Atlanta has a new parks and recreation commissioner.

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms appointed John Dargle to the post as the successor to Amy Phuong.

Former Atlanta Parks and Recreation commissioner Amy Phuong during a ground breaking ceremony for the new Westside Park at the Bellwood Quarry in Atlanta, Thursday, September 6, 2018.
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Bottoms thanked Phuong in a statement for making "great progress" with projects such as the Westside Park at Bellwood Quarry.

Dargle is a United States Army veteran who has held parks and recreation leadership positions in Arkansas, Virginia and most recently in Wisconsin, a press release said. He also has Georgia ties, having served as director of the Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services Department and being stationed at Fort Stewart and Fort Benning when he was in the United States Army Medical Corps.

“I am excited about what John Dargle brings to the City and look forward to working with him as we continue to invest in our parks and communities,” Bottoms said in the news release.

Dargle’s appointment became effective Monday. He is responsible for the Department of Parks and Recreation’s operations.

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