After 15 years apart Queen Anne’s County’s (QAC) Parks Department and the County’s Recreation Department will once again be united as one. The new QAC Parks and Recreation Department will be led by Steve Chandlee, a familiar face who brings years of experience running recreation programs and managing parks for the county.

As announced by Queen Anne’s County:

“The year and a half that I was Chief of Recreation here in Queen Anne’s County gave me a good understanding of this community and its needs,” said Chandlee.

He said his first priority since accepting the director’s position is to unify parks and recreation as a whole. “You can’t have one without the other. By recombining them, there will be great efficiencies.”

The departments were split apart in during the recession when many county jobs were eliminated due to the budget crisis. “I want us to make improvements where possible, to bring up both divisions and be a voice for what we need,” Chandlee said.

For more information read the county’s news flash.