Becky Richardson served the city of Auburn for 47 years, 30 of which she spent as the director of Parks and Recreation. Now, she is stepping into retirement.
BY HANNAH GOLDFINGER
HGOLDFINGER@OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
AUBURN —
Becky Richardson is retiring after 30 years as director of Parks and Recreation with the city of Auburn.
“I’ve been doing this a long time and I thought it was a good time to take this step and maybe go and do some other things,” Richardson said.
Before she was with the city of Auburn, Richardson received her undergraduate degree from Judson College. She attended Auburn University for graduate school and began a part-time job with the city of Auburn.
“Shortly after I finished graduate school, a full-time position came up [with the city] and then was hired for that and then gradually moved up through the ranks to director and that’s pretty much the story,” she said.
Thirty years is a long time in the city of Auburn to watch as it has changed and grown.
And the city government, too, changed, from city councils to city managers.
“I’ve worked for some great city managers,” she said “I feel like that it’s been a great experience. … “I think that our city manager’s office does a great job of having the city council come in and meet with the department heads so we can present information about our department and then they can ask questions. So I think that they do a really good job of that to assist in that changeover.”
The city has gotten a lot bigger — in the city, the school system and the businesses.
Having more businesses also means more sponsors for events, Richardson said.
The job, too, has changed for Richardson, she said.
“Auburn is much bigger and it’s much more diverse as far as interests and things like that and my job has changed in that I have a lot more management type of duties than I did early and planning and deciding what projects to propose and things like that,” she said.
The job, even as it’s changed, has always involved working with citizens, Richardson said.
“Auburn is not a small community anymore and it’s very diverse with people that have moved here and the seniors that have moved here,” she said.
Before, while her work may have been more “hands-on”, people now still expect to be able to pick up a phone and call the director, she said.
“I have no problem with that, I’ve always thought that that should be something they should be able to do,” Richardson said.
Being able to help people solve problems has been part of those relationships and a rewarding part of her work, Richardson said.
“I enjoy people and one of my favorite things is the young people that come through our program and then as they grow up, maybe they apply for a job with us and they work for us and then you see them succeed and you feel really good that maybe that experience [in parks and recreation] helped them to succeed,” she said.
Richardson said the most rewarding thing she completed over her career, however, was the inclusive playground.
“It’s very rewarding to see the response it’s gotten,” she said.
Auburn Mayor Ron Anders spoke well of Richardson at the last city council meeting.
“Forty-seven years,” he said. “47 years is a longer time than some people on this dias have actually been with us. 47 years certainly encompasses many changes in our community. The expansive growth of our community, the change of a small, small college town to a small city. And through all that [Richardson] been here at the city of Auburn dealing with children and their parents.”
Ward 1 Council Member Connie Fitch Taylor thanked Richardson for working with her own children. “Congratulations on your retirement, enjoy it,” she said.
