Caring about the community she works in has always helped Kelly Hyer at Independence Parks and Recreation.
The township showed how much they cared for Hyer’s work when the board voted unanimously to promote Hyer to Recreation Supervisor for Parks and Recreation at their Oct. 4 meeting.
‘Kelly is a very qualified person who has gone above and beyond all expectations. You don’t have to worry about the things she’s responsible for,? said Mike Turk, Parks and Recreation Director.
The position of Recreation Supervisor is newly created. According to Parks and Recreation Director Mike Turk’s letter to the Independence Township Board the position that the person named Recreation Supervisor, that being Hyer, will eventually ‘become Assistant Director.? No timetable for Hyer’s next promotion has been set.
‘I see her being assistant director in the next year or so,? said Turk, who added he felt Hyer could one day fill his role as director.
Hyer has worked for Parks and recreation since Sept. 2001. As a fresh graduate of Michigan State University, she and her then boyfriend, now husband and Clarkston School board Vice President Steve Hyer moved back to the Clarkston area. A full time position with Parks and Recreation was fortunately open at the time.
‘I applied and it has worked out for me and the township,? said Hyer.
Under her previous title of recreation programmer, Hyer was responsible for most special events, aquatics and the summer day camp program. When Parks and Recreation’s former assistant director, Beth Walker-P’Simer, took a year-long maternity leave, Hyer stepped into many of her duties. Though she took on the lion’s share of responsibilities, Hyer is quick to credit her co-workers.
‘Everyone picked up the slack,? said Hyer.
When Walker-P’Simer resigned at the end of her maternity leave, there was room for Hyer to move up.
In her new role, Hyer will oversee office operations, continue to work on some special events, supervise the recreation programmers and promote a solid marketing program.
‘Being able to talk to people and meet with different groups, you get an idea of what people want in their community,? said Hyer. ‘I will be taking a step away from programming and focus more on strategic planning. (Being recreation supervisor) will be neat though, because I will still be able to do some programs.?
In her role as recreation programmer Hyer was instrumental in making the Renee Przybylski Memorial Spray Park in Clintonwood Park a reality.
Aside from her direct work with Independence Township, Hyer is on several committees for the state Parks and Recreation organization, including the youth symposium, conference and statewide programming committees. She is also the student chair on the MRPA board.
In her new role, Hyer would like to expand Parks and Recreation’s pool of volunteers.
‘We’re here to enhance the community, to ensure that everyone is getting a good experience,? said Hyer.
Down the road, Hyer has big hopes for Parks and Recreation.
‘The dream of building a community center might come true. We just have to keep pounding the pavement,? said Hyer.