EAST LANSING, Mich. — East Lansing Parks and Recreation Director Tim McCaffrey is retiring this month after 22 years of dedicated service to the City of East Lansing.
McCaffrey was hired as the City’s Parks and Recreation director in May 1999. Prior to his service with the City, he held supervisory and leadership municipal parks and recreation positions with two cities in Colorado and one in Kansas, including serving as the Parks and Recreation director for the City of Northglenn, Colo. for nine years.
McCaffrey graduated from Central Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science in recreation and park administration and received a Master of Public Administration from the University of Colorado Denver. He became a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional (CPRP) through the National Recreation and Park Association in 1979 and has continued to be a CPRP for more than 30 years.
During McCaffrey’s years of service in East Lansing, the community saw a significant expansion of parks and recreation offerings – from the opening of the East Lansing Hannah Community Center (ELHCC) to the addition of several parks, the expansion of the Northern Tier Trail and the additions of the East Lansing Family Aquatic Center, East Lansing Soccer Complex and East Lansing Softball Complex. McCaffrey also played a key role in the City’s partnership with the East Lansing Rotary Club to bring the Playground in the Park “Re-Imagined” project to Patriarche Park as well as the Medal of Honor Memorial and Veterans Monument outside of ELHCC.
Most recently, the Department of Parks and Recreation staff have focused their efforts on reinvesting in park and recreation infrastructure. The reinvestment efforts include the Bailey Park Improvement Project, the Patriarche Park Ballfield Improvement Project, Patriarche Park pavilion and restroom renovations (currently underway) and the White Park Trail Extension and Natural Features Enhancement Project. These projects were made possible thanks to the Ingham County Trails and Parks Millage funds and Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant funding through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
“The City has been very fortunate to have Tim serve as the Parks and Recreation director for the last 22 years,” said East Lansing City Manager George Lahanas. “He has been a highly effective director and we will miss his steady leadership. We wish him all the best in his retirement.”
“We’ve (the Department of Parks and Recreation) had tremendous support over the years from City Council, the Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission and the City Manager’s Office under both Ted Staton and George Lahanas,” said McCaffrey. “It’s been great to have the opportunity to work with so many community organizations that have supported and seemed to always be willing to assist with funding countless parks and recreation improvement projects, activities, programs, events and festivals over the past 20+ years. It’s also been a pleasure to have the opportunity to work with the outstanding staff in all of the City departments and, especially, the staff who make up the East Lansing Department of Parks and Recreation.”
McCaffrey’s last day of work with the City of East Lansing is June 11, 2021. Parks and Recreation Assistant Director Wendy Wilmers Longpre will be serving as interim director of the department until the new director is hired.