Meet the new boss
Scott McClain tapped as City's new Parks and Recreation Director

There is a new familiar face at the helm of Durango’s Parks and Recreation Department. Longtime city parks employee Scott McClain was appointed City Parks and Recreation Director on Tues., June 17.

McClain

McClain has worked for the City for 19 years, starting in 2006 as a landscape architect. He was promoted to parks manager in 2016 and has served as assistant parks director since 2017.

If it seems like the Parks and Recreation Director position has been a bit of a revolving door as of late, well, that’s because it has. The City has seen two directors come and go since longtime director Cathy Metz left her post in July 2021. Prior to that, Metz had been with the City for 25 years.

Upon Metz’s departure, the City hired Ture Nycum, who served as director from August 2021-23. He was replaced by Kelly Schmidt, who started in January 2024 and will be leaving July 4. Both Nycum and Schmidt moved from out of the area for the job – Nycum from Fruita and Schmidt from Arkansas. Both cited family and wanting to be closer to home in their decision to leave.

Originally from Colorado Springs, McClain graduated from Colorado State University before settling in Durango in the early 2000s. He lives here with his wife and three kids – so presumably will not be leaving anytime soon.