In early September, Bennett Knox began his tenure as Director of Parks and Recreation for Whatcom County. He enters this role after more than two decades in the expansive parks system of Louisville, Kentucky. “I’m looking forward to the challenges ahead as we develop our park system to meet the recreation and stewardship needs of the county as a whole and the various local communities that our system of parks, natural spaces, and greenways touches,” Knox said. “I’m accustomed to collaborative approaches that engage community in decision-making and I’m eager to learn from residents and park users, community stakeholders, and agency decision makers as I start the next phase of my career alongside the dedicated staff at Whatcom County Parks and Recreation.”
The department has planned a series of “meet & greets” to introduce the new director and create an opportunity for community conversations about our parks system. “I am a planner by nature, and I seek to explore ways that we can both manage our existing parks and develop new parks and amenities to help our community address broader needs including health equity, environmental quality, and conservation, while supporting tourism and economic development,” Knox said. “I look forward to these upcoming conversations to gain more insight on community expectations and aspirations.”
The public is invited to meet Bennett Knox at any of the following upcoming community meetings:
- Tuesday, October 18th, 6:00 pm – East Whatcom Regional Resource Center
- Wednesday, October 19th, 6:00 pm – Bellingham Senior Activity Center
- Saturday, October 22nd, 2:00 pm – Hovander Homestead Park, Group Picnic Shelter
- Wednesday, November 2nd, 4:00 pm – Point Roberts Community Center
- Wednesday, November 9th, 6:00 pm – Josh VanderYacht Memorial Park, Community Hall
After an extensive recruitment process in spring 2022, County Executive Satpal Sidhu selected Knox to lead the department, and his appointment was confirmed by County Council. “Our parks system is a source of great pride in Whatcom County, and it was very important to me to find the right person for this role,” Executive Sidhu said. “Bennett impressed me with his professionalism, thoughtfulness and enthusiasm for parks as an invaluable public resource.”
“The Whatcom County Parks and Recreation Commission would like to extend a warm welcome to Mr. Knox as our new director,” Commission Chair Sonja Max said. “We are eager to work with him and believe his experience will support and enrich Whatcom County’s diverse recreational assets and opportunities.” Bennett Knox replaces the recently retired Michael McFarlane, who served as director of the department from August 2003 to June 2022.
Knox, 52, is married with twin daughters, who recently started college back east. His wife Michelle is a graphic designer, and they both are enamored with the beauty of the Pacific Northwest and all the recreational, cultural, and culinary opportunities available here.
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up