Natural Areas Manager for the Chicago Park District, where he oversaw operations for the restoration and development of over 1,000 acres of natural areas and managed a staff of over 40 full-time and seasonal employees charged urban forest management; plantings; ecological restoration; trail maintenance; natural play site management; fleet management; snow removal; and coordinating activities and partnerships with volunteers, partner organizations, and job training programs; among other responsibilities. Prior to that, Webster served as the Midwest Policy Manager for American Farmland Trust where he coordinated policy, research, and advocacy efforts across seven Midwest states. He also previously worked as the Evergreen Forests Program Manager for the Washington Environmental Council, where he led the organization’s advocacy efforts to secure over $20 million in new public funding for forest conservation efforts across Washington State. While completing his Master of Environmental Management degree at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Webster worked as a Community Forester and Research Assistant for the Urban Resources Initiative, the city’s nonprofit partner for tree plantings and community forestry activities, and partnered with Elm City residents, volunteers and community organizations to design, plan, and steward local public and green spaces. Maxwell earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of Cincinnati.

The Parks Department currently has a staff of 45 full time employees and hires the equivalent of 39 part time seasonal employees during the spring, summer, and fall seasons to support its operations. In the most recent city budget, Mayor Elicker proposed, and the Board of Alders approved, increasing the number of parks staff to strengthen the maintenance and upkeep of the city parks and athletic fields – and also to separate the Parks and Public Works Department, returning the Parks Department and Public Works Department to their own stand-alone city agencies.

The Director of Parks position is currently held in an acting capacity by Michael Siciliano who, upon Webster’s appointment, will continue to serve as the Director of Public Works. The Director of Parks reports to the city’s Chief Administrative Officer, Regina Rush-Kittle.

PRESS CONTACT:

Lenny Speiller; (203) 725-4249; Lspeiller@newhavenct.gov