City of Portland Parks, Recreation, and Facilities Management
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Meet The Team


The Parks, Recreation and Facilities Management Department is located at 212 Canco Road in Portland Maine. Our office is open from 8 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. We can be reached by calling 207-808-5400 or by emailing Park, Recreation, and Facilities 

MISSION

The mission of Portland Parks, Recreation and Facilities Department is to enhance the quality of life through people, parks and programming while creating lasting memories for the citizens of Portland and its visitors.
PARKS, RECREATION & FACILITIES DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR 
Ethan
ETHAN HIPPLE
E: ehipple@portlandmaine.gov

Ethan's passion for recreation and the outdoors was ignited while working on trail crews in National Parks and National Forests. He went on to serve as Hut Crew in the Appalachian Mountain Club's High Mountain Huts, guided trail crews and wilderness trips for youth-at-risk, managed a nationwide youth conservation corps program (SCA), directed the AmeriCorps New Hampshire Conservation Corps, and ran the Parks and Recreation Department and Abenaki Ski Area in Wolfeboro, NH. Since 2016 he has served the City of Portland as the Recreation Director, Parks Director, and now the Director of the Parks, Recreation, and Facilities Department. He serves on the boards of the Portland Parks Conservancy and One Longfellow Square. His focus in his position as Director of Parks, Rec and Facilities is to create opportunities for Portlanders of all backgrounds to enjoy the outdoors and connect with each other through recreation and cultural experiences.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR, PARKS, RECREATION & FACILITIES 
Angela
ANGELA O'CONNOR
E: aoc@portlandmaine.gov

Angela grew up in the Berkshires and came to Maine to attend the University of Southern Maine. While at USM, she earned degrees in Therapeutic Recreation and Social & Behavioral Sciences and played both basketball and softball. Her love and passion for Parks, Recreation and Community Service started back in high school as a camp counselor at the local Boys & Girls Club, which then gave her the opportunity to take her work to the Greater Portland Boys & Girls Club and Portland Recreation during her college years. Angela has served in several different capacities in the parks and recreation field for 25+ years from being a Recreation Programmer to Assistant Parks & Recreation Director to a Director of Parks and Recreation in 5 different municipalities in urban and rural settings in CO,MA and ME. She is currently serving on the Maine Recreation and Parks Association Board and has worked closely with the National Recreation and Parks Association regarding grantwork to help grow programs in the communities she has served in. Angela began working for the City of Portland in the fall of 2022 and served as the City’s Assistant Recreation Director.
RECREATION DIVISION DIRECTOR  
Nick
NICK CLICHE
E: nc@portlandmaine.gov

Nick grew up in Vermont and attended Thomas College in Waterville, Maine. He graduated with a degree in Sports Management with a minor in Marketing. He did an 8 month internship with the Portland Seadogs where he fell in love with the City of Portland. He decided to move to Portland upon graduation and took a position as a Summer Camp Counselor with the middle school students with Portland Parks and Recreation. Nick has spent the past 18 years dedicating his life to recreating all age groups for the City of Portland in many roles with the Parks, Recreation, and Facilities Department. In early 2022, Nick was named the Recreation Director for the department. Nick's favorite part of the job is that no day is the same, and he thoroughly enjoys making an impact on as many lives as possible on a day to day basis. Nick's non-work passion is coaching High School Football at Portland High School. Nick resides in Saco with his wife, daughter, and two English bulldogs.
PARKS DIVISION DIRECTOR 
Alex
ALEX MARSHALL
E: amarshall@portlandmaine.gov

Alex is a born and raised "Mainah" from Eliot and very proud of it. After graduating from Endicott College he began his professional adventures in landscaping, construction, catering and sales. It was a life changing opportunity with the Troubh Ice Arena ( TIA) that brought him into the wonderful PRF Family. He spent 5 incredible years with his team at TIA before he made the leap over to the 'Parkside'. Without a doubt, his favorite thing to do is get his hands dirty with the crews that make this city such a beautiful place to live and visit. He thinks it is hard to compete with the beauty of the Eastern Prom on a blue bird Summer Day or the calm and grounding feeling of walking through the old growth forest of Baxter Woods. Outside of the work world you can find him on the slopes, behind a ski boat, or spending time with his beautiful wife and playing with their two amazing kids.
PUBLIC ASSEMBLY FACILITIES
DIRECTOR 
Andy
ANDY DOWNS
E: andy@portlandmaine.gov

Andy has over 25 years of experience in the Events Industry. After receiving a degree in Corporate Communications from Southern Connecticut State University, he relocated to Portland, Maine. There he began working for Maine Arts, Inc., a local non-profit event presenting organization, eventually being promoted to Associate Director. In 2001, Andy started working for the City of Portland as a Lead Event Coordinator. After 10 years of managing events in Portland's City owned facilities, he was promoted to Division Director in 2011 and still holds that position. Andy lives in Dover, NH where he devotes his free time to making memories with his wife Lisa and his daughter Olive.
DIRECTOR OF CEMETERIES & HISTORIC PROJECTS 
Wesley
WESLEY BRUMBAUGH
E: wbrumbaugh@portlandmaine.gov

