SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (Edited News Release/KY3) – The Springfield-Greene County Park Board announced former parks director Dan Kinney has passed away.
Kinney, 83, died on September 29. He had served as Parks Director from 1977 to his retirement in 2006, having previously served for six years as assistant director. Kinney was the department’s second parks director, succeeding Jim Ewing upon his retirement.
During Kinney’s tenure, the Parks system grew from 33 to 88 parks and facilities, including the establishment of Chesterfield and Doling family centers, Close Memorial Park (which led to the development of Springfield Botanical Gardens), Cooper Park Sports Complex and Cooper Tennis Complex, Jordan Valley Park and Brightspeed Ice Park, Northview Center, Rivercut Golf Course, the School-Park program and Springfield Skate Park…