Fayetteville now hiring for new parks director

Connie Edmonston retired from the City of Fayetteville on July 9, 2021 / File photo: Todd Gill, Fayetteville Flyer

Fayetteville officials are looking for a new parks director now that longtime department head Connie Edmonston has moved on.

Edmonston retired from the parks department earlier this month after 35 years with the city. Her last day was July 9.

She began working for the city as an administrative assistant in 1982 before becoming assistant director of parks and recreation. After leaving the city to work for Washington Regional for four years, she returned in 1998 as parks and recreation director in a role she served for 23 years.

Chief of Staff Susan Norton has spent the past few weeks working on a revised job description for the position, which has now been posted.

The position comes with a new title: Director of Parks, Natural Resources, and Cultural Affairs.

The person hired will be responsible for oversight of parks planning; parks recreational services; natural resource and open space stewardship; cultural arts planning and implementation; and special events and tourism attractions.

The official job posting also lists over two dozen specific essential duties of the position.

Starting salary for the job ranges from $96,553 – $144,248 annually, depending upon the experience and qualifications of the candidate.

» See the full job posting