Peters
The decision was announced in a news release sent by Allaire’s office late Monday afternoon, but still needs to be approved by the Board of Aldermen. They’re expected to be asked to do so at their next meeting Oct. 16.
Allaire said Peters “brings years of experience as recreation director and events coordinator for the town of Killington.”
Peters became full-time recreation director in Killington in May 2015.
On Monday, she talked about her time at Killington where she said she had grown programs like the summer camp and mountain biking.
Peters said she had been encouraged by Wight, who said she thought Peters and the Rutland Rec Department would be a “good fit.”
Because she hasn’t been approved for the position, Peters said she didn’t know all the assets at the city department.
“I think the assets I have there are the current employees to give me some guidance on where they see the most opportunities,” she said. “My skill set coming in is leadership, managing a staff and overall recreational sports.”
Peters said she would encourage “outside-the-box thinking” and opinions on how to improve the quality of programs.
A bright spot for the department is the swimming pools under construction at White’s Park. One of the two pools will be for competition and general use, while the other will be for families and swimming lessons.
The pools will allow Peters to use some of her previous skills. When Peters moved to the Killington area from Ohio in 2014, she had seven years of experience working as director of aquatics and head swim coach for the Clippard Family YMCA in Cincinnati.
Peters said she had heard some of the challenges in the city were the need for additional athletic fields and an indoor gymnasium.
One of Wight’s final meetings with the Board of Aldermen’s recreation committee included a conversation about whether a gymnasium would be viable at the Courcelle Building.
While there was general agreement that a preliminary design proved the gym was a possibility, there was no discussion about asking voters for money or applying for grants.
Peters called assets like the Rutland Halloween Parade and the Rutland Youth Theatre “exciting.”
“Parks and recreation departments in Vermont and throughout the state do have to think outside the box,” she said. “It’s not just going out for a run or eating healthy, but how else can we get people moving and being part of a community? One of the things I think I brought to Killington was the feeling of a community.”
Before Peters took the position in Killington, there was no full-time position there, but in 2014 the town’s Recreation Commission and Select Board voted to restore the recreation director to a full-time position.
Peters has a bachelor’s degree in history and sociology from the Ohio State University.
She said she has learned to love Vermont because the quality of life has improved for her, her husband who works at GE Aviation and her four children.
“ I think the focus on parks and recreation in this community and being outside is just one of the things that has drawn me to this career path,” she said. “Many of the skills I already had but didn’t know how to use them, and Vermont has really given me that opportunity.”
Peters has been a soccer coach and a swimming coach for the Killington Aquatic Club.
Allaire said he plans to introduce Peters at the next meeting of the Board of Aldermen and present her name for approval as the next superintendent.
Wight left Rutland at the end of September to take over the Burlington Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Department.
Wight started at the city Rec Department in 2001 and became superintendent in July 2013.
patrick.mcardle @rutlandherald.com
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