City parks get new boss

that she sees similarities between Minneapolis’ independent parks system and where Pittsburgh’s parks are heading.

“Pittsburgh is one of the top parks conservancies in the country. The work it’s done is amazing and the synergywith nonprofits and private entities is strong,” she said. “What we want to do with parks in Pittsburgh is to create a unified agreement and structure to oversee the parks and create a newnational model.”

But Minneapolis’ parks department also has drawn criticism from activists and the NAACP for a racial equity plan, established by Ms. Miller, that they claimed didn’t go far enough, fast enough in hiring. Protesters often disrupted meetings of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and called on Ms. Miller to resign. Those issues were at least partly the reason that six of the nine-member elected board are new following the Novemberelection.

Ms. Miller said the claims were made by a small group and one current employee. None of the claims has been affirmed, she said, adding that parks department minority employment increased from 20 percent of the workforce in 2010, when she arrived, to 25 percent this year.

Mr. Booker said the conservancy’s board was aware of the controversies and the criticism of Ms. Miller.

“We did due diligence. We’re aware of it but we’ve also gotten positive feedback to our questions from the Urban League and the NAACP offices,” he said. “We’ve looked at data, the actual record, and it’s clear from talking to people there that she was committed to diversity and equity there, and will provide the same high quality leadership here.”

Ms. Miller will assume her position here Feb. 5 and work with Ms. Cheever through the end of March.

Mr. Booker said Ms. Miller has a three-year contract that will pay her $220,000 for the first year. He said Ms. Miller was scheduled to make $195,000 as parks superintendent in Minneapolis on a contract that was to run through June.

According to the conservancy’s most recent available tax filing, Ms. Cheever’s salary was $229,000 in 2015.