Dennis Dovel

Dennis Dovel serves as Director of Parks for the City of Blue Springs, Missouri, and has been impacting change since he began in 2012. He directs, plans, and oversees the work of the parks and recreation department, which has oversight of 19+ parks. With more than 35 years of industry experience, Dovel has accomplished many feats for the City of Blue Springs. He established the first Park Ordinance, developed the first ever Parks Master Plan in 2017, passed the first dedicated park sales tax in 2017 that reinvested $20 million in park improvements in 5 years, and oversaw various multi-million-dollar expansions and renovations. Most notable was his leadership on Blue Surf Bay Waterpark. Dovel was integral in the feasibility study for the City of Blue Springs as they began their journey to prepare a new waterpark. The first feasibility study was completed in 2015, and later a second feasibility study was completed in 2019. Shortly thereafter, the design phases began for the new indoor and outdoor Blue Surf Bay Waterpark. With a host of exciting amenities like a surf machine, the NinjaCross obstacle course, an action river, and an iconic waterslide complex, this park is well-positioned to serve the community of Blue Springs while acting as a regional draw and economic driver. He is known for being a forward-thinking and his experience in this process makes him an expert in project development.