The Erie MetroParks Board of Park Commissioners has named Melissa Price the new Executive Director of
Erie MetroParks (EMP).
Price’s background as deputy director, combined with a deep passion for community-based nature programs and nature preservation, will help to further advance the mission of the park district, according to a Jan. 3 press release from EMP.
Price has more than 25 years of overall work experience within the public sector, and
December 2023 marked 21 years with the park district. As the deputy director, Price assisted the executive director in administration of the park district, served as acting executive director
when necessary, and operated as the fiscal agent of the Board of Park Commissioners from
2010 through 2022.
Price is a member of the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association (OPRA) and has served on its statewide sign and education committees. She recently was an invited speaker at OPRA’s Women in Leadership Conference where she spoke to more than 200 park leaders about the importance of mental health.
In 2017, Price attained the nationally recognized Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) through the National Recreation and Park Association.
“We are very excited to have Melissa accept the position of park director,” says Troy Wisehart, EMP vice chairman via the press release. “Melissa has worked closely with former Director Amy Bowman-Moore for the last several years and has learned the position very well. I’m happy we could hire from within, and I am confident that Melissa will continue the success that the MetroParks have enjoyed over the last decade.”
Outside of the office, Price loves spending time with family, hiking in nature, and is a self-
proclaimed “book nerd.” As a resident of Vermilion, she considers Erie MetroParks her backyard.
She is passionate in continuing Erie MetroParks’ mission to conserve natural resources while connecting the community with nature through education and exploration.
Erie MetroParks was established in 1968. In 1974, Osborn MetroPark became the first park in the system, which now has grown to include 13+ parks or preserves. Many of the properties that are managed by the park district are maintained in their natural state in keeping with the role assigned by the Ohio Revised Code. Areas used for active recreation are designed to have minimal impact on the natural environment of the parks. Educational programs are offered year-round for all ages. Each park is unique and allows for a variety of activities for people of all ages.