Tuscaloosa PARA Hires New Director Away from Vestavia Hills

The Tuscaloosa County Park and Recreation Authority has a new executive director and CEO after a Tuesday afternoon meeting of its board of directors.

The group has hired Brian C. Davis to replace former executive Gary Minor, who retired last year.

According to a press release announcing the hire, Davis is currently the Director of Engineering and Public Works for the City of Vestavia Hills, where he previously also served as Director of Parks and Recreation.

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Davis will wind down those responsibilities soon and take over at PARA on April 17th.

“Our community is fortunate to have been represented by the exceptional search committee of area stakeholders who identified Brian Davis as a top candidate for the executive director position,” said PARA Board Chairman Dr. Tony Johnson. “Brian brings more than two decades of parks and recreation, sport, and municipal experience to this role, and his leadership will be pivotal in redefining PARA’s mission and vision for Tuscaloosa County and its partnering cities.”

PARA was created to plan, build, maintain and promote parks throughout the county in 1979, and Davis will serve as its fourth-ever Executive Director.

“I am honored to be chosen as the next executive Director for PARA,” said Davis. “I am excited to work with the Board of Directors and staff to create a vision for service to all of the community. PARA has a great reputation, and I look forward to carrying the torch that has been handed to me.”

PARA said Davis served in the U.S. Army Reserves as an Administrative Specialist from 1992-2004 and received the Joint Commendation Award for service in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (Bagram, Afghanistan) in 2003 as part of the 10th Mountain Infantry Division.

He hold a bachelor's degree in Communication from the University of Alabama as well as a master's degree in  Health, Leisure and Sports, with an emphasis in Recreation Administration, from the University of West Florida.0

PARA said Davis and his wife Tracy are members of Grace Life Baptist Church in McCalla and have two sons, Micah and J.T.

For more on the hire on the next steps for PARA, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.