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City of Duluth Announces New Parks and Recreation Manager

[Duluth, MN] The City of Duluth announced today the hiring of a new Parks and Recreation Manager, Jessica Peterson. The Manager of Parks and Recreation plays a critical role in promoting the health and well-being of our community, environment, and economy by facilitating recreational opportunities and coordinating the enhancement of our parks, facilities, and natural resources now and into the future.

“We are incredibly excited to begin our work with Jessica,” stated Director of Public Administration, Jim Filby Williams. “Parks and Recreation is enormously important to the City and to our community, and I am confident that it is in excellent hands under Jessica’s leadership. We have truly amazing staff, community members, and volunteers that work every day to ensure that our parks, facilities, and natural resources are well taken of, and Jessica is bringing experience, energy, and excitement to move our mission forward.”

"Having spent a number of years working in the Duluth community and personally enjoying many of our parks and trails, I'm excited to focus on how we can continue to make our parks and trails accessible and enjoyable by all,” stated Jessica Peterson. “Thanks to our geography, Duluth has an impressively diverse range of recreation opportunities and people who work tirelessly to improve access through partnerships, collaborations, and big ideas. I feel honored to serve in this role as a steward of our resources and leader for recreation opportunities in Duluth." 

Jessica comes to the City of Duluth after 12 years working in northern Minnesota and Wisconsin in non-profits, youth services, and recreation programs, as well as serving as a hiking guide for German tour groups in the National Park System and as a kayak and canoe instructor with UMD's Outdoor Program. She was also a member of the Duluth Youth Agency Coalition (DYAC), the Youth Intervention Program Association (YIPA), past Board member of Mentor Duluth, and is a founding member of Youth Outdoors-Duluth.

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