Press Release

Houston Parks and Recreation Department
2999 South Wayside
Houston, TX 77023
Office: (832) 395-7022
Cell: (832) 465-4782

Joe Turner, Director, Houston Parks and Recreation Department

Elected to N.R.P.A. Board of Directors

The National Recreation and Park Association (N.R.P.A.) elected Joe Turner, Director, Houston Parks and Recreation Department, to the organization’s 2011-2012 Board of Directors for a three year term.

N.R.P.A.’s Board of Directors is composed of 21 individuals.  Board members are representative of N.R.P.A.’s membership, which includes leaders in the park, recreation and conservation movement, park and recreation professionals, and individuals from corporations, industry suppliers, commercial businesses, and volunteer and civic groups.

“Joe will be an asset to our Board,” said Robert Johnson, Jr., chair of N.R.P.A.’s Board of Directors.  “He has supported the park and recreation movement and N.R.P.A.’s mission on many levels throughout his career.  We are excited to have his expertise and leadership skills, which we know will contribute to achieving N.R.P.A.’s goals and moving the association forward.”

Turner has served as the Director of the Houston Parks and Recreation Department since 2004. His many professional credits include membership in the N.R.P.A., Texas Recreation and Park Society, the Greater Gulf Coast Parks and Recreation Director's Association, the Greens Bayou Corridor Coalition, Trees for Houston, The Heritage Society, the Hermann Park Conservancy, the Memorial Park Conservancy and Houston Wilderness. 

The new members of the N.R.P.A. Board of Directors were installed this past November during N.R.P.A.’s Annual Congress & Exposition in Atlanta, Georgia.

The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people.  Through its network of 20,000 recreation and park professionals and citizens, N.R.P.A. encourages the promotion of healthy lifestyles, recreation initiatives, and conservation of natural and cultural resources.  For more information, visit www.NRPA.org.  For digital access to N.R.P.A.’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrec-magazine.org.

The Houston Parks and Recreation Department (H.P.A.R.D.) stewards and manages over 38,992 acres of parkland and greenspace for the City of Houston and develops and implements recreational programming for citizens of all abilities. For more information on the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, call (832) 395-7022 or visit www.houstonparks.org.