City of Goodyear welcomes new parks and recreation director

David Lopez brings more than 25 years of parks and recreation leadership experience to Goodyear as the city's new Parks and Recreation director.

Lopez leads the department responsible for maintaining the city's parks system, recreation facilities, aquatics, special events, programs and open spaces that enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors.

"I am honored to join the City of Goodyear and serve a community that places such a high value on parks, recreation and quality of life," said Lopez. "I look forward to working alongside our dedicated team, city leadership and the community to build on Goodyear's strong foundation and continue creating exceptional parks, programs and experiences for residents of all ages."

Before joining Goodyear, Lopez served as director of parks and recreation for the city of Kyle, TX, where he oversaw multiple divisions, capital improvement projects, boards and commissions. During his tenure, the department secured grants and earned industry recognition while developing and adopting master plans for public art, trails, parks, recreation and open space.

Lopez is a Certified Park and Recreation Professional and earned his bachelor of business administration from the University of Texas at Arlington. He is an active leader in the profession, serving as chair-elect of the Parks Operations and Planning Branch for the Texas Recreation and Parks Society, president-elect of the Southwest Parks and Recreation Training Institute and a member of the National Recreation and Park Association.