
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, August 14, 1993                   TAG: 9308140175
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

NORFOLK OFFICIAL NAMED TO HEAD PARKS, RECREATION

Roanoke has hired a Norfolk official, John Coates, to become manager of parks and recreation.

Coates, superintendent of recreation maintenance for the Tidewater city, will succeed Gary Fenton in Roanoke on Sept. 7.

Fenton resigned this year to become recreation director in Columbus, Ohio.

Coates was selected from more than 100 applicants from across the country. He will also be manager of grounds maintenance.

William Clark, Roanoke's public works director, said city officials were impressed with Coates' variety of experience in municipal parks, recreation and grounds maintenance.

Coates has worked in Norfolk and Virginia Beach for 14 years, but also has ties to Western Virginia.

He has an associate degree in environmental science from Ferrum College and a bachelor's degree in outdoor recreation from Virginia Tech. He also has a master's degree in public administration from Old Dominion University.

Coates began his career in 1979 as an administrative assistant in the Virginia Beach Department of Parks and Recreation. In 1981, he was promoted to parks district supervisor, with responsibility for all recreational operations for a district in the city.

He became superintendent of recreation maintenance in Norfolk in 1989. He managed a staff of 62 employees with a budget of $2.7 million.

Coates will oversee 175 employees, 68 parks and eight recreation centers.

He will also manage the city's leaf collection and weeds program.

by CNB