Board Commissioners
Eric Miller
Cindy Strader
Rhonda Berry
The Richland County Park District Board of Park Commissioners are appointed by the Richland County Probate judge per OH Rev Code § 1545.05. Each Commissioner is elected to a three year term as public officials and serve without pay. The RCPD Board of Park Commissioners create an annual and long term plan of operation that protects the Richland County Park District's vision.
Staff
Executive Director
Jason Larson
jlarson@richlandcountyoh.gov
Director of Education & Financial Manager
Karen Pryor
kpryor@richlandcountyoh.gov
Karen is the Director of Education and Financial Manager for the Richland County Park District. She has her B.A. in History and Social Studies Secondary Education. However, she discovered her passion for environmental education while working as an educator at the Philadelphia Zoo in the summers during college. Karen is certified in Project WILD, Aquatic WILD, Growing Up WILD, and Project Learning Tree, and she is also an Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist.
Karen is an avid birder and naturalist, who delights in sharing her passion with others, beginning with her own four children. She enjoys learning as much as she can about the natural world and getting other people excited about learning, too.
Larry was born and raised in the same zip code the Gorman Nature Center calls home and finds it very rewarding to now be a caretaker of these same trails his own youthful feet helped wear smooth. He loves working to enhance the ecological health and aesthetic beauty of native habitats to both benefit wildlife and bring joy to park visitors. Nature photography and dulcimer playing are among his hobbies, but most of he and his wife’s free time is spent nurturing the habitats and trails on their farm near Butler.
Assistant Natural Resources & Land Manager
Jordan Tackett
jtackett@richlandcountyoh.gov
Jordan is the Assistant Natural Resources & Land Manager for the Richland County Park District. He is a military veteran with six years of honorable service in the United States Air Force.
As a native of the Clear Fork Valley, Jordan grew up close to nature and spent his youth exploring the woodlands and streams of southern Richland County. With a hunger for service, travel, and adventure, he joined the military and fulfilled tours of duty in Jordan, Kuwait, Afghanistan, and Japan. After leaving the military Jordan wanted to continue serving his community, so he sought out work opportunities with nearby conservation organizations. He served hundreds of hours managing the land at Mohican State Park, Malabar Farm State Park, The Ohio Bird Sanctuary, and our very own Gorman Nature Center, then was hired on as a member of our staff in 2021.