P&R Department keeps moving ahead

Miller takes over as director, Story is new assistant

There’s never a slow time for Clear Lake’s Parks and Recreation Department, so without missing a beat the department transitioned into  the summer season under new leadership.

The Clear Lake City Council named Randy Miller as P&R director, replacing Sue Keefe, who retired after 26 years with the city, three of those as director.  Like 

Keefe, Miller stepped into the position after serving as assistant to the director.  He joined the department in 2009.  The 1997 graduate of Clear Lake High School went on to attend North Iowa Area Community College before earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Wildlife Management at Iowa State University in 2002.  After working seasonally for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and various conservation boards, Miller accepted a position as a roadside biologist with the Cerro Gordo County Conservation Board in March 2005. “One of the things I like best about the job is that it’s something different every day,” said Miller, who is now adding administrative duties to his already busy schedule of park and swimming pool management and program oversight.  “You have to be a jack-of-all-trades.”

Steven Story, a CLHS graduate who went on to receive a Bachelor’s Degree in exercise science from the University of Northern Iowa, has been named as 

assistant to the director.  Story is already familiar with the workings of the Parks Department, having worked as a lifeguard at the Clear Lake Aquatic Center.  Like Miller, he said he enjoys the “anything and everything” the job entails.

Both men say Clear Lake’s strong interest in recreation is continuing to grow and the future is very exciting for the community.

“I believe Clear Lake is unique in its park usage and program offerings for a community this size,” said Miller.  The city’s 10 parks-- seven with shelters, are used heavily and programs, ranging from playground time for kids, to flag football for youth and adults, exercise classes and much more, are more popular than ever.  He estimates 700 residents participate in the variety of P&R programming throughout the year.  Of course hundreds to thousands more visit Clear Lake parks and attend events here.

“City Park is always the main focus, in terms of our parks, but so many other areas of the city receive good use,” said Miller. “I think there’s only two weekends between Memorial Day and Labor Day that didn’t have a special event at City Park.  The addition of activities like Thursdays on Main has also given people another reason to get out and come downtown and come to City Park for a meal or movie.”

The department is continuing to pursue further development of its Recreation Area located on 12th Avenue South.  Site grading and seeding has been completed on the soccer and flag football fields  comprising 3.5 acres at the site.  Now, Miller - Read More Via e-Edition