Tonya Byrd Selected as Assistant Parks and Recreation Director

Tonya Byrd has been selected as the Assistant Parks and Recreation Director for the City of Pensacola, responsible for assisting in the development of Parks and Recreation’s vision for the city and ensuring the highest quality of recreational services for the Pensacola community.

Byrd has been with the City of Pensacola since 2014, starting as the Parks and Recreation Marketing Coordinator before being promoted to Recreation Superintendent, where she managed the staff and operations of the city’s 10 community resource centers.

Byrd’s vast background in Parks and Recreation began in Clarksville, Tennessee as a Marketing and Public Relations Supervisor, Public Information and Marketing Coordinator, and Deputy Director of Family Recreation and Community Engagement.

Byrd earned her Bachelor of Science in communications from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. She is a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional, a member of the National Recreation and Parks Association, and a member of the Florida Recreation and Parks Association. Byrd also graduated from the NRPA Revenue Development and Management School, along with the Municipal Management Academy hosted by the Municipal Technical Advisory Service Institute for Public Service.

"I am honored to continue my career with Parks and Recreation and to have the opportunity to help lead such a wonderful team," Byrd said. "I am passionate about providing exceptional recreational services to our residents, which is so important to building the highest quality of life in Pensacola. I look forward to serving the community in this new capacity and working with leadership to enhance and cultivate our city’s parks.”

As the Assistant Parks and Recreation Director, Byrd will work under the direction of Parks and Recreation Director Adrian Stills to assist in coordinating and overseeing all operations of Parks and Recreation, including policies and procedures, training and development of personnel, as well as park planning and development. Byrd will also act as the Parks and Recreation Director in the director’s absence.

"We are very fortunate to have Tonya’s experience and expertise in this new role,” Stills said. "She has a wealth of knowledge in parks and recreation, along with a true passion for serving our community. I am confident that her leadership will play an important role in leading the City of Pensacola's parks into the future."

For more information or general questions, email pio@cityofpensacola.com. To stay informed about what's happening with City of Pensacola government, sign up for email or text notifications through Notify Me or follow @CityofPensacola on social media.