The Zionsville Department of Parks and Recreation was formed by the Zionsville Town Council in 1974. An updated ordinance superseding the 1974 ordinance was passed in 1990 to comply with the provisions of Indiana code 36-10-3 governing the establishment and powers of parks departments throughout the state. The State strongly encourages park districts and provides support of park issues through its Department of Naturad Resources.

The Parks Department is governed by a 5 member Board, 4 of whom are appointed by the Town Council, and 1 by the Zionsville Community Schools Board of Education. The Park Board, in turn, appoints a superintendent, counsel, and other staff as necessary. Funds are appropriated by the Town Council for Park Board management to meet its objectives.

Under the ordinance, the Parks Board is empowered to acquire and develop sites and facilities to conduct such programs as are generally understood to be park and recreation functions. The Parks Department is a semi-independent agency of the Town government which provides for a higher degree of management focus and flexibility within the general interest constraints of the Town Council. The Parks Department has no taxing authority, and obtains most of its funding from general Town revenues. Other sources of funding can be sought as a supplement to Town funding.

The Board organizes itself with a President, Vice-President, and Secretary. The Board appoints legal counsel, and employs a full time Park Superintendent. The Superintendent has one full-time employee and hires part time help as required for maintenance work.

For convenience and consistency with other Town employees, the Town provides salary administration and benefits for Parks employees. The Town Clerk's office also provides clerical and communication support.

The Board is assisted in its efforts by volunteer citizens advisory committees. The board has 5 regular standing committees for advisory help on recreation, finance, land, communications, and facilities. Each Board member is assigned to one of the regular committees. From time to time ad hoc committees are formed for specific projects such as the Zion Nature Center.

In 2001, the Board along with the Advisory Committee members organized the Zionsville Greenspace Foundation. The ZGF is an independant non profit foundation, organized under the umbrella of the Boone County Community Foundation, to raise funds for the purchase of greenspace in our community. Although ZGF is an independant non-governmental foundation, its board includes two Park Board members. It works closely with the Board to acheive our goals of increased greenspace for community use.