Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert named a new director of parks, recreation and public property.

Matthew Kalcevich is the recreation manager for the City of Des Moines, Iowa.  He has more than 10 years of experience managing recreation centers, public pools, golf courses, special events and public facilities.

“Matt brings enthusiasm and experience to manage our park system and the wide range of recreation, leisure and athletic facilities we operate,” said Stothert said in a release. “He shares our commitment to great public spaces which contribute to Omaha’s quality of life for families and neighborhoods.”

The Parks Department oversees more than 250 parks, eight public golf courses, 18 swimming pools, 11 splashgrounds, four dog parks, two tennis complexes, 13 community centers, a trap and skeet center, a nature center and an ice arena. The department also manages a forestry division, operates day camps for youth in the summer and performs code enforcement. “I am incredibly excited to lead this amazing department and expand the wonderful facilities and programs already serving the community,” Kalcevich said in a release. “My family and I are thrilled to make Omaha our new home.”

Kalcevich was hired after a national search. He will start his job Monday. His salary is $162,318. He is member of the National Recreation and Park Association and the Iowa Parks and Recreation Association. He is a 2001 graduate of Northern Arizona University and earned a master’s degree in Recreation Management from Arizona State University in 2003.

Kalcevich replaces Brook Bench, who resigned to lead a new philanthropic organization committed to park development.  Bench served in the Parks Department for 24 years and served as director since 2013.