Hashim Taylor named Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation director

CEDAR RAPIDS — The city of Cedar Rapids has selected Hashim Taylor to serve as the next Parks and Recreation director.

Taylor will lead and provide direction to the department that operates the city’s municipal golf courses, about 100 parks, Ushers Ferry Historic Village, Old MacDonald's Farm in Bever Park, two athletic complexes, six swimming pools and more. It employs the equivalent of 125 full-time staff.

“I am excited to serve Cedar Rapids in a way that ensures all residents have access to our parks, facilities and programs regardless of their social, physical, or economic circumstances,” Taylor said in a statement. “I am looking forward to working with a team of nationally recognized professionals to develop and expand enjoyable, accessible and valuable programs for all Cedar Rapids residents.”

Taylor recently served as the recreation program manager for Prince William County in Virginia. He previously served in the Parks and Recreation departments for the cities of Virginia Beach and Alexandria, both in Virginia.

Taylor earned his bachelor’s degree in parks, recreation and tourism from Old Dominion University and his Master of Business Administration from Regent University.

He will earn a salary of $119,993.54, according to the city.

Taylor succeeds Scott Hock, who had served in the role since July 2018.

The Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation Department last year earned an accreditation from the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies and the National Recreation and Park Association, placing it among the nation’s top park and recreation agencies. Cedar Rapids is only the second municipality in Iowa to earn this recognition, behind Davenport.

Typically, the parks system serves about 1.5 million users annually, though those numbers are down because the COVID-19 pandemic has caused facility closures and made less programming available.

While grappling with impacts from the pandemic, the department also faces recovery from the 2020 derecho, which downed most of the city’s tree canopy and damaged some parks facility infrastructure.

“Hashim is an energetic leader who will bring many new ideas and initiatives to the department,” City Manager Jeff Pomeranz said in a statement. “We are pleased to welcome him to the Cedar Rapids community and have him join the city team.”

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