The City of Colorado Springs announced that Britt Haley, Director of Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services, will retire from her role at the end of the year. Assistant Director Kim King, a 25-year Parks veteran who has served in her current role since 2023, will step in as acting director upon Haley’s departure while the City launches a national search for the department’s next leader.
Haley’s retirement marks the culmination of a period defined by significant progress for Colorado Springs’ parks, trails, and open spaces. Her leadership advanced stewardship of some of the City’s most treasured natural landscapes while expanding access for residents across Colorado Springs. Under her tenure, the City secured transformative land acquisitions and delivered major community improvements that will benefit residents for generations.
“Britt has served Colorado Springs with vision, grit, and a deep reverence for the beauty of this city,” said Mayor Yemi Mobolade. “Her leadership has been marked by remarkable stewardship of our natural treasures and a commitment to expanding access for every resident. In a city defined by its abundant parks, trails, and open spaces, Britt helped ensure that these lands continue to tell a story of conservation, belonging, and possibility.”
Haley began her career with the City in the Attorney’s Office in December 2012. She joined the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Department in July 2017 and was appointed director in September 2022. Her tenure with the department included notable land expansions at Corral Bluffs, Wild Horse Ranch, and Blodgett Open Space, as well as the creation of the new Fishers Canyon Open Space. She also guided high-impact community projects such as the revitalization of Panorama Park, the successful launch of e-bike access on many city trails, and the construction of Grey Hawk Park in northeast Colorado Springs.
Under Haley’s leadership, the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Department earned reaccreditation in 2025 from the National Commission on the Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies, placing Colorado Springs among the top 3% of park systems in the nation.
King currently oversees the department’s Recreation and Administration Divisions and its Golf and Cemetery enterprises in addition to serving as the principal assistant to the director. She has a bachelor’s degree in organizational management and an MBA from the University of Colorado. King has been a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional since 2013.