City Of Oklahoma City: Melinda McMillan-Miller Selected To Lead Parks And Recreation Department

Press release from the City of Oklahoma City:

10/01/2021

City Manager Craig Freeman announced yesterday the selection of interim Park Director Melinda McMillan-Miller as the new Parks and Recreation Director.

The City conducted a nationwide search for the position. A selection committee that included community partners helped select the finalists.

“Melinda brings over 20 years of public and private experience to the position,” City Manager Craig Freeman said. “She has extensive knowledge of the parks system’s 170 parks, more than 90 miles of trails and five golf courses. She has a passion to serve our community and the enthusiasm needed to ensure planned park improvements through Better Streets, Safer City and MAPS 4 are implemented successfully.”

McMillan-Miller, who begins Oct. 1, will manage approximately 200 employees in four divisions:

The five trusts and commissions McMillan-Miller will oversee includes:

Additional responsibilities include oversight of the City’s relationships with the Riversport Foundation, Civic Center Foundation, and other public-private partnerships.

“I am honored to serve our community in the Parks Director position,” Melinda McMillan-Miller said. “I am excited to help make Oklahoma City an even greater place to live and play for all residents through an innovative and dynamic park system.”

McMillan-Miller joined the Parks and Recreation Department in 2013 as the natural resources division manager and was promoted to assistant director in 2015. Before that, she was the garden manager at Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa. Prior to the Philbrook, she was a senior gardener at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA. She interned at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London, England and Powell Gardens in Kansas City, MO.

McMillan-Miller replaces Doug Kupper who retired in July after six years of service.

McMillan-Miller graduated from Kansas State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in public horticulture and a minor in leadership studies.

# # #

Contact: Kristy Yager, 297-2550 / 863-2831 / kristy.yager@okc.gov

This press release was produced by the City of Oklahoma City. The views expressed here are the author’s own.