Dan Kinney, 1942-2025

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (Edited News Release/KY3) – The Springfield-Greene County Park Board announced former parks director Dan Kinney has passed away. 

Kinney, 83, died on September 29. He had served as Parks Director from 1977 to his retirement in 2006, having previously served for six years as assistant director. Kinney was the department’s second parks director, succeeding Jim Ewing upon his retirement. 

During Kinney’s tenure, the Parks system grew from 33 to 88 parks and facilities, including the establishment of Chesterfield and Doling family centers, Close Memorial Park (which led to the development of Springfield Botanical Gardens), Cooper Park Sports Complex and Cooper Tennis Complex, Jordan Valley Park and Brightspeed Ice Park, Northview Center, Rivercut Golf Course, the School-Park program and Springfield Skate Park. 

Kinney also served 20 years as the Missouri State Commissioner for the Amateur Softball Association, helping maintain Springfield’s longstanding reputation as a softball hub. 

Former coworkers recall one of Kinney’s favorite phrases, used as a pep talk for employees, was, “We work hard so others can play hard.”

Notable accomplishments under Kinney’s leadership include:

• Founding Firefall, a citywide fireworks display coordinated by the Park Board, featuring live music, air and parachute shows, hot air balloons, and fireworks choreographed with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, 1982-2008.
• Establishing Springfield’s first Sister City relationship with Isesaki, Japan, 1986.
• Parks’ partnership with Ozark Greenways to develop recreational trails and linear parks, 1991.
• Starting the Turkey Trot 5K Run-Walk, now in its 31st year, in 1995.
• Parks expansion into Greene County, and changing the name from Springfield Park Board to Springfield-Greene County Park Board, in 1996.
• Establishing the Springfield Lasers Pro Tennis Franchise, a gift from Harry Cooper, in 1996.
• Dickerson Park Zoo earning the Association of Zoos and Aquarium Edward H. Bean Award for their elephant program, in 1997.
• The Park Board earning the “National Gold Medal Award” from the National Recreation and Parks Association, in 2000.
• Passage of the first Countywide Parks Sales Tax in 2001, resulting in transformational expansion of the Parks system.
• The Park Board being named “Sportstown USA” by Sports Illustrated, in 2023.
• Growing the annual Parks budget from $857,000 in 1971 to $25 million in 2006. 

“Dan’s vision and innovation transformed the Parks Department into a robust parks system with national recognition,” said Ron Schneider, Director of the Springfield-Greene County Park Board. “He was recognized as a leader in parks and recreation management on a local, state, and national level.  His contributions impact everyone who has spent time in a Springfield-Greene County park in the last 50 years and will be enjoyed by generations to come. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones as we remember his legacy.”

Kinney earned numerous accolades throughout his career, including:

• Induction into the Springfield Sports Hall of Fame, 2002.
• Induction into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, 2006.
• Induction into the Missouri Parks and Recreation Association Hall of Fame, 2010. He also served as president for MPRA.
• The Visit Springfield Pinnacle Award, 2012.
• He was the namesake of the Park Board’s Dan Kinney Park, opened in 2010, and the Dan Kinney Family Center, opened in 2013. 

Kinney grew up in Wichita, KS. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Wichita State University and a Master of Science in Recreation and Park Administration from the University of Missouri. He also served with Columbia (MO) Parks and Recreation for four years before arriving in Springfield.

Kinney is survived by three children and their spouses: Danny Jr. and Michelle Kinney, Darran and Patti Kinney, and Kara and Wayne Gunnels; granddaughters Kelsi Kinney, Courtney Kinney and her husband Ryan Clark, and Avery Kinney; and great-grandson Kai Hart. 

A memorial service for Kinney is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 18 at Schweitzer Church under the direction of Greenlawn Funeral Home. The family has requested memorial contributions to Dickerson Park Zoo/Friends of the Zoo, in lieu of flowers.

Editor’s Note: Articles in local media about Dan’s passing contain more information and photos.

Springfield News-Leader, “Dan Kinney, who transformed Greene County during 29-year stints as parks director, mourned.”

The Park, Springfield-Greene County Park Board, “Former Parks Direction Dan Kinney Passes at Age 83.”