Jennifer (Balcom) DeWinter has been named Park Manager for Ariel-Foundation Park, located in Mount Vernon, Ohio. This announcement was made by the Foundation Park Conservancy Board of Directors during a December special board meeting.
“With the new year upon us, it is exciting to share that we are looking forward to beginning 2024 with a new park manager who brings high-energy, excellent planning skills, and a new lens for programming and partnerships for Ariel-Foundation Park,” said Mike Miller, Foundation Park Conservancy Program Committee Chair. “Jenni is poised to hit the ground running, so that the best care possible can be provided for this special 250-acre community gem of a park and the Foundation Park Conservancy Board could not be more excited.”
DeWinter earned her bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University. She brings a wealth of experience in Human Resources, training, compliance, development, and event coordination. A graduate of Mount Vernon High School, DeWinter is eager about the opportunity to build programs and maximize the use of Ariel-Foundation Park, while collaborating with the City of Mount Vernon on operational and maintenance needs.
Returning to her hometown after four years in Germany as a Department of Defense (DoD) spouse and seven years prior to that as an HR Executive in Savannah, Georgia, DeWinter is thrilled to be home and among her family and friends.
“Returning to Knox County is a true gift, and to be afforded this opportunity, an incredible honor! After living abroad, I have an even greater affinity for community and the environment. Ariel-Foundation Park is our local treasure and epicenter for all to come, celebrate, recharge, and reconnect. I am determined to work hard and provide creative solutions to help sustain this beautiful asset so its legacy may continue,” DeWinter said.
Foundation Park Conservancy is a non-profit organization focused on making Ariel-Foundation Park both an everyday recreational resource for Mount Vernon and Knox County, and a destination for the ‘seekers of the unique’ from throughout Ohio, the Midwest and beyond. To learn more about the park and the efforts of the conservancy, visit arielfoundationpark.org.
