Working at something for more than 32 years will show the world just how much you care for it. You've witnessed its evolution. You are proud of what it has become. For the City of Arlington Parks and Recreation Department Director Pete Jamieson, it has truly been a labor of love. He's seen both the department and the city through many ups and downs over the years. He's managed to keep his hand on the tiller and help create a parks system that is one of the best in the country. By winning the Texas Recreation & Park Society Park Professional of the Year Award, he is getting the recognition he has long deserved.

"Pete has served to increase and promote Arlington's green spaces and recreational opportunities," said Assistant to the Director Jennifer Chadwell. Hired on April 13, 1981, as part of a small staff of Park Planners for the City of Arlington's Parks and Recreation Department, Jamieson has always maintained a certain approach to his job. Chadwell recalled a story about how Jamieson and Julia Burgen, a member of the Texas Committee for Natural Resources and former city council member, started their collaborative relationship that became the driving force in the successful adoption of the 1986 parks bond election. "Ms. Burgen read about Pete walking the length of the Johnson Creek corridor. The article left her so impressed at Pete's hands-on approach that the two soon met."

Jamieson has parlayed his can-do attitude and work ethic into numerous successes over the years, such as River Legacy Parks, Johnson Creek and Caelum Moor. In 2005, while continuing to work with neighborhood groups and organizations, Pete's knowledge of the parks system proved invaluable in assisting the Park Bond Committee with prioritizing projects and successfully marketing them to the public. This dynamic and aggressive approach resulted in a successful Park Bond election that would provide funding for generations and played a significant role in re-investing funding into the construction of additional parks and recreational facilities.

"Since his arrival at parks and recreation, the city has grown from 1,784 park acres to 4,711 park acres, almost doubling the number of playgrounds, adding skate parks, an off-leash dog park, four spray grounds, 33 tennis courts, 20 basketball courts, an event center, two recreation centers, a community garden and 49 miles of linear park trails," said Chadwell. "In addition, the department has seen a surge in volunteerism, logging a record 46,000 volunteer hours in 2012. I can say with all honesty that Pete Jamieson is the heart and soul of this department and perhaps this city."