Meet Ron Schneider, Parks Director

Ron Schneider may not have known that he wanted to be a parks and recreation director during his childhood, but he did know what brought him joy.

“Being involved in sports, hobbies and outdoor activities was a large part of my childhood.,” says Ron Schneider. “It was important to me because it was time best spent with my family, friends, and sometimes by myself.” The understanding of that joy led to Schneider’s realization that he wanted to help others achieve their leisure pursuits. After graduating from Western Illinois University, he worked several years in the Chicago metropolitan area, gaining managerial experience in the Park District setting.

He spent the last 20 years at the Freeport Park District in Freeport, Illinois, where he started as the Superintendent of Recreation and was later promoted to Executive Director. Then, the Springfield-Greene County Park Board position caught his eye. His interest in the area was born of a mixture of professional, recreational and personal interests. The Springfield-Greene County Park Board position provided a greater professional challenge and the opportunity to manage a more robust collection of local parks, facilities and programs.

“From a personal standpoint, I wanted to be close to family and live in an area that provides opportunities for my children to learn and grow. The plethora of retail, dining and entertainment available was definitely a draw for me and my family,” Schneider says. From a recreational standpoint, Schneider relishes the outdoor recreation resources and assets that the region has to offer, saying that he looks forward to exploring the Ozarks by bike, hike and paddle. He adds that it was evident that Springfield residents valued their parks and open space, which he says was noted predominantly in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan and in the findings from community input sessions and surveys conducted through Forward SGF.

Since moving here and starting work, Schneider says that he has seen the importance of parks and recreation programs reaffirmed daily through discussions with park users and community stakeholders. He adds that he is grateful for the groundwork that has been laid for the department and is also goal-oriented and looking toward the future. “While there is plenty to celebrate in terms of our current offerings, there is also a lot of opportunity to improve and expand. I want to see our parks and facilities thrive.”