Lunch Talk: Tempe's Tapestry of Parks by Mark Richwine

City planners and leaders have long placed high priority in developing its parks system -- designating ample city spaces for them in its neighborhoods. Some are easily found, while others are tucked away. The 40-square-mile city has 50 parks for recreation, picnics, places to walk the dogs, enjoy water features, biking, paddle boats and more. The city council has been loquacious in naming them – and renaming some in recent years. Park names conjure memories of past civic leaders or civic groups. Hear how the network of parks was developed, how their amenities continue to be developed and why Tempe has earned national awards for setting aside these get-away places for its citizens.

Mark Richwine is the retired Tempe Parks and Recreation Director. He spent 31 years in parks management. Mark earned a B.S. degree in leisure studies from Arizona State University and later a Master of Public Administration degree there. He and brother Dirk both followed in the profession of their father, Bill Richwine, who was Maricopa County Parks & Recreation Director. First trimming trees and shrubs in city parks and later supervising summer rec programs, Mark would take on the top post in 1996, overseeing a diverse program with a system of 50 parks and numerous recreation programs. He retired in 2010. Under Mark’s leadership, Tempe twice received the national Gold Medal Award for parks excellence. The Latrobe, Pennsylvania, native is past president of the Kiwanis Club of Tempe. His wife Adrienne is retired Tempe community services manager. They have two grown children.