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New parks director will ‘be busy,’ Macejko says
By Elise Franco
Youngstown
Clarke Johnson has his work cut out for him.
He was introduced to the public Wednesday as the new executive director of Mill Creek MetroParks.
Jay Macejko, park-board president, said the board plans to help acclimate Johnson to the area and the park before diving into the 2011 budget in March.
“We’ll sit down with him and give him some general direction for laying out a strategic plan, and we’ll help him develop relationships with key members of the community,” he said. “He’s going to be busy.”
Johnson said he’s up for the challenge, though.
“It’s a gem Mahoning County should embrace,” he said. “My hope is that we can work closely in moving into the future.”
After more than a year of searching, Johnson was selected by the park board of commissioners to fill the position that’s been vacant since David Imbrogno resigned in mid-2009.
Macejko said the search was long and tedious, but in the end the right candidate was chosen.
“It’s truly a sense of relief mixed with excitement,” he said. “The board moved through 150 applications and whittled it down to a dozen. ... Clarke clearly rose to the top of the pack.”
Macejko said Johnson’s compensation package, including his salary, will be approved by the board and made public at Monday’s meeting, where Johnson also will be officially appointed to the position.
Imbrogno’s salary was $90,300 when he left the MetroParks.
Johnson, 59, a Columbus native, has worked for more than three decades in parks systems in Wisconsin, California, Indiana and Missouri.
“I really look forward to becoming part of the park team,” he said. “I’m excited about carrying on a 120-year legacy championed by Volney Rogers.”
Macejko said he believes Johnson’s experience and preparedness gives him an advantage coming into the director’s seat.
“He’s the only one who called and asked for a budget, hierarchy chart and park plans. He walked into that first interview prepared,” Macejko said. “I felt like we could have taken him from that interview and put him in the position that day.”