Des Plaines Park District Assistant Superintendent of Parks, Jay Zahn, has accepted the position of Director of Park Services for the Deerfield Park District effective May 16, 2011. Zahn brings more than twenty years of park district experience and hands-on management skills of the daily operation, maintenance, and renovation of the more than fifty parks and facilities in Des Plaines to his directorship. “Deerfield Park District will benefit from Zahn’s dedicated community service and his vast knowledge of park beautification,” said Paul Cathey, Superintendent of Parks, Des Plaines Park District.

Zahn began his career at the Des Plaines Park District in august of 1989 as a park supervisor responsible for overseeing building maintenance, service contractors, and playground construction. In 1995, he was promoted to Assistant Superintendent of Parks. He currently oversees a full time staff of 16 and a part time staff of 15. Zahn supervises the day-to-day operations of the Oakwood staff, which includes maintenance, mechanical, landscape, construction, renovations and upgrades to the neighborhood parks, pools, and playgrounds, the Park fleet, and the coordination of park staff at district-wide events and festivals. He was instrumental in the opening of the Prairie Lakes Community Center and Mountain View Adventure Center in 1992, and the major renovations to West Park in 2010, which include the new ADA (American Disabilities Act) boundary free playground.

As Director of Park Services, Zahn's new responsibilities will include overseeing the maintenance of Deerfield's twenty-two parks and their state-of-the-art community center, and helping to plan for their future capital improvements. "I have been fortunate to have an incredible staff that goes above and beyond to bring this great community beautiful parks, open spaces, and facilities,” Zahn said.