Greg A. Weitzel is the Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation for the City of Las Vegas, Nevada. Mr. Weitzel previously served as the Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Idaho Falls, Idaho since 2012. In Idaho, his agency received multiple awards for innovative programming and outstanding facilities and park development from several organizations.
Prior to his appointment in Idaho, Mr. Weitzel was the Director of Parks and Recreation in the urban environment for the City of Allentown, Pennsylvania located between Philadelphia and New York City. His work in Pennsylvania was highlighted by earning the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Intergovernmental Cooperation and several Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Association Excellence in Programming, Park Development and Professional of the Year awards.
Mr. Weitzel currently serves on the Board of Directors for the National Recreation and Park Association, an industry peer nominated position, where he leads the Public Policy Committee. An invited member of the White House Conference on America’s Great Outdoors, Mr. Weitzel has significant experience addressing urban issues and working closely with federal, state and local elected officials.
Mr. Weitzel is a Certified Park and Recreation Professional and earned a Master’s Degree in Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Park Administration from Illinois State University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Recreation and Park Management, Community and Therapeutic Recreation from the Pennsylvania State University, where he was also recognized with the Emerging Professional of the Year Award from the College of Health and Human Development.
Mr. Weitzel has also helped to secure more than $1 million dollars for international humanitarian aid and lead teams to build one of the first playgrounds in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake and assisted in securing and building more than 40 other playgrounds in several third world countries as an ambassador for the non-profit organization, Kids Around the World.
Weitzel has been married for more than twenty years to his wife Jennie and has two teenage daughters, Virginia and Ashley and enjoys hunting, fishing, mountain biking and playing guitar.