David Brent Parker

David B. Parker, the first manager of Wildwood Preserve Metropark and long-time Director of Operations and Safety Services for Metroparks Toledo, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 14, 2025. He was 77.  
Dave lived a rich family life that backed years of leadership and service, and leaving a legacy of accomplishments as well as legions of friends and fellow professionals, who have benefitted from his kindness and generosity. If there was a job to be done or a challenge to be faced he was there to do it. If someone was in need Dave would be there to help.  
Throughout his life he was enthusiastic about sharing his many interests that ranged from photography to horses to off-roading. Dave also loved to travel and organized several memorable family vacations such as The Outer Banks of North Carolina and Alaska to name the most memorable. 
Dave grew up in Mentor, Ohio, attended Kent State University and then Miami University where he earned a degree in Public Administration with an emphasis on Environmental Studies. In those years he also earned the Ohio Peace Officer Certification that, along with environmental studies, would set his career path. 
Hueston Woods State Park, located virtually next door to Miami University, was where he started his long and heralded career in parks and recreation. While working as assistant manager there, Dave established the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Parks Ranger Training School for the southern half of Ohio and, in 1971, received the Instructor Award from the school.  
In 1972, he launched his 35-year career with Metroparks Toledo, accepting the position of park manager/ranger at Secor and Swan Creek Preserve Metroparks. His accomplishments there earned him the Ohio Park Ranger of the Year award in 1974. 
When the former Stranahan Estate became a Metropark in 1975, Dave was named Wildwood Preserve’s first manager/ranger and continued to be very active in state-wide professional training and improvement through the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association (OPRA), the National Parks and Recreation Association (NRPA), and the National Society of Park Resources Board of Trustees. 
In May 1986, Dave stepped into Metroparks administration as the Chief of Operations and Ranger Services, tackling wide-ranging responsibilities, from turf and facility maintenance to law enforcement, and training in all areas of field work.  
His roles with OPRA expanded to include service as a member of their executive board, president in 1992, and as a three-time chair of their annual conference. In 1986, at a conference he chaired, he was recognized as the OPRA Outstanding Leadership Professional.  
On the national scene Dave served on the Education Program Committee for Congress from 1992-96 and developed a deep interest in playground safety and design. He became a Certified Playground Safety Inspector and, in 1984, a National Playground Institute (NPSI) instructor. For the next nine years he taught an average of ten institutes each year. He was named a senior instructor in 2001 and used his experience to train new instructors. He joined the NPSI Executive Committee in 1996 and was active as their Technology chair, and twice as their Executive Committee chair.  
His interest and expertise in playground safety led to international work on several committees. 
At Metroparks his expanded responsibilities prompted a promotion to Director of Operations and Safety Services. Those responsibilities included establishing a mounted ranger patrol and backing ranger services with an investigative capability.  
In addition to his state-wide and national organizations Dave was actively involved in many law enforcement organizations including the Greater Toledo Safe Kids Coalition, Lucas County Police Chiefs and Sheriff Association, the Ohio and the International Associations of Chiefs of Police, and others. 
Dave retired from Metroparks Toledo in 2007 and continued to use his expertise as a partner in Professional playground Inspections. The following year he was appointed to the Board of Supervisors of the Lucas County Soil and Water Conservation District and was involved with Green Energy Ohio. 
He recovered from a stroke in 2010 but suffered a second more serious stroke the following year. Since then, he has resided in the Rosary Care Nursing Home on the Lourdes campus where he passed away on Tuesday, January 14, 2025. 
He leaves a loving family led by his devoted wife, Robin Ford Parker and daughters. Samantha (husband Endi Qendro) Parker ,Sarah and Sydney Parker. 
Dave also leaves behind to cherish his memory, sister Mari Beth Kirkland, and brother Jeffery (Peggy) Parker, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother Leona Parker and father Walter Reginald Parker and brother-in-law Sherman Kirkland.  
A celebration of life memorial is being planned for April 12, 2025.  Online condolences to  reebfuneralhome.com
 
 
 
 

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