June 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 80

N R PA U P DAT E

Kenneth J. Smithee: A Life Dedicated
to Parks and Recreation
By Lindsay G. Collins

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARICOPA COUNTY PARKS & REC

PHOTO COURTESY OF GENESEE COUNTY PARKS & REC COMMISSION

enneth J. Smithee, dedicated park professional and ardent conservationist, died April 12, 2019, at the age of 91 in Glendale, Arizona. Throughout his career, Smithee was crucial to the growth and
development of many park systems. As director of Arizona's Maricopa
County Parks Department (1957-1965), he grew the agency's park footprint to 93,000 acres. " Residents of [Maricopa] County owe Ken a huge
debt of gratitude for the legacy he left, " says R.J. Cardin, director of Maricopa County Parks and Recreation. " His great efforts of defining and expanding our regional park system is truly exceptional. Our residents enjoy
one of the largest regional park systems in the country thanks to Ken's
vision and dedication. "

Ken Smithee (top, left) while serving as the first director
of the Genesee County Parks and Recreation Commission;
(above, right) with then-Secretary of Interior Stuart Udall.

Parks & Recreation

Before public-private partnerships became the buzzword that
it is today, Smithee was using his
ability to establish these kinds of
close working relationships to develop park and recreation facilities.
From 1967 to 1988, while serving
as the first director of the Genesee County Parks and Recreation
Commission in Flint, Michigan, he
spearheaded the acquisition of the
county's 11,000 acres of parkland
and the development of several
park and recreation amenities, such
as beaches, trails, campgrounds, an
equestrian complex and more.
Smithee's passion for developing
parks also extended to the development of young professionals in the
field. " Ken Smithee was a giant in
the park and recreation profession
when I was just getting started, "
says Ron Pies, a retired community
service director from Tempe, Arizona. " His wisdom and tremendous
experience was extremely helpful to
me and probably hundreds or even
thousands of young professionals. "
For two years prior to leading
the Genesee County Parks Depart-

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ments, Smithee was NRPA's public
affairs director and county parks
and recreation consultant. He was
also a member of the organization's board of trustees in the 1970s
and 1980s and served as president
of the board in 1981.
Smithee, who received his bachelor's degree in education from
the University of Arizona and
his master's degree in recreation
from Central Michigan University,
played an active part in many professional organizations, including
the Arizona Parks and Recreation
Association, Arizona Conservation Council, National Association
of County Parks and Recreation
Officials, American Park and Recreation Society and the American
Academy for Park and Recreation
Administration. He also garnered
numerous awards and recognitions
for his exceptional dedication to
parks and recreation, including
Arizona Parks and Recreation Association's Fellow Award, the Presidential Certificate from the National Association of Counties, the
Distinguished Fellow Award from
the American Park and Recreation
Society, Michigan Recreation and
Park Association's Fellowship
Award and NRPA's National Distinguished Professional Award,
among others.
Ken Smithee was not only a
pioneer in the field, but he also
touched the lives of many along
the way.
Lindsay G. Collins, Parks and Recreation
magazine's Associate Editor

June 2019 - Parks & Recreation

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