City Of Milton: Tom McKlveen Promoted To City Of Milton's Parks And Recreation Director

Press release from the City of Milton:

02/07/2022 9:43 AM

Tom McKlveen is now Milton’s Parks and Recreation Director, a promotion for a valuable, dynamic City leader overseeing an evolving department that is relied upon, and beloved, by citizens.

Since the middle of 2020, McKlveen has served as Milton’s Parks and Recreation Manager and, as such, led the department. In recent months, Parks and Recreation has assumed the new responsibilities of Community Outreach and managing special community events (jn addition to now overseeing a new greenspace and renovated park, with a new community and recreation center about to come online). The City promoted McKlveen to Parks and Recreation Director not just in light of these changes but also in recognition of his exemplary leadership, expanding responsibilities, and record of accomplishment.

“Tom has done outstanding in captaining a department that is vitally important to our city,” said City Manager Steve Krokoff. “I am confident that he’s the right person to lead Milton Parks and Rec now and into the future – and that our City will be better off thanks to his leadership.”

McKlveen joined Milton’s Parks and Recreation Department in December 2015, excelling in an array of important roles related to the build-out of the City’s athletic and arts programs, the management of Bell and Providence parks, and much more. Yet his scope changed significantly about 1.5 years ago, with the retirement of longtime Parks and Recreation Director Jim Cregge.

At that moment, Tom was charged with spearheading a department in the thick of a pandemic, with the challenge of balancing public safety with the swelling public desire for parks and recreational outlets. Tom rose to the occasion time and again, striving and succeeding in not just maintaining the status quo but offering increased and improved services, programs, and facilities for the Milton community.

In the past year alone, McKlveen and his team have worked in lockstep with members of many City Departments – including Community Development Director Bob Buscemi and Public Works Director Sara Leaders – on several major projects. 

After the Parks and Recreation Department assumed the day-to-day management of the City’s passive parks, its team worked hard and efficiently to open the immediately popular 106-acre Lackey Road greenspace. With the addition later this year of a new trail at the former Milton Country Club, the City soon will boast about twice as much trail area than it has ever had. (Plans, too, are in the works to bring additional greenspaces and more trails online for the public to enjoy.)

McKlveen also played a big role in the transformation of Providence Park with a new pier, pavilion and wheelchair-accessible trail to the lake. Another major group effort has been turning the FMCC clubhouse into a recreation and community center. Plus, McKlveen is working through plans to essentially double the City’s available turf field space with an upcoming project at the Cox Road athletic facility.

Recreational programs – new and existing – have also thrived under McKlveen’s watch. In his short time as manager, Milton’s athletic programs have seen near-record or record enrollment. Meanwhile, several new adult, arts, and other programs have been added. In addition, Community Outreach recently was moved under McKlveen’s umbrella in order to leverage the Parks and Recreation Department’s special relationship with the community to connect with people in yet more ways.

Because of all the above and then some, the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association recently named Milton Parks and Recreation Department as its Agency of the Year for the state’s 7th district.

“A lot has happened with Milton Parks and Rec in the past year or so, and I’m even more excited for what’s on the horizon,” McKlveen said. “More than anything, I’m honored to play my part in giving our citizens the parks, programs and services that they want and deserve.”

This press release was produced by the City of Milton. The views expressed here are the author’s own.