PORT ORCHARD — Alexander Wisniewski, who was director of Port Townsend’s parks, recreation and community services department, has been appointed as the new director of the Kitsap County Parks Department.
Wisniewski’s appointment was announced late last month by the Kitsap County commissioners. He will manage the county’s more than 60 parks, greenways and open spaces, which total nearly 11,000 acres, and the Kitsap County Fairgrounds and Events Center, as well as other community recreation facilities.
In a joint statement, the commissioners stated they are “excited to bring new leadership to the Kitsap County team to take over the helm of the Parks Department. With experience in parks systems large and small, Wisniewski will be well-positioned to build upon successes in county parks as he joins other parks staff in serving the community.
“He has a deep background in parks administration, maintenance, planning, development and community involvement.”
A resident of North Kitsap, Wisniewski has worked for the Port Townsend department since 2014 and as the director since 2017, managing a $2 million operating budget with more than 30 employees under his command. He previously worked for the Bainbridge Island Metro Park and Recreation District as horticulture supervisor and serves on its Parkland Acquisition Advisory Committee.
“My career has taken me across the country and allowed me to work for national forests and state, county and city parks,” Wisniewski said in a news release.
“My approach to leading a parks and recreation department is rather simple: I am community-centered,” he said. “I listen to what the community is saying they want and then do my best to align those desires with mission, resources and funding to make them possible.”
He earned a bachelor’s degree in parks administration from Michigan State University and a master’s degree in business administration from Western Governors University.
Wisniewski replaced Jim Dunwiddie, who retired last month after leading the parks department since 2009.
