Burien Parks and Recreation Director Michael Lafreniere to retire

Michael Lafreniere at the dedication of new play equipment at Dottie Harper Park on July 22, 2015.[/caption] Michael Lafreniere, Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Burien, has decided to leave his post with the city in late November/early December, The B-Town Blog learned on Wednesday, Oct. 28. Lafreniere plans to explore an “early semi-retirement and get more involved in volunteer opportunities,” the city said. As is standard practice, the City Manager will appoint an interim Director to lead the department while the replacement process is undertaken. That person has not yet been named. According to his Linkedin profile, Lafreniere has served in his job ten years, since Oct. 2005. Here is a statement from the City regarding Lafreniere’s departure:

The City of Burien thanks Director Lafreniere for his service over the past decade. He leaves a wide-ranging legacy of growth, including the Seahurst Restoration Project, numerous park and playground upgrades, repurposing the former Burien library as a new home for the Burien Community Center, expanded event participation and increased program revenues. He also substantially increased his department’s community outreach through social media and innovations such as the BurienParks.net mobile app, the state’s first for a municipal parks and recreation agency. “I am very pleased with what has been and is being accomplished every day by the PaRCS Department and its staff of incredibly talented professionals,” Lafreniere said. “I will miss working with these folks a great deal.”