Blue Valley Recreation Commission announced the retirement of Executive Director Steve Baysinger effective Sept. 17. Baysinger was just the fourth person to hold the title in the Commission’s 35-year history and the longest tenured director. He is also the first to retire from the position as the previous three left for other employment. Commission Chair Lynn Spraetz announced current Recreation Manager Shane DeWald will serve as interim director until a replacement is named.
Baysinger spent 45 years in the park and recreation profession with stops at four other agencies. He started locally at Johnson County Park & Recreation District in Kansas before moving to Greely Parks and Recreation in Colorado. Staying in Colorado, he was hired by Louisville Parks and Recreation Department where he led staff in earning the National Recreation and Park Association’s highest honor of a Gold Medal Award. Prior to arriving at Blue Valley Rec, he had moved back to the area and was with Olathe Parks and Recreation Department.
Baysinger leaves a legacy with many firsts. He founded an employee scholarship fund in 2009 to aid staff and volunteers who were pursuing higher education. He championed a No Smoking policy at the Sports Complex in 2010, the first in the KC Metro area for an outdoor recreational venue. BVRC also received an Environmental Excellence Award in 2010 for the Green Team initiatives. In 2013, the Sports Complex was named as a Top 10 Baseball Facilities in the country by Insight Sports.
“We are very thankful for Steve’s leadership through the last 13 years,” said Spraetz. “His vision provided Blue Valley Rec with a strong foundation for continued success.”
Under his guidance, Blue Valley Rec won three BlueChip Awards in 2015, 2017, 2019 for a commitment to healthy communities. Blue Valley Rec saw a 35% increase in revenue and the full-time staff grew by 60 percent during the last 13 years while sports tournaments at the Sports Complex brought in an average of $13.5 million per year. Baysinger also spearheaded the construction and opening of the Recreation Center @ Hilltop that houses a 20,000 square-foot fitness area, multi-sport courts, and an indoor walk/run track. Baysinger’s latest endeavor was the Rufus L. Nye Umpire Equipment Program, a way to encourage new officials and umpires to enter the profession by providing gear and equipment free of charge.