Article and video created by Benton EAST Students, Eliot Jones, Eli Kelly, Kyle Payne, and Mady Tropp. Email any comments to [email protected]
Improving the Community through Parks and Recreation: Stephanie Jones
By: BHS EAST
Constantly finding ways to improve our community parks and recreational activities, Stephanie Jones is definitely one of the pillars of Benton. She is the director of Benton Parks and Recreation and has devoted her entire career to bettering the City of Benton.
Jones, originally from California, came to the Natural State on a volleyball scholarship at Henderson State. As a student-athlete graduating in 2012, she earned a Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Recreation and a Master’s Degree of Science in Sports Administration. Two years later, Stephanie secured a job as the Recreation Supervisor for the Parks Department in Benton. This is where her love for the community sprouted.
In December of 2017, she accepted a new role as the Director of Benton Parks and Recreation. Since then, Stephanie Jones has not only commenced numerous programs for the community, but she has also achieved multiple grants and been awarded several honors while working for the City of Benton.
These awards include, 2015 Employee of the Year, 2016 Arkansas Recreation and Parks Association Young Professional of the Year, 2016 Arkansas Recreation and Parks Association Program of the Year, and 2017 Victor Sheshunoff Education Award. On top of these prestigious accomplishments, she is one of five female directors in the State of Arkansas and she currently represents the state as Board President for the Arkansas Recreation and Parks Association.
Jones has accomplished so much more than what presents her at work. Her outgoing personality and accommodating leadership skills are ideal qualities that contribute to her success as Director of Benton Parks and Recreation.
Benton Mayor Tom Farmer stated, “Stephanie Jones is absolutely amazing at what she does. She is very innovative in creating numerous new opportunities for the kids and adults in our town. She is a true leader among her staff because she comes up with amazing ideas and then allows her staff to make the ideas come to reality. She has put together the greatest parks staff in the nation at this time. Stephanie cares about meeting everyone’s needs at whatever level they are at in searching for a quality of life activity. She does an absolutely fantastic job!”
Her leadership and efficiency have led to a consistent stream of community events and expedited park renovation and development for the betterment of the City of Benton.
Stephanie’s outstanding leadership and efficiency have led to a constant stream of community events and expedited park renovation and development for the betterment of the City of Benton. If you want to learn more about Stephanie and the Benton Parks and Recreation, visit their website at www.bentonar.org/departments/parksrec or check out our interview with Stephanie in the video.
Article and video created by Benton EAST Students, Eliot Jones, Eli Kelly, Kyle Payne, and Mady Tropp. Email any comments to [email protected]. See the archive of articles by EAST Students at www.mysaline.com/events/columns/benton-east.