Alpharetta Parks Department Undergoes Name Change

ALPHARETTA, GA — In an effort to reflect its mission to provide a wide variety of parks, recreation and cultural initiatives to the community, the Alpharetta Recreation and Parks Department has rolled out its new name.

The agency is now known as the Alpharetta Recreation, Parks and Cultural Services Department. The city notes the change "reflects the performing and visual arts, as well as other cultural services the department offers residents."

“As our community grows we have a responsibility to continually evolve to meet the needs and expectations of our residents," said Director Morgan Rodgers. "This includes a more focused commitment to art, culture, and history and a deeper engagement with the community."

These changes aren't just on the surface. The entire agency has been reorganized, adding two new divisions to allow the department to better serve the community. The Cultural Services division will be led by Kim Zane, formerly the special events manager for the city of Alpharetta.

This division will oversee the new Arts Center on the corner of Mayfield Road and Canton Street and the History Room inside City Hall, both scheduled to open later this year. The division will also manage the fine and performing arts programming for the city (For more news like this, find your local Patch here. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here).

The Community Services division, which will include community engagement, marketing, special events, and community agriculture, will be led by Amanda Musilli, who joined Alpharetta in March and brings more than 15 years of experience in community outreach, marketing and events.

This division will oversee large events, manage the marketing for the department, and oversee the educational farm being developed at a new park on Rucker Road, which was donated to the city by Whole Foods Market.

These new divisions add to the existing four within the department: Recreation, Parks, Projects and Wills Park.

Image via city of Alpharetta