City of Davenport, IA
10/16/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/16/2026 15:17
City of Davenport Names Parks and Recreation Director
(October 16, 2026) - The City of Davenport is pleased to announce that Becca Niles will serve as the new Parks and Recreation Director. In this role, Niles will continue to lead and oversee the Parks and Recreation Department's operations, including parks, recreation programs, and open spaces. She recently served as the Interim Director after Chad Dyson's departure in June 2026.
"Becca understands the important role Parks and Recreation plays in our community and has a vision for their future," said Mayor Jason Gordon. "I am confident in her ability to build on Davenport's strengths and create new opportunities for residents and families to enjoy all our city has to offer."
Niles brings more than 20 years of experience in parks and recreation to the City's leadership team. Prior to stepping into this new role, Niles served as the department's Senior Administrative Services Manager and AmeriCorps Program Director. Since joining the City in 2021, Niles has drawn on a diverse background spanning educational and recreational programming, event planning, volunteer management, and marketing for nonprofit organizations and local government agencies. Niles has also served as adjunct/student faculty in recreation at both Sacramento State University and Arizona State University.
"I am grateful for the support and encouragement from our team, community members, and City leadership," stated Becca Niles, "and I look forward to working with our team to bring continued improvement and quality to Davenport parks and facilities."
"Throughout her time as Interim Parks Director, Becca has demonstrated strong leadership, professionalism, and a clear commitment to moving the department forward," states Nicole Gleason, Acting City Administrator. "Her ability to work collaboratively with staff, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, and partner agencies has been instrumental to her success. We are confident in her leadership and excited about the future of the Parks and Recreation Department under her direction."
Niles holds two degrees from Sacramento State University in California: A Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design and a Master of Science in Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration. Additionally, she is a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional (CPRP) as well as sitting on the Iowa Foundation for Parks and Recreation board and serving as Vice Chair for the Iowa Parks and Recreation Association's PCCE (continuing education) Committee.
City of Davenport, IA published this content on October 16, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 16, 2026 at 21:17 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]