Portage parks has new superintendent
An official with the Lake County Parks and Recreation Department has been named by the Portage Park Board as the city’s new parks superintendent.
Dyan Leto, of Portage, was one of 12 applicants for the job after the resignation of Lori Wilkie in April.
A selection committee winnowed down the list to three and Mayor Sue Lynch interviewed the finalists and recommended Leto. The Park Board approved the recommendation Wednesday. Leto will begin July 5. Her salary is $76,000 per year.
Lynch said Leto’s enthusiasm for the job stood out. Lynch said Leto recognized the time and dedication it takes to lead the parks department.
“She is here for the long haul. She will straighten us out as a parks department and build upon that for our future,” said Lynch.
The department has struggled with funding in recent years. Parks officials have complained that even as it expands the parks’ system, its budget has shrunk.
This year’s $1.1 million budget was slashed to $609,000 by the state. In April, the department had just five full-time maintenance employees. Ten years ago, it had 10. It no longer has an assistant superintendent or sports director.
The city council has targeted $500,000 in American Rescue Plan funding for the parks.
Leto said she’s eager to lead the department.
“I saw this as an opportunity of a lifetime. It’s my hometown, where I am raising my kids. I am very much a parks person,” said Leto, who most recently served as historic facilities manager for Lake County Parks.
Leto said she’s already visited 11 of Portage’s 15 parks.
“I have plans. It will take time and money and I hope everyone is patient with us.”
Officials thanked interim superintendent Paul Ciesielski, the Park Board president, who took over after Wilkie left in April.