City

Say hello to Kansas City’s new Parks and Recreation board

The board will oversee Kansas City, MO’s parks through the end of Mayor Quinton Lucas’ term.

November 2, 2023 • 
Charmaine Merriweather
New Board 10-31-23 kcmo parks and recs.JPG

The board members from left to right: Comissioner Tom Gorenc, Commisioner DePrice Taylor, President Beth Haden, Commisioner Stephenie K. Smith, Commissioner Pat Contreras

Photo by Jesse Frazier, KCMO Parks and Recreation

KCMO has new protectors of the parks (and recreation programming). Mayor Quinton Lucas swore in a team of five volunteers earlier this week, who will oversee the Parks and Recreation department through July 31, 2027 — the end of Mayor Q.'s term.

Let’s meet the squad.

Beth Haden is the board’s president and a partner at the Lathrop GPM law firm.

The Parks and Recreation board is also comprised of four new commissioners: Pat Contreras, Tom Gorenc, DePrice Taylor, and Stephanie K. Smith.

Contreas is the VP of McCownGordon Construction. Gorenc is a property investor. Taylor gets her kicks as the executive director of community relations for the KC Current. And Smith is the co-founder of Sophic Solutions, a local business management + consulting firm.

Visit the KCMO Parks and Recreation website to read more about them and follow their progress.