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Parks chief leaving By Vickie Aldous Ashland Daily Tidings Ashland Parks and Recreation Department Director Ken Mickelsen is leaving his post after 24 years to head a fledgling parks department in Maple Valley, Wash. "One of the exciting things is this is a brand new position within the city," he said. "In working with the community, there's an opportunity to develop a parks and recreation system. They only have a few parks there." Maple Valley, with about 18,000 residents, is slightly smaller than Ashland. Scheduled to leave in mid-June, he also will be closer to one of his children and a grandchild in Washington. Mickelsen, 57, will encounter conditions in Maple Valley similar to those facing him when he first became parks director in Ashland in 1979. Ashland had only a few parks, and Lithia Park still was a mess after suffering flood damage in 1974, said Park Horticulturist Don Todt, himself a department veteran of 23 years. "Ken put together that whole restoration program - and it worked," Todt said, noting that Mickelsen won grants to help fund the work. The department, which now has about 35 employees and a $5 million annual budget, had only a half-dozen workers at the time. The tiny parks system was "antiquated, run-down, in need of total refurbishment," recalled long-term resident Pat Adams, who served on the Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission for 11 years beginning in 1985. "The difference Ken has made in the parks system is night and day�. Ken has a tremendous ability to facilitate and accomplish," Adams said. "He has foresight, he's an excellent business manager and his heart has always been for the people of Ashland and the parks system." Don Laws, Ashland City Council veteran and parks liaison, concurred with that judgment. "I think he has been a wonderful parks director for the city," Laws said. "He certainly has accomplished an enormous amount in terms of improving the parks and developing the parks." With no money to buy property for the parks system in the early days, Mickelsen adopted creative tactics. "Ken made agreements with Southern Oregon University and the (Ashland) School District so we could develop ball fields on their property," Todt said. "We would do a lot of the effort and they would furnish the land. That's still working today. Ken basically invented that process." When it became clear the parks system needed a funding mechanism to buy land and serve the growing population, Mickelsen worked with other community leaders for the voter-ap proved prepared meals and beverage tax. Tax revenues allowed the purchase of numerous properties, from North Mountain Park with its athletic fields and natural area to neighborhood parks. He also worked with residents to create the Daniel Meyers Pool, the Ashland Skate Park, the Darex Family Ice Rink and other amenities, parks observers said. "Ken's really great for listening to people's ideas," Todt said. "He won't throw a roadblock up just because he doesn't like the idea at first. It has worked for the city. We have a diverse population here. They may not necessarily be Ken's ideas, but Ken is the one who says, 'Let's get it done.' It's going to be really different around here. Everyone's used to Ken taking the ball and running with it." In recent years, Mickelsen worked hard for the update of the city's park land purchase plan, the creation of the department's Environmental Stewardship Division and other projects, according to current Commissioner JoAnne Eggers. She said he also has cooperated closely with groups such as the Ashland Woodlands & Trails Association, a non-profit organization mobilizing volunteers and raising funds for trail system improvements. Commissioners will discuss a process for finding Mickelsen's replacement at a special meeting on Monday night. Mickelsen said he will recommend that Parks Superintendent Steve Gies - who has been with the department for 23 years - take over as interim head. Mickelsen credited community members, department employees, commissioners and City of Ashland staff for the successes during his tenure. "I feel very honored to have served the citizens of Ashland for nearly a quarter century," he said. "What makes this community so great is the people and the support they have shown for the parks system. I hope that will continue�. Ashland has been our home and we'll miss it. But it will be a great place to come back and visit." The Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission on Monday will hold its regular meeting, followed by an executive session on employee negotiations and then a study session on the selection process to replace Parks Director Ken Mickelsen. The series of meetings begins at 7 p.m. at the Ashland Civic Center Council Chambers, 1175 E. Main St. The short agenda for the regular meeting includes discussing a tennis court resurfacing project and responsibilities of the commission's golf course sub-committee. Executive sessions are closed to the general public. Mickelsen is leaving in mid-June to become parks director in Maple Valley, Wash. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -