The Montgomery County Planning Board announced today the appointment of Michael F. Riley to the position of Director of the Montgomery County Department of Parks, part of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC). In this role, Riley will be responsible for more than 700 department employees including the Park Police Division, over 36,000 acres of parkland, 420 parks and an annual operating budget of $100 million. He will begin as director on July 21.
“Mike has dedicated so much of his career to the parks department. His service coupled with his experience and skills are a perfect combination for the director position,” said Francoise Carrier, Chair of the Montgomery County Planning Board. “In addition to his background as a leader, Mike has a true passion for the parks in Montgomery County and how much they contribute to the quality of life of the residents of this area.”
Riley is currently serving as Deputy Director for Administration and has successfully managed many different projects and initiatives. He spearheaded the Vision 2030 Strategic Plan addressing the current and future needs for parks and recreation in Montgomery County. He oversaw the launch of several successful public/private partnerships leveraging millions of dollars of private investment in parks. Some of the partnerships include:
• Maryland SoccerPlex at South Germantown Recreational Park
• Washington Nationals Miracle League Field at South Germantown Recreational Park
• Montgomery TennisPlex at South Germantown Recreational Park
• Go Ape Treetop Adventure Course in Rock Creek Regional Park.
He serves as the agency lead for the Wheaton Redevelopment program, which will include the development of a new headquarters for Montgomery Parks & Planning, and he was involved with re-forming the Montgomery Parks Foundation, a nonprofit fundraising and support organization to Montgomery Parks.
Riley stated “it is a privilege to serve the residents of Montgomery County as the new director of parks. I look forward to working with our communities and an extremely dedicated and talented park staff to manage the park system so it best meets the needs of current and future generations.”
Riley began his career with the Department in 1985 as a staff engineer. He has been promoted five times during his tenure to positions of increasing responsibility. He graduated from Clarkson University with a Bachelor of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering. He is a member of the National Park & Recreation Association. He is a native of Utica, NY and currently lives in Kensington with his wife, two children, two cats, and a dog.