Love in a dog park? Sure, says new PenMet chief; that’s what parks are for.

From college to career, friends to family, community has always been a focal point for Doug Nelson.

Nelson aims to carry on this relationship-building mindset as the new Executive Director for Peninsula Metropolitan Parks.

“My wife would be the first to tell you that I love being in groups of people, and that aspect for sure attracted me to PenMet Parks,” Nelson said.

Nelson began his job as Executive Director for PenMet Parks on Tuesday, Dec. 9, after the board unanimously picked him from among four candidates. Nelson succeeds Interim Executive Director Glenn Akramoff.

He will inherit a budget of $7.5 million and a growing system that includes nine parks, a fishing pier, a popular community hall, a much-used hiking trail, and, soon, an indoor recreation center.

“You’d be hard pressed to find anybody more excited about this employment opportunity,” Nelson said. “I am getting chocked up about it. I’m excited. I am a big community guy and can’t wait to get out there and meet people and find out what we can do to keep making this community stronger.”

Nelson has been involved in the parks and recreation profession since 1991, most recently as a recreation and community center manager for the city of Federal Way. He has also worked for Metro Parks in Tacoma. Nelson has four boys, ages 12 to 20.

“I live a recreation lifestyle 24/7,” he said, laughing.

As an executive director for PenMet Parks, Nelson will oversee and direct all PenMet operations and services.

One specific project Nelson is excited to oversee is the recreation center PenMet is hoping to bring to the district.

PenMet Parks allocated $3,146,381 toward the design of the rec center in their 2020 budget. This property, located at 2416 14th Ave Northwest, is now owned by PenMet.

“The Recreation Center will further advance our ability to help the community grow and strengthen by proving year round recreational opportunities,” Nelson said. “It’s a huge project and I couldn’t be more excited to be on the team that will bring it to our community.”

Nelson, 52, said he is a strong believer in the social fabric that comes with recreation programs. He said relationships can form, as it is a natural environment for coming together.

“People meet people in places like dog parks. They become friends,” Nelson said. “I bet there are stories of people meeting in a dog park who are now happily married, you know? That’s super exciting, and it happens.”

Recreation has always been a huge part of Nelson’s life. He graduated from Pacific Lutheran University with bachelor’s degree in business administration and minor in exercise science. He originally arrived on a baseball scholarship, but transitioned into rowing.

Nelson said PLU was a great learning environment, as the class sizes were small, giving students the opportunity to form relationships with their professors.

“Having a class where you can call the history professor by his first name and meet him for coffee, it definitely was a different learning environment,” Nelson said.

He said there are clear commonalities between his educational and career environment, wanting to form connections and create a relationship between the district and the public.

“It’s not about me, it’s about we,” Nelson said. “I truly believe we, the citizens, the staff, the parks programs, we are all PenMet.”

This story was originally published December 17, 2019 at 10:38 PM.