Dover recreation director Gary Bannon to retire: 'We are so fortunate to have so much'
DOVER — Longtime Recreation Department director Gary Bannon will retire this spring after 34 years in the city and a career helping create new opportunities for residents.
The 67-year-old is set to step away in late April, City Manager Michael Joyal Jr. announced last week in a City Council meeting.
“We are so fortunate to have so much,” Bannon said of the city’s recreational programs and offerings. “It’s unique and I'm thankful to have played any part in it. We as a city have done great things.
“I feel good that I can leave it in someone else’s hands with no regrets."
The Recreation Department, the McConnell Center’s anchor tenant, oversaw numerous major city projects throughout Bannon’s tenure. Accomplishments during his career include the completion of the new 10,700-square-foot skatepark at Guppey Park last fall, the creation of the Dover Adventure Playground at Henry Law Park in 2017 and the expansion of the Dover Ice Arena at the turn of the millennium.
In the digital age, Bannon sees the work of recreational staffers as being more important than ever to keep people engaged and connected with one another.
“If we don’t have time for people to spend time with each other in a natural setting, people will have less time with each other,” he said. “People have always come out for games and programs and events, but now we have to be targeting ways to keep that going. Communities lose communities when you don’t have that. Dover has definitely set the bar very high to keep things going in ways that we can be proud of.”
Bannon achieved his personal goal of working in the position through Dover’s 400th anniversary celebrations last year. But having worked in recreation for over half his life, he knows it’s time for him to turn over his responsibilities to a new leader and focus on his family full-time.
“With my personal faith in Jesus Christ in my life, I try to reflect that in my work. It’s based on my faith, it’s about giving back,” he said.
Joyal and members of the City Council reacted to Bannon’s retirement notice last week.
Joyal alerted fellow city staffers of his impending retirement in a message on Feb. 28.
“I think it goes without saying that Gary has been instrumental in advancing public recreation opportunities here in the city of Dover,” Joyal said. “He has been a cheerleader and advocate. He has been a leader in advancing the improvements to our parks and sports fields, not just our recreation facilities. I just can't say enough.”
“He’s done phenomenal. He’s done a lot of stuff. You know, the thing about Gary Bannon is that you could always go to Gary, and he was always polite,” Mayor Bob Carrier said. “You could ask him a question and he would filter it if he didn't know (the answer). He would find out for you.”
The city leaders' goal is to choose Bannon’s replacement before he leaves in the spring, according to Joyal.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Dover rec director Gary Bannon gives thanks as he's set to retire