Originally from the West Coast, spending many years in Oregon, Hawaii, and Colorado before settling in Maine; Wesley comes as a native of the mortuary industry. His twenty year career spanned every aspect of the “Undertaking”. From that he brings a love of history and a belief that cemeteries are where our past echoes, and lessons are inscribed on every stone. Portland’s four centuries are etched in the stoney paths of its time honored cemeteries. Among his foremost goals are to be a strong advocate for those voices, to preserve and promote access to the past, and to insure the viability of Portland’s Cemeteries long into the future. They say history may not always repeat, but it certainly rhymes; and the memories that rest in the cemeteries of Portland should always be recognized for the wisdom they represent and the values they can convey as an ever present example to live up to.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS DIRECTOR 
Rob
ROB KIERSTEAD
E: rkierstead@portlandmaine.gov

Rob grew up in South Portland and attended the University of Maine. While at UMaine, he earned a degree in Business Administration and played football for the Black Bears. After graduating Rob began his career at Cintas before joining his family's construction company. Since 2012, Rob has worked in the facilities departments for local school departments before becoming part of the Parks, Recreation, and Facilities team as Director of Public Buildings and Waterfront in early 2024. Outside of work Rob enjoys coaching football and spending time with his wife Jess and their five kids.
RIVERSIDE GOLF COURSE MANAGER 
Ryan
RYAN SCOTT
E: rls@portlandmaine.gov

Ryan grew up in Portland and attended Portland public schools before going to the University of Southern Maine. He started working at Riverside in 2002 as a seasonal employee and was promoted to manager in 2006. He enjoys golfing and spending time with family.
TROUBH ICE ARENA MANAGER 
Jake
JAKE O'DONAL
E: jodonal@portlandmaine.gov

Jake has worked for the City of Portland since 2004 in various capacities including over 10 years in event management for the City's event venues. He has been the Ice Arena Manager since October of 2020 and enjoys how "cool" of a job it is. His favorite PRF place to visit is Merrill Auditorium when no one is around and the stage is lit up. Its an experience in itself. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his family as well as golfing and bowling.
ASSISTANT PARKS DIRECTOR 
Jen
JEN DERICE
E: jderice@portlandmaine.gov

Jen has been a parks and rec kid since elementary school when she participated in youth sports programs and summer rec camps. Later, while pursuing a degree at the University of Southern Maine in Social Science and Education, Jen worked as a seasonal employee leading programs and camps for kids. This experience sparked a passion and career in parks and recreation spanning nearly three decades in five Maine communities where she has experience in a variety of positions from recreation program coordinator for all ages and programs, to the parks and recreation director in a community of 10,000 residents. She has served on the Maine Recreation and Park Association board for many years and enjoys working as an advocate for the profession while helping to improve the quality of life in Maine through parks and recreation. Jen began working for the City of Portland in the fall of 2023. She lives in Falmouth with her partner and two kids. She enjoys long walks on the beach (really, she does!), hiking, biking, kayaking, camping, and traveling to visit local and national parks everywhere!
ASSISTANT RECREATION DIVISION DIRECTOR 
Ellen
ELLEN BAGLEY
E: ebagley@portlandmaine.gov

Ellen relocated from Texas to Maine in 2022. She has family roots in New England and loves the Maine way of life. Ellen is a proud graduate of Texas A&M University and holds a degree in Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences. A park ranger at heart, she always envisioned joining the National Park Service, but discovered a personal love of fitness and wellness that turned into a career in municipal recreation. Ellen worked for several urban municipalities in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, with positions ranging from Guest Service Coordinator to Assistant Recreation Superintendent. She is passionate about building community relationships, inclusion, and creating access to life-changing opportunities for all. Ellen enjoys time with family, hiking, reading, road trips, antiquing and classic films. She lives in the Brunswick area with her partner and his son, and their dog, Maggie.
PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL
OFFICER 
Amber
AMBER BROOKS
E: asb@portlandmaine.gov

Amber started working in the banking industry after graduating from college before she took a position in Treasury with the City of Portland as a cashier clerk. In 2017 she transitioned to an Admin Associate position at Parks and Rec before becoming the Principal Financial Officer (PFO) in November of 2020. She enjoys walking her dog Bentley on all of the trails Portland has to offer but the Back Cove trail is her favorite place. In her free time during the warmer months she enjoys tuna fishing with her husband Dan on their boat.
PRINCIPAL ADMIN. OFFICER II 
Desiree
DESIREE KELLY
E: dmk@portlandmaine.gov

Desiree started at the City of Portland in 2010 working 13 years at City Hall before coming to the Parks, Recreation and Facilities Department in 2023. She now serves the department as our Principal Administrative Officer II. She has lived in Maine her entire life even attending college in Bangor at Husson University where she received her B.S. in Executive Administration. She enjoys spending time on the state of Maine's great trail system snowmobiling and side-by-siding.
SENIOR EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT 
Jessica
JESSICA TEESDALE
E: jteesdale@portlandmaine.gov

Jessica moved to Portland, Maine in 2007 with her husband and three children. She loves living in Maine. One of the things she enjoys most is living near the ocean, for the beaches, and the mountains for the rivers and skiing. Life outdoors is where she feels most at ease. Jessica comes to the City of Portland Parks, Recreation and Facilities Department with a passion for helping the public. In her spare time she is civically engaged and is known in her neighborhood as a community organizer.


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