The City of Westminster has named Tomás Herrera-Mishler as its new director of Parks, Recreation, and Libraries. Herrera-Mishler brings more than two decades of leadership experience in public land operations, stakeholder engagement, sustainability, strategic planning, and public/private partnership building. 

Most recently, Herrera-Mishler served as the Chief Executive Officer and President of Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center Associates, where he led a sports tourism program that generated over $20 million in revenue since the pandemic and hosted several national competitions including the NCAA Women's Rowing Championships and the Olympic Rowing, Kayak, and Canoe Trials. Herrera-Mishler also launched an Arts and Culture program engaging the community in park and outdoor space programming.  

Herrera-Mishler's previous experience also includes launching the Balboa Park Conservancy in San Diego, CA where he secured over $20 million in resources for the park and developed new public and private funding streams for the conservancy. Balboa Park was named one of the Top Ten Green Spaces in America by the American Planning Association under Herrera-Mishler's leadership.  Herrera-Mishler also had previous leadership roles for Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy in Buffalo, NY; Massachusetts Horticultural Society in Wellesley, MA; Airlie Gardens in Wilmington, NC; and Toledo Botanical Garden in Toledo, OH. 

“This is an exciting time for Tomás to join the Parks, Recreation, and Libraries Department. His decades of successful leadership experience, collaborative focus, and record of placemaking and extensive community engagement will be a significant benefit to our residents and our award-winning staff,” said Interim City Manager Jody Andrews. “Tomás understands that preserving natural spaces, offering meaningful resources at libraries, and promoting health and wellness through recreation are key to maintaining an active and thriving community, all priorities he shares with the Parks, Recreation and Libraries team.” 

Herrera-Mishler has a bachelor of arts in Spanish Language and Literature, with a Business Administration minor, from Eastern Michigan University. He has a master of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning from the University of Michigan.  

Westminster’s Parks, Recreation and Libraries Department is dedicated to providing a broad spectrum of services to enhance the quality of life for all Westminster residents. We connect to our community by providing diverse leisure, recreational and informational services, resources, and acquiring, developing, and maintaining first-class parks, golf courses, facilities, open space, trails, and libraries.