The Director of the St. Joseph County Parks is retiring after four decades of walking the trails and making connections with the community.

Evie Parkwood has been the director of the parks for 16 years, after starting as an intern in 1978.

She told WSBT that she’s been happy to see an increase in attendance at the parks, something she attributes to her colleagues and the partnerships between the parks and the community.

Parkwood says her last day will be May 1st. The Parks Department has begun the search for its next director.