Longtime Poulsbo parks director to retire

By Ken Park • December 23, 2020 1:30 am
The Fish Park is only one of the crowning achievements Mary McCluskey played a part in after 26 years as director of Poulsbo’s parks department. Courtesy photo
The Fish Park is only one of the crowning achievements Mary McCluskey played a part in after 26 years as director of Poulsbo’s parks department. Courtesy photo

After 26 years of service in Poulsbo’s Parks and Recreation Department, director Mary McCluskey has announced she will be retiring in February 2021.

Former Poulsbo Police Chief Dan Schoonmaker will be taking over the position.

McCluskey has played an instrumental role in building up the parks department and its programs and also doubling the number of parks from roughly 60 acres to over 100 acres.

One of McCluskey’s talents was finding ways for the city to apply for and receive grants for park projects, such as $975,000 to improve Poulsbo’s Fish Park. That included new parking areas, information boards, new sidewalks and additional boardwalks along the water.

“Mary’s dedication to the community has been a tremendous asset to the city of Poulsbo. She is a consummate professional who has demonstrated, time and time again, her commitment to improving the quality of life for everyone in the community. She will be deeply missed, but we wish her the best in the next chapter of her life,” reads a city news release.

Schoonmaker said he is looking forward to serving the city in a new capacity and integrating his experiences outside of law enforcement, such as coaching youth sports into this new role.