Dan Kinney: A Community Leader

Dan Kinney, 2010

At the Class of 1960 reunion last fall, Dan Kinney spoke to the group about working in the Springfield, Missouri Park System as the most satisfying professional accomplishment in his life. More recently, Dan said, “I enjoyed my tenure in Parks. Beginning in Parks at an early age was a great and rewarding experience. To watch the Parks System grow and people get involved has been positive.”  In his October remarks, he modestly omitted mention of the awards he and the Springfield Parks System earned due to his leadership; nor did he mention the parks and buildings named for him.    

 In 2010, Dan Kinney was recognized for his service as a community leader, receiving The Missourian Award for 2010, a state-level prize for those who have made significant contributions to the state in civics, business, or arts. Past recipients include Walt Disney, Walter Cronkite, Sam Walton and Johnny Morris.

Photo of Dan Receiving Award

Dan merited this award through his involvement and leadership in the Springfield, Missouri Parks System. Over more than 35 years, he worked in the Parks System, eventually serving as Assistant Director and then Director. During his tenure, the Springfield Parks System grew from 33 parks and recreation facilities in 1971 to 88 by 2005. This expansion included new community centers, historic parks, neighborhood parks, an indoor ice facility, an indoor/outdoor skate park, and more than 76 miles of linear parks. The Springfield-Greene County Park Board received numerous prestigious awards for its facilities during Dan’s leadership. These included the National Gold Medal Award from the National Park and Recreation Association in 2000. The large plaque below documents his career.

For 20 years Dan also served as the Amateur Softball Association’s Missouri State Commissioner. He was inducted into the Springfield Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2002, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2006, and the Missouri Park and Recreation Association’s Hall of Fame in 2010.

Springfield Names Park Facilities for Dan Kinney

The Dan Kinney Park was named and dedicated in 2010 as a tribute to Dan’s devotion to parks and recreation.

 The Dan Kinney Family Center , a $5.2 million building, opened in 2013 with a gymnasium, an indoor walking/running track, fitness center, aerobics room, childcare, game room, community room and locker rooms. Its website provides a handy link that allows users to “Register Now for Dan Kinney Programs.”

“We’re very proud to honor the legacy of Dan Kinney and his contributions to the Parks system with this beautiful facility and park,” Parks Director Bob Belote said. “This family center is something residents in this area have wanted for a long time. It’s great to be able to deliver this facility to them.” 

 

 

 

Floyd Watson sent the photo at left showing Dan in front of the center. It provides a sense of the scale of this building.

 

 

Preparation for a Life of Leadership 

At East High, Dan lettered in football, but a knee injury in his freshman year in college eliminated any serious college sports engagement and pointed him in the direction that was to become

his life’s work. His leadership ability was clear in high school by representing East at Boys State with six other outstanding senior men. (From left, Don Trees, Gene Carter, Dan Tontz, Dave Alldritt, Dick Carlock, Fred Elder, and Dan Kinney.)

Dan’s journey from East High led him to Wichita State University, where he earned a BA in Education and was the first person to minor in Recreation. He subsequently earned a Masters of Science Degree in Recreation and Park Administration from the University of Missouri-Columbia and also graduated from the Indiana University Executive Development School. 

Dan currently calls Rogersville, just outside Springfield, his home and remains an avid sports fan and outdoorsman.

Stories of High School Escapades

Creative rascals sometimes evolve into excellent leaders. Dan Kinney has written about zany adventures with Class of 1960 friends. Click on the highlighted titles to read his stories.

• Danny’s Dumb DeSoto Disaster
• Dan Kinney as Santa Claus at Innes
• Breckenridge Bound
• The Return of Santa

Editors’ Note: Thanks to Dennis Ebert for the news tip about community recognition of Dan’s leadership. A recent transplant from the Philippines to Springfield, Dennis sent this note last month. “ I know that Dan made comments at the reunion last year that he worked at the Park Board in Springfield MO.  However, something happened the other day that surprised me. I have recently become involved in playing pickleball with my kids. One day my granddaughter asked me to go play with her. I asked where she was going to play. There are multiple places around our area of Springfield.  She told me, Dan Kinney.  I said, “What?”  She repeated the name.  Come to find out that one of the major family sports facilities carries the name of our classmate.”

After we found photos and stories online, we questioned modest Dan, who sent information for this story.