Spokane Parks director resigns

The director of the Spokane Parks Department resigned today, less than 18 months since accepting the position. Barry Russell was hired by Mayor Mary Verner in April 2008. Verner fired the previous director, Mike Stone, at the end of 2007. The announcement was made in a city news release. Russell could not be immediately reached. Before coming to Spokane, Russell was the assistant parks director for land management for El Paso, Texas. Russell served as the parks and community services director in Kirkland, Wash., from 1998-2003. He has a master’s degree in recreation administration from Indiana University. When he was hired, he was given a salary of $97,280 a year. Verner has named Planning Director Leroy Eadie as the interim parks director.