City of Sioux Falls, SD

10/13/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/13/2026 08:40

Brett Kollars Appointed City’s Parks and Recreation Director

Brett Kollars Appointed City's Parks and Recreation Director

Published on October 13, 2026

Sioux Falls Mayor Christine Erickson announced the appointment of Brett Kollars as the City of Sioux Falls' next director of the Parks and Recreation department.

Kollars currently serves as the department's assistant director and brings more than a decade of experience in public health, management and strategic planning. He has served as interim director since the department's former director retired in April and has helped guide the department through several major initiatives and facility openings during that time.

"Brett has demonstrated exceptional leadership, strategic vision and a deep commitment to serving the residents of Sioux Falls throughout his time with the city," Mayor Erickson said. "Since joining the city, and especially serving as interim director over the past several months, he has provided steady guidance for the Parks and Recreation team, while continuing to advance major initiatives and strengthen community partnerships. His experience, innovative approach and passion for public service make him the right leader to guide Parks and Recreation into its next chapter."

Kollars joined the city in 2022 as assistant director of Parks and Recreation. In that role, he oversaw the management, operation and development of public parks, forestry, facilities and recreation programming, while also coordinating with management partners that operate public amenities including the Great Plains Zoo, Great Bear Recreation Park, the city's public golf courses and other facilities. Kollars also helped lead the department's nationally recognized Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) accreditation efforts, introduced innovative operational improvements, secured philanthropic support for park system enhancements and expansions, and played a key role in the successful opening of Jacobson Plaza and the Westside Recreation Center.

"I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve as Parks and Recreation director," Kollars said. "Our parks, trails, recreational facilities and public spaces play a vital role in the health, wellness and quality of life of our community. I look forward to continuing to work alongside our dedicated team, community partners, elected officials, philanthropic community and residents to build upon the department's strong foundation and ensure Sioux Falls remains a community people want to live and raise a family in."

Prior to joining the city, Kollars served as director of population health management for Avera Medical Group, where he led organizational strategy and value-based care initiatives. He also held leadership positions with the Good Samaritan Society and the Veterans Health Administration. Kollars earned a master of health services administration degree from the University of Kansas Medical Center and a bachelor of science degree in biology with a minor in chemistry from South Dakota State University. Kollars grew up in Sioux Falls and currently resides here with his wife and three children.

To help search for the next Parks and Recreation director, Mayor Erickson assembled a hiring committee.

"Thank you to the members of the selection committee for their thoughtful work throughout this process," Mayor Erickson said. "The committee included representatives from the Parks and Recreation Board, community partner organizations and city leadership, and their input helped ensure we identified the right person to advance Sioux Falls' outstanding parks and recreation system."

The Parks and Recreation department is responsible for the design, construction, maintenance and operations of many quality-of-life amenities, like parks, trails, green spaces and recreation and entertainment facilities, that Sioux Falls residents enjoy. Since 2010, the department has been CAPRA accredited, which sets the national standards for efficient and effective operations. The department has 91 full-time and more than 400 seasonal part-time employees.

The department oversees:

  • 82 developed parks
  • 3,474 park acres
  • 41 miles of Recreation Trail
  • Park planning, design and development
  • Recreation and aquatic facilities, including the Westside Recreation Center, Jacobson Plaza, Midco Aquatic Center, golf courses, six outdoor pools and four spray parks
  • Recreation programming
  • Facility rentals and special events
  • Forestry operations
  • Management of partnerships with Sioux Falls Golf, Falls Overlook Cafe, Mary Jo Wegner Arboretum, Great Bear Recreation Park, Great Plains Zoo, Levitt Shell Sioux Falls, Falls Park Visitor Center, U.S.S. South Dakota Battleship Memorial, Outdoor Campus and Butterfly House Aquarium

The Parks and Recreation department supports the city's Parks and Recreation Board. The director also represents the department on the Zoological Society of Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls Sports Authority and the Sioux Falls Parks Foundation, which is run by the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation.

Kollars' appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Sioux Falls City Council and will be presented for approval at the October 20 city council meeting.

City of Sioux Falls, SD published this content on October 13, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 13, 2026 at 14:40 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]