The mayor appoints the five-member Board of Park Commissioners. Commissioners make recommendations on hiring, develop the budget, set fees, and investigate serious workplace incidents such as accidents.

The Department of Public Parks provides recreation programming, maintenance and horticultural services for 2400 acres of park land and forestry services to trees in parks and on tree belts. The department consists of three divisions: administration and recreation, maintenance, and forestry. A superintendent who oversees the city forester and two deputy superintendents, one each for recreation and maintenance, manages the department. Administrators serve at the pleasure of the mayor.