The city of Issaquah will be welcoming a new face to the team.

Jeff Watling will join the city as the new parks and recreation director on Aug. 1, replacing previous director Anne McGill, who retired in March. Watling has worked in the field of parks and recreation for more than 24 years.

“We are excited that someone with his experience and background is coming to Issaquah,” Mayor Fred Butler told the Reporter.

“It is an honor,” said Watling, who holds a bachelor’s in history from the University of Washington. “The position presents a tremendous opportunity to work with the community, the mayor, City Council and staff to best steward Issaquah’s parks, trails and programs.”

For the past 10 years, Watling has worked hard as parks, recreation and community services director for the city of Kent. In Kent, Watling started the city’s first Parks and Recreation Commission. He can also be credited with the Green Kent Partnership with nonprofit environmental protection group Forterra in order to help preserve Kent’s natural beauty.

“What drew me to Issaquah was the community, the livability of the city and the unparalleled connection Issaquah has to nature and the outdoors,” Watling said.

This is not Watling’s first foray into the Issaquah area. Before his time in Kent, he was parks and recreation director in Sammamish for six years. He finished the city’s first Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan, and additionally worked to secure more than 270 acres of land for future parks.

“It is important that Issaquah’s parks and recreation resources are well positioned to play the key role they must play in ensuring Issaquah remains an amazing place to live, work and visit,” Watling said.

Butler said that because of Watling’s extensive experience in multiple cities throughout the area, he is “someone who has a regional perspective” for how to deal with outdoor issues.

“The parks are a high priority for the citizens of Issaquah,” Butler said. However, residents can rest easy; Butler assures them that, with Watling at the helm, the parks will be in good hands.