Dianne Hoover
retired from the City of Bakersfield, California as the
Recreation and Parks Director at the end of 2020. After a total of 42 years in
the profession, the past fifteen years in Bakersfield was both challenging and
rewarding. During her tenure in Bakersfield, the city more than doubled its
population and with that growth, she was able to open fourteen new parks
including regional, community and neighborhood parks. New spray parks replaced aging pools,
playgrounds were updated to meet current ADA standards and more residents
attended events, swim lessons and day camps than ever before.
Her previous jobs included: Parks and Recreation Director,
Fort Wayne, IN; Assistant Director, Cincinnati Recreation Commission,
Cincinnati, OH; Leisure Services Director, Oakwood, OH; Parks, Recreation and
Forestry Director, Lima, OH; and Recreation Supervisor, Montgomery County,
OH. Earlier career jobs included working
with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources as a SCORP Planner as well as a
Watercraft Officer on Lake Erie.
Dianne earned an MPA from the University of Dayton and an MA
in Parks and Recreation from Western Illinois University where she was awarded
the Most Outstanding Graduate Student in her class. Her BA degree in Physical
Education, Health and Recreation was from Graceland College; now Graceland
University in Lamoni, Iowa.
Throughout her career, she actively participated in the
profession by serving in leadership roles on boards, associations and
committees. These roles included AAPRA
President, NRPA President, Chair of the Pacific Southwest Regional Council,
Chair of the Great Lakes Regional Council, President of the American Park and
Recreation Society and Assistant Chair of the Council on Accreditation of Park
and Recreation Agencies. She chaired
twelve Accreditation visits and spoke at various state and national conferences
about the benefits of achieving agency accreditation. She wrote various articles for NRPA,
California and Ohio publications and newsletters.
She received the APRS Dave Clark Award and the Outstanding
Professional Award from the Ohio Park and Recreation Association. In retirement, she is volunteering on the
master plan steering committee for the City of Bonney Lake; her new retirement
home area in the state of Washington.
Hiking, swimming, travelling and reading fill her days now. [updated 5-2023]