Manzo appointed to lead Parks and Recreation
Barbara Manzo has been named director of Lee County Parks & Recreation.
A 19-year veteran of the department, Manzo served as deputy director under former director John Yarbrough, who retired in 2008. She was named acting director in April, and County Manager Karen Hawes made the post official Friday.
A New York native, Manzo has 37 years of professional parks and recreation experience. She is past president of the Florida Recreation and Parks Association, is secretary of the U.S. Tennis Association Florida Executive Board and is an accreditation board reviewer for CAPRA, a national parks and recreation accrediting organization.
Replacing Manzo as deputy director is Dave Harner, who has served Lee County Parks and Recreation for 19 years. Past posts include special events and education coordinator, athletics supervisor and administrative manager.
Manzo and Harner will lead a department with 250 employees, a $26.8 million budget and more than 100 parks, preserves, facilities and other sites. The department manages recreation centers, community parks, conservation lands, greenways and blueways, state-of-the-art baseball complexes and pristine beach preserves.
For more information, visit www.LeeParks.org.