October 2025 Spotlight Professional

Corey Crownhart – Parks Manager for the City of Ridgefield

Describe the scope of your position in parks and recreation.

I serve as the Parks Manager for the City of Ridgefield, Washington, where I lead the Parks, Trails, and Recreation Division. My work focuses on planning, park design, community partnerships, capital development, and policy. I work closely with every department in the city to make sure parks, trails, and recreation are integrated into everything we do. The goal is simple — build places people love and protect the spaces that make Ridgefield feel like home.

How long have you been with your present agency?

I joined the City of Ridgefield in 2022 and have been part of an incredible period of growth and collaboration since.

What did you do before your previous role? (Background experience and previous careers)

I started out as an outdoor recreation guide, leading trips and helping people connect with wild places and with each other. After that, I worked as a rural community organizer, helping small towns build programs and gathering spaces that brought people together. I eventually found my way to the Boys and Girls Clubs, where I spent years leading youth development and recreation programs and learning what community really looks like when people show up for each other. No matter the job, my focus has always been the same — connection and community.

How have you participated in WRPA?

I am an active member of WRPA and have presented and collaborated on projects focused on parks planning, interdepartmental teamwork, and creative problem solving in small but growing cities. WRPA has been a great place to connect with peers across the state and share ideas that make all of our park systems stronger.

What inspires you about the parks and recreation field?

Honestly, it’s connection. I believe wholeheartedly in Connection, Collaboration, Curiosity and Creativity—and connection sits at the heart of everything. I’m inspired by how parks bring people together, how a thoughtfully-designed trail or playground can spark laughter, community, and belonging. The field is about places, yes—but more importantly, it’s about people experiencing those places together.

What is one creative solution you and your team have applied to a professional challenge?

When our parks system began expanding rapidly, but staffing and structure weren’t keeping pace, we pivoted: instead of waiting for a standalone Parks & Recreation department, we've woven parks into the fabric of multiple city departments. We built a matrix model—Parks coordinating with Engineering, O&M, Community Development and Administration—to share resources, expertise and accountability. The result: stronger alignment, sooner delivery, and fewer silos. It’s been a game-changer.

Considering what you’ve learned throughout your career, what advice would you share with someone starting out in the parks and recreation field?

Connect with others. Empower others to lead. Listen. And be uncomfortable. Growth happens when you step into new spaces, try new things, and let others shine beside you. Be willing to do the unexpected or the thing others think cannot be done. Ask yourself, “Why not?” and go after it. The more you listen and connect, the more you will learn about people, community, and what this work is really about.

What is one of your favorite moments as a parks and recreation professional?  What was your job title?

As Parks Manager, one of my favorite moments was running Hood to Coast with my colleagues from the City. It was two days of teamwork, no sleep, and a lot of laughter. We have a fantastic team, and that experience captured exactly what I love about this work — people coming together, supporting each other, and doing something hard for the sake of community and fun.