SILER CITY — Siler City’s Parks and Recreation Director Joseph Keel is resigning his post after three years on the job to take a similar position in Lee County.
His last day in Chatham County is Jan. 10; he starts in Lee County as its parks and recreation director on Jan. 13. Keel told the News + Record he had accepted the new position after “a lot of consideration.”
“In the end it came down to what was best for me and my family,” he said. “I call Lee County home and to be the parks and recreation director in your hometown is something special.”
At the same time, Keel had reservations.
“I hesitated even putting in my application because I love Siler City and everything is going so well here,” Keel said. “I couldn’t ask for more support from my staff, Town Manager, Board of Commissioners, Mayor Grimes and the Siler City residents. I would say that most of my success here has been from the overwhelming support from all angles.”
Keel said he went into the recreation field because of the impact that it had on him growing up and he wanted to have a similar “positive impact on others.” When he was first hired in his role in Siler City, he said his goals were to rebrand the department and build on existing athletic leagues.
“The initial changes were tough because change is tough for any community,” he said. “There was a lot that needed to be corrected but I focused on changing the perception of the Siler City parks and recreation department first, which led to all the successes we have had today.”
Keel said that the key to those success was “getting buy-in” from staff, advisory board members and volunteer coaches to make small changes allowing participant to see the benefits.
“After the small changes, participants welcomed the big changes,” he said.
Keel felt his greatest accomplishment in Siler City was “building the department from the ground up” including increasing participation in recreational sports and new recreational opportunities such as the Spring Chicken Festival, Supper with Santa, Easter Eggstravaganza, Fall-O-Ween, Pickleball, Homeschool Recess, Mini Masters Art Camp and Aquatic programs.
“These are all new within the past three years and have continued to grow,” he said.
He viewed his role as a “fixer,” using his skills to “restructure the parks and recreation department to enhance the quality of life for our citizens.”
And his accomplishments were noticed by the town.
“Joseph’s time with the town has been full of accomplishments and he has been instrumental in moving the parks and recreation department forward,” Siler City Town Manager Roy Lynch said. “Some of the major accomplishments include the completion of the renovation and updates at the Bray Park aquatic facility, Ernest Ramsey Gym, Earl B. Fitts Community Center, the new modern playground equipment at all the parks and the addition of three fields at the Bray Park Sports Complex including expansion and growth of athletic programs. The entire departmental staff put Siler City on the map making the cover page of the N.C. Association Magazine 2018 Winter edition, among many other achievements.”
“Every single park has seen a total remodel, athletic leagues and programs are filling up before the deadlines, Ernest Ramsey Gym has been remodeled and of course the $1.2 million Bray Park Aquatic Facility renovation,” Keel said. “These are all things that our Siler City residents can be proud of.”
“Lee County is fortunate to be gaining someone with a wealth of knowledge concerning Parks and Recreation and Joseph will certainly be an asset to their organization,” Lynch said.
Keel will be replacing John Payne, Lee County’s long-time parks and recreation director.
Lynch said Siler City will begin the process of hiring a new director in the hopes to have someone in place within a few months. In the interim, the town’s Athletics Programs Supervisor Jack Clelland will take over the role of director.
“The Siler City Parks and Recreation Department is on a path that will continue to offer excellent facilities, programs and quality of life for the community,” Lynch said. “Many things have been accomplished while Joseph [Keel] was parks and recreation director and with this transition, we are looking forward to what the future holds under new leadership.”
“It gives me great honor to know that I’m leaving Siler City is great position,” Keel said. “Siler City has become a professional parks and recreation department that is recognized throughout the state.”
Casey Mann can be reached at CaseyMann@Chathamnr.com.