City names new parks director
Julie Seydell Johnson was head of parks and recreation
in Iowa City suburb
Erin Johnson, Thisweek Newspapers
Published July 15, 2005
After more than a year and a nationwide search for candidates,
Eagan has named a new parks and recreation director.
Juli Seydell Johnson, director of parks and recreation for Coralville, Iowa,
will begin her new position Sept. 6.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to have hired such an outstanding
professional as Juli,” said Eagan City Administrator Tom Hedges.
“We’re convinced we have found a leader for the future.”
Johnson, 35, has experience overseeing such familiar facilities as an outdoor aquatic park, a full-service banquet facility and a recreation center. She also has experience with open space issues. As Coralville’s parks and recreation director, she obtained grant funding for park land acquisition and worked to promote open spaces.
She’s worked with neighbors concerned about wetlands, expanded trail systems, and helped provide “spaces, places and facilities” for residents to get to know their neighbors and feel a part of a community, she said. “Eagan has a lot to offer,” she said. “I’m excited about coming to a city that’s bigger and has more resources.”
After graduating from Iowa State University in 1993, Johnson managed an aquatics facility in Schaumburg, Ill., that received the national association’s 1996 Excellence in Aquatics award on her watch.
She earned her master’s degree in administrative studies and human resources from the University of South Dakota in 1999 and became superintendent of recreation in Sioux City, Iowa. While in Sioux City, she developed and coordinated more than 20 new self-supporting youth recreation programs.
Johnson became director of parks and recreation for Coralville in 2000, where she oversaw a $7 million golf club renovation, the construction of an outdoor aquatic facility, and the expansion of recreation programs.
“Juli is the right person at the right time to help all our stakeholders — neighbors, civic organizations and associations, elected officials and our professional staff — implement a vision for the future and set about making the future we want to happen,” said Terry Davis, chair of Eagan’s Advisory Parks and Recreation Commission.
Vraa set up innovative programs and facilities, Johnson said, and she is honored to have the chance to oversee them.
“I’m excited. I think I can offer the city a lot, too,” she said.
Johnson will move to Eagan with her husband and two children, ages 8 and 10. Her family has visited Eagan, and her children are “warming up” to the idea of moving here, she said.
“My son carried around the Twins schedule the whole time he was there,” she said. “He was trying to figure out how he could score tickets.”
Johnson’s hiring will be formalized at the City Council meeting on July 19.
Coralville is a town of about 17,000, Johnson said, but acts as a corridor between Iowa City and Cedar Rapids, so it serves a larger population.
“I think Eagan is very similar (to Coralville) in terms of philosophy and support of parks and recreation,” she said. “I’ve been amazed by the friendliness of the people and city staff.”
Johnson has big shoes to fill as successor to Ken Vraa, Eagan’s parks and recreation director for 24 years, who retired in March 2004.
Under Vraa’s watch, the number of city parks increased from nine to 54, and recreation programs grew from 20 to more than 500. He also oversaw construction of Cascade Bay, the Community Center and the Civic Arena.
