June 9, 2023

City of SeaTac

Tuttle

City Manager Carl Cole named Mary Tuttle as the new director of parks and recreation for the city of SeaTac. Tuttle is just the third parks director in the city's 32-year history. She replaces Lawrence Ellis, who is retiring. Tuttle served in various positions at Metro Parks Tacoma for the past 17 years. She began her career at Metro Parks Tacoma in 2006 as a dance programs coordinator, later becoming the senior arts coordinator before being promoted to recreation manager in 2014. In this position, Tuttle was responsible for setting the vision, direction, and long-range planning of programming within recreation. She also led a team of 350 staff, while developing and providing oversight for six biennial budgets and business plans. In Tacoma, Tuttle lead external partnerships for her agency which included, the Boys and Girls Club of South Puget Sound, the YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties, Greenstrike and Tacoma Public Schools to jointly provide the Beyond the Bell and Club Beyond programs in all 36 Tacoma Elementary schools and 12 Middle Schools, which addressed the need for after-school childcare. In addition, Tuttle created and launched the Elementary Sports League in conjunction with multiple partners to create an after-school activity for the youth of Tacoma. Tuttle collaborated with Tacoma Public Schools Next Move program, for youth development and to create a pathway for summer jobs. She was also responsible for the development and launch of the Mobile Teaching Kitchen Program which is designed to address health inequities and food insecurity. Tuttle graduated with a bachelor's degree in dance education from the University of South Florida. The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) has certified Tuttle as a Parks and Recreation Professional. She is also an active member of the NRPA's Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies.