March 2017 - Parks & Recreation - 46

Reflections on a Career

A conversation with Joe Turner, Director of the
Houston Parks and Recreation Department
By Tom Dellner

his month, Joe Turner retires from his position as director of the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, bringing to an end a storied career
marked by thoughtful innovation, creativity and an irrepressible spirit, and
guided by an unwavering belief that parks change lives.
Turner's career has been highlighted by accomplishments far too numerous to list,
but which include the creation of the Playgrounds Without Limits program to provide playground accessibility for physically challenged children, the restoration of
the historic Emancipation Park, the establishment of Re-Plant Houston in response
to a withering drought, and the renovation of Shady Lane Park in partnership with
NRPA's Parks Build Community initiative.

Joe's enthusiasm and dedication to parks and recreation is nothing short
of extraordinary. On behalf of everyone at NRPA, I want to thank him
for his time and contributions to the organization and field. - Barbara
Tulipane, CAE, NRPA President and CEO
I've known Joe and worked with him on park projects long before I became
mayor. He's worked for three mayors, stewarding and shaping Houston's
park system of over 37,800 acres - always with a limited budget. His
ability to leverage partnerships, grants and conservancies to create an
outstanding park system can be seen in projects all across the city. As
mayor, I want to thank him for showing us what a public servant should
be. We will miss him. - Mayor Sylvester Turner, City of Houston

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Turner's impact on the lives of Houstonians will be felt for generations. And, because of his dedicated work as an NRPA
board member and with numerous other
park organizations, his positive influence
extends far beyond Houston's city limits.
His work has elevated a profession.
We caught up with Turner for a candid
and wide-ranging conversation. Among
other topics, he shared his career's most
rewarding moments and greatest challenges, offered some thoughtful guidance
to aspiring park and recreation leaders
and outlined his vision for the profession's future. A portion of the interview
appears below. To read the interview
in its entirety, go online to www.nrpa.
org/parks-recreation-magazine/2017/
march/reflections-on-a-career/.
Parks & Recreation magazine: You
began your career in business. How
did you come to the field of parks
and recreation?
Joe Turner: I spent 30 years in the fastfood business, ultimately becoming a
franchisee with four Burger King restaurants. As my kids grew up, it became clear
that they didn't want anything to do with
the business, so we sold the restaurants
and I began to look for something new,
something that was different, but would
let me use the management skills I had
developed.
I sent out some letters and Harris
County Commissioner Jerry Eversole,
who I knew, responded and asked me
if I wanted to be a park administrator. I
said 'I don't know. What does one do?' I
learned that the position really paralleled
multi-unit management, so I took it.
I enjoyed the work immensely. We
worked hard to expand the system, acquiring land through a variety of partnership arrangements. The creative aspect of putting these deals together was
appealing to me. We used to say, 'Anybody can buy land; we figure out how to
get it for free.'
In 2004, Houston Mayor Bill White
contacted me to interview for the city's

March 2017 - Parks & Recreation

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