Michael E. Cox
Director of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Properties
Michael E. Cox was sworn in as Director of Parks, Recreation and Properties in April 2006. He oversees the planning, construction, operations, and maintenance of all City-owned parks, playgrounds, golf courses, cemeteries, greenhouses, parking facilities, and markets, as well as the Cleveland Convention Center and Cleveland Stadium. He also retains oversight of recreation facilities, allowing him to maintain some hands-on work with Cleveland’s children, who have long been his first priority.
Cox began a distinguished record of service with the City of Cleveland in 1972 as a Sidewalk Inspector with the Division of Engineering, working his way up to Chief Inspector only a year later. In 1987, he became the Superintendent of the Sidewalk Bureau and concurrently served as the Administrative Assistant to the Commissioner of Engineering.
In 1994, Cox was promoted to Commissioner of Parking Facilities where he also served as the Assistant Director of Parks and the Acting Commissioner of Recreation simultaneously for approximately one year. In 1996 he was appointed Commissioner of Recreation and briefly served as the Acting Director of the department.
