The director of Kettering, Ohio's parks department has been chosen to lead the Cincinnati Recreation Commission.

        James Garges will take over March 1 for retiring director Wayne Baines, who has been employed by the commission for 30 years.

        Mr. Garges will be trading management of 33 full-time employees and a $9.4 million budget for a department with 250 full-time employees and a $28 million budget.

        He was chosen by the Cincinnati Recreation Commission board.

        “We were fortunate to have had extremely well-qualified candidates for this important position,” Recreation Commission President Daniel Gilday said in a prepared statement Tuesday. “I am confident about our choice and that Jim Garges will continue (the commission) tradition of excellence in serving the recreational needs of the people.”

        During Mr. Garges' tenure, the Kettering Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department received two national awards for management in cities with populations between 50,000 and 100,000.

        Mr. Garges, 49, was born in South Bend, Ind. He has a master's degree in parks and recreation administration from Indiana University.

        Objectives listed in the recreation department's budget for this year include offering affordable before- and after-school programs for juveniles, expanding teen programs, computer labs in recreation centers and playground safety inspections.

        “I'm looking forward to this new challenge,” Mr. Garges said in his prepared statement.

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