April 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 14

W E A R E P A R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N

Former NRPA President Dianne Hoover Retires

fter 45 years of service in the field of parks and recreation,
Dianne Hoover, Certified Park and Recreation Professional
(CPRP), is retiring to enjoy being an active outdoor participant.
Hoover has left an indelible mark on the city of Bakersfield,
California, as the director of the city's Recreation and Parks Department. After having served in several park and recreation leadership positions in the
Midwest, Hoover joined the city of Bakersfield in 2005 as director of recreation and parks where she oversaw impressive growth in the ninth-largest city
in the state. During her tenure leading the Bakersfield department, 13 new
parks, as well as nine additional spray parks, were added; numerous fields renovated; and new courts and playgrounds were built. These amenities have enhanced recreation opportunities for the community of Bakersfield. Through
Hoover's leadership, Bakersfield became the first recreation and park agency
in the state to achieve and maintain NRPA's Commission for Accreditation of
Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) accreditation for 10 years. Additionally, the department received Gold Medal Finalist status in 2009 and in 2014.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY OF BAKERSFIELD

Bakersfield also received national recognition for its naming rights
agreements for sports and entertainment facilities. Combined with
naming rights, Hoover was able to
secure long-term agreements with
local youth sports organizations to
maintain and operate sports parks
within the city.
Her journey began even before
she was aware that full-time jobs
existed in outdoor recreation and
park management. Since she grew
up participating in outdoor activi-

Parks & Recreation

ties with her brothers, Hoover knew
that she could not be tied to a desk
for any length of time - so she pursued opportunities that allowed her
to make life better for children and
families wherever she worked.
She came of college age in an
era and area where young women
were discouraged from seeking education past high school, and in a
society where expenses for higher
education could not be justified
nor met through existing funds.
With great determination, Hoover

Dianne Hoover joined
the city of Bakersfield,
California, in 2005 as
director of recreation
and parks.

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sought student loan programs and
grants to complete her first step toward her destiny.
She earned two master's degrees
- one in recreation, park and tourism administration from Western
Illinois University and one in public administration from the University of Dayton. Hoover's park and
recreation career includes service
in multiple municipalities in Ohio
- including as the assistant director/superintendent for the Cincinnati Recreation Commission
- and in Indiana. She served in
many leadership roles with NRPA,
including chairing 14 CAPRA
Visit Teams and as president of
the organization in 2010. In 2020,
Hoover served as president of the
American Academy for Park and
Recreation Administration. When
her term began in late 2019, coronavirus (COVID-19) was still unknown in the United States. As
her presidency continued through
2020, the pandemic had reached
every corner of the country and
made a lasting impact. Parks became the lifeblood for outdoor opportunities, for people to exercise
while physically distancing, and as
the neighborhood gathering place
to check on each other. Park and
recreation staff became essential
service providers in offering clean
parks and food service to those in
need, expanding into ambassadors
promoting safe distancing and
wearing masks while in public.
As Hoover ends her professional
career in parks and recreation, she
plans to spend her time in outdoor
pursuits and volunteering to assist
in making life better for others,
wherever that may be.

April 2021 - Parks & Recreation

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