Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy
Ross Chapman currently serves as the Chief of Operations and Park Equity at Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy since November 2021, having previously held the position of Director of Park Operations and Civic Engagement. Prior to this role, Ross Chapman directed the Parks and Recreation Department for the City of Pittsburgh from July 2010 to November 2021, overseeing activities such as programming, budgeting, staffing, and strategic planning across over 50 facilities. Previous positions include Assistant Director of Personnel & Civil Service Commission and Planning, Evaluation & Data Supervisor, focusing on workforce development and program evaluation roles. Ross Chapman also has experience in marketing and operations management within the private sector, with notable roles at The Bob Cenk Group/Achieve Realty and the Software Engineering Institute at Carnegie Mellon. Educational credentials include a Master of Public Policy and Management from the University of Pittsburgh and a Bachelor of Science from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy
The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy was founded in December 1996 by a group of citizens concerned with the deteriorating conditions of Pittsburgh's historic city parks. A non-profit organization, the Parks Conservancy has worked closely with the City of Pittsburgh since 1998 under an official public-private partnership agreement to restore the city's four regional parks: Frick, Highland, Riverview, and Schenley. To date, the Parks Conservancy has raised $108 million toward park improvements. In addition to completing 17 major park improvement projects, stewarding over 1,700 acres, and working with thousands of volunteers annually, the Parks Conservancy has expanded into community and neighborhood parks as time and resources have permitted. The mission of the Parks Conservancy is to improve quality of life for the people of Pittsburgh by restoring the park system to excellence in partnership with government and the community. Projects and programs are conducted with respect for the environment, historic design, and the needs of our diverse region.