In January 2022, Hashim Taylor became the Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Cedar Rapids. Hailing from Alexandria, VA, he boasts over a decade of experience in Parks and Recreation across diverse professional and managerial roles. His contributions span significant cities like Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Alexandria. Before his tenure in Cedar Rapids, Hashim excelled as the Recreation Program Manager for Prince William County Virginia’s Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism.

As Director, Hashim oversees the spectrum of Parks and Recreation operations, encompassing Parks, Recreation, Golf, Forestry, and the ReLeaf Cedar Rapids plan. Hashim has expanded programming to diverse populations with an emphasis on equity and made operational changes to facilities to increase their efficiency. He incorporated the City's new objective of fostering a "Culture of Commitment" into the implementation the Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan. He plays a pivotal role in the Greenway Master Plan update and the development of the Westside Library Park Project. Under Hashim’s leadership, the City welcomed new facilities including the Ellis Golf Course Event Center, Jones Lodge, Hughes Park, a second Rollin' Recmobile, Riverside Skatepark, and a pickleball complex featuring ten courts.

His academic prowess comprises a Bachelor of Science in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism from Old Dominion University, and a Master of Business Administration from Regent University. He holds the esteemed Certified Parks and Recreation Professional (CPRP) credential and notably served as Treasurer for the Virginia Recreation and Park Society's Northern Service Area. Furthermore, he successfully graduated from The National Association of Counties (NACo) High-Performance Leadership Academy and completed the two-year National Parks and Recreation Association Director School program, and in 2022 was recognized as a 30 under 30 recipient from the National Park and Recreation Association.

Parks and Recreation Department Organizational Chart