BROWARD COUNTY, FL - After a career spanning nearly 45 years, Gayle H. Preston, Assistant Director of Broward County Parks and Recreation Division, will retire at the end of March with a distinguished record of public service - now capped by a Professional Lifetime Award from the National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials (NACPRO). This prestigious award is given annually to an individual in recognition of outstanding achievement in the field of parks and recreation.

Preston, a longtime Certified Parks and Recreation Professional, has been second in command of one of the largest agencies in the country's 17th-most-populous county for the past six years, helping steer the Division through challenges ranging from hurricanes to a pandemic. She holds a B.S. in Leisure Services & Studies from Florida State University and an M.S. in Parks & Recreation Administration from Florida International University; she is active in both the National Recreation and Park Association and its state-level counterpart, the Florida Recreation and Park Association.

Her tenure at Broward Parks followed more than a decade with the South Florida Park District, where she quickly advanced from Student Intern to Park Manager. Soon after joining the Parks Division in 1988, she became North District Superintendent, a position she held for 24 years before serving as Parks Operations Superintendent for three years. While at North District, she oversaw opening such facilities as batting cages, a water park, and a skate park; adding more than half a dozen natural areas; coordinating public-private partnerships; and managing large-scale events like the long-running Holiday Fantasy of Lights.

In addition to day-to-day administrative responsibilities, Preston was on the team that helped the Division win the 1990 Gold Medal Award from the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, and she was instrumental in generating support for the 2000 Safe Parks and Land Preservation Bond, a referendum in which more than 70 percent of voters approved providing $400 million toward preserving and reclaiming natural lands and restoring the aging park system. She also brought her knowledge, experience, and expertise to the teams that helped the Division achieve accreditation by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies in 1996, and reaccreditation in 2001, 2006, and 2011.

NACPRO, an affiliate of the National Association of Counties and the NRPA, will present this and other awards during its 2022 Summer Meeting in Valdosta, Georgia, at an awards banquet on Sunday, May 15.

Recreation. Preservation. Education.

About the Parks and Recreation Division
Broward County Parks manages almost 6,500 acres, encompassing nearly 50 regional parks and nature centers, neighborhood parks, and natural areas at various stages of development. Hours and fees vary by location. Visit Broward.org/Parks for details. Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations in order to participate in programs, services, and activities must contact the Special Populations Section at 954-357-8170 or TTY 954-537-2844 at least five business days prior to the scheduled meeting or event.

DATE: March 17, 2022      
MEDIA CONTACT: Michael Mills
Parks and Recreation Division
PHONE: 954-357-8115