Judy Weiss, CPRP, has been the Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Scottsdale, Arizona since 2004. Judy started with Scottsdale in 1979 and is responsible for a parks and recreation division that serves a growing population in a 186 square mile southwestern city. Judy manages an $11 million operating budget and a $91 million 2000 voter approved bond for park improvements throughout the City. She operates a variety of facilities including aquatic centers, off leash areas, lighted ballfields, community centers, a railroad theme park, fitness centers and all recreation programming Citywide with the help of 55 full-time and 400 part-time staff. She is responsible for taking new park facilities from inception, through the public involvement process and construction, to opening. Judy takes the lead in planning and implementing new, innovative programs and services for her community.
In 1994, Judy was successful in attaining Arizona's first national accreditation for parks and recreation agencies as a pilot organization. Since then Scottsdale has been re-accredited in 1999 and 2004. Judy served on the national Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) from 1997-2003, serving as Chair from 2001-2003. She has spoken at various State, ICMA, NRPA and MWR Conferences on the subject of parks and recreation accreditation and has developed and presented the accreditation advanced training workshop. Judy enjoys "keeping her hand in" as an accreditation trainer and visitor.
Scottsdale is a three-time gold medal winner and recipient
of the 2004 Sports Illustrated Magazine's Arizona Sportstown award. In
2005, Scottsdale was named one of the "100 Best Communities for Young People" by
America's Promise Alliance for Youth.
In 1999, Judy served as the President of the Arizona Park
and Recreation Association. She served as State Conference Chair in 1996 and as
co-chair in 2005. She was awarded the APRA Award of Excellence in 1996. Since
2004, Judy has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the American Park
and Recreation Society (APRS).
Judy earned a Bachelor's of Science degree from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, and a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Arizona State University. Judy is also a Certified Firefighter II, serving for 10 years on the City of Scottsdale's Fire Support Program, as both and Engineer and Crew Lieutenant.