Can we go to the park?

“Can we go to the park? Can we go to the park?” Sam Ellis often asked his parents when he was a child in Denison.

“I played in all the parks in Denison, growing up.”

Ellis was recently named the new Denison Parks and Recreation Department director by the Denison City Council.

“This is kind of full circle,” he said. “You end up where you’re meant to be.”

Ellis was born and raised in Denison and is a 2000 graduate of Denison High School (DHS).

He played Denison Rec/club sports growing up.

At DHS, he ran cross country and wrestled for four years, played soccer for three years and ran in track for one year.

The experience he brings to the new job includes coaching wrestling and soccer at East Sac County High School in Lake View and helping out with youth programs in Denison.

Since August, Ellis had been the interim Parks & Rec director following the resignation of Brian Kempfert, the former director.

For the year prior to being named the interim director, Ellis was the program coordinator for the department.

“The coordinator job was the absolute favorite thing I’ve done,” he said. “I look forward to using that same work ethic, that same drive, same intensity in the Parks & Rec director job.”

Working as the Parks & Rec program coordinator gave Ellis insight into all the moving parts within the department, he said.

It also gave him the opportunity to meet a wide variety of community members and hear their thoughts and opinions about what Parks & Rec could be doing.

When Kempfert announced his exit plans, Ellis knew he wanted to be considered for the director position.

“I absolutely love the program,” he said. “Part of it’s because the days are never the same – you always get to be creative.”

Ellis said he sat down and thought about where the department is right now and where he thought it could go with the help of the Parks & Recreation Commission Board.

“I was really excited about the opportunity to advance and (the) chance to be a part of the community by moving the Parks & Rec Department forward,” he said.

He had to hit the ground running even before he got the job.

“My first day on the job as interim, we tore down the playground – the Kids Kastle – and started moving forward with the RFP (request for proposal) process and getting a playground vendor company,” Ellis said. “We also had programs going on at the same time. It was organized chaos and I kind of enjoy that, too, because you don’t have time to not be busy.”

The Kids Kastle replacement project is a team effort with the Parks & Rec board and the City of Denison, he said.

Working as the program coordinator, he found he enjoys working on all the special events the department presents, from sledding to peewee sports and mini golf to movie nights at Washington Park.

“A thing I like about the Parks & Rec Department (is) if you want to do something, you just have to figure out how,” he said. “There are always people wanting to volunteer. That’s the best thing about this community; if you ask for volunteers, you’re going to get them and they’re going to give you 110 percent.”

Story Ads 1

Ellis said he wants to find a way to create more recreation opportunities.

“I thought back to when I was a kid; what did I want to do? How can we do that now?” he said. “We have a lot of like-minded people in this community.”

Ellis believes the proposed wellness center will be a positive addition to the area.

Parks & Rec’s role in the project has not yet been determined, but he said is willing do whatever is necessary.

“It’s way past due,” he said. “Having the wellness center will be a great thing for this community.”

Ellis said he enjoys getting up in the morning and thinking about his upcoming day.

“When I wake up in the morning, it’s always ‘What do I get to do today?’ I really enjoy that,” he said. “There is paperwork and other things that are involved, but that’s how you build the big picture.”

Follow us on Facebook for the latest news and updates