Search for rec director moving forward

By Andy Brown

Published: June 26, 2008

The Eufaula Parks and Recreation Board is one step closer to filling the void left by the departure of former director Berkley Squires.

According to city officials, the board has received applications and resumes from 16 potential replacements and is in the process of reviewing the material before choosing the finalists and beginning the interview process.

The board had hoped to have the position filled before Squires, who tendered his resignation in early May to accept the same position with the Homewood Parks and Recreation Department, officially vacated his post.

Squires’ last day on the job was June 20.

“The process took a little longer than we expected,” Eufaula Parks and Recreation Board Chairman Craig Harris said.

“It sure would have been nice to have someone in place when Berkley left, but we want to make sure we go through the process and get the right person for the job.”

The board will trim the pool of applicants to approximately five finalists.

Interviews are expected to begin within the next two weeks.

“We’ve had good response,” Harris said.

“We have some good applicants. Now we just have to choose the best one.”

Harris and the board will work closely with Mayor Jay Jaxon and other city officials to find Squires’ replacement.

Both Harris and Jaxon stated in previous interviews with the Eufaula Tribune that the new director will have “big shoes to fill.”

“(Berkley has) certainly served the people of Eufaula, the Eufaula Parks and Recreation Board and the city of Eufaula well,” Jaxon said.

“He has brought an energy and enthusiasm to the job that is evident to anyone that’s been around our recreation department. He’s just done an outstanding job and he’ll be missed, but I’m confident that the board will find a replacement who will build on what Berkley has started here.”

Squires, a Eufaula High School graduate, began his career with the Eufaula Parks and Recreation Department as an intern.

Following his internship he spent 10 years working for Process Chemicals before taking over the director’s role at the Eufaula Parks and Recreation Department – position he has held for three and half years.

During that time, the Eufaula Parks and Recreation Department has seen the number of youth participating in the various programs increase from 590 participants to nearly 700.

Squires also helped oversee the city’s Rails to Trails project. The first phase of the project is expected to be completed by mid-July.

He also helped spearhead the fundraising to establish the Eufaula Parks Foundation.

“The biggest thing is we want to find someone who is going to keep our recreation department moving forward,” Harris said.