CITY OF WEST LINN ANNOUNCES MEGAN BIG JOHN WILL BE PARKS AND REC DIRECTOR

WEST LINN, OR – Sept 26, 2023 – The City of West Linn is pleased to announce that Megan Big John will be joining our team October 16th as Parks and Recreation Director.  Big John, a West Linn resident, is currently the Parks Manager with the City of Lake Oswego, OR, where she oversees Parks Division staff in all aspects of day-to-day maintenance and improvements to developed parks and natural areas. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture from Oregon State University and has over 20 years of public and private sector experience in parks, landscaping, and community involvement. During her 14 years at the City of Lake Oswego, Big John has been a part of parks maintenance, parks development planning, recreation programs, and budgeting. She’s actively involved in the Oregon Recreation and Parks Association, currently serving as Director at Large and previously as President of the Maintenance and Construction Section. 

“I’m thrilled about this hire,” said West Linn City Manager John Williams. “Megan brings deep experience in the field, excellent local knowledge, and an open, transparent approach to community outreach. West Linn’s parks and natural areas are a huge part of our city’s livability, and Megan is exactly the kind of leader our community and our Parks and Recreation Department need to lead us into the future.”

Big John said, “I am very excited to have this opportunity to join the West Linn Parks and Recreation team! It will be an honor to serve the West Linn community and to support the dedicated parks and programing staff.”

Megan Big John succeeds Ken Warner as West Linn Parks and Recreation Director. Warner was Director for almost four years as a capstone to over 30 years of service in West Linn. Williams said: “I want to thank Ken for his long service to our community. He’s touched the lives of thousands of West Linn kids through his leadership of our recreation programs since the 1990s, and more recently led the entire department through very difficult years during the COVID-19 pandemic, ice storms, and more. Ken will really be missed.”

For more information about the City of West Linn, visit www.westlinnoregon.gov.