Spotlight

SARASOTA COUNTY — Shawn Yeager has been named Sarasota County's Director of Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources, bringing more than 30 years of public sector experience to the role, including over a decade of service with Sarasota County.

In this role, Yeager is responsible for overseeing the department's operations, including more than 150 park sites and 55,000 acres of managed and preserved land. Yeager has served as interim director since January 2026.

According to County Administrator Jonathan Lewis, Yeager's experience leading the department's day-to-day operations, along with his deep background in environmental stewardship and natural resource management, brings valuable insight to the critical role.

"Shawn has spent three decades in this field. He's helped manage everything from barrier island state parks to red tide recovery efforts to major capital projects, and he's done it while keeping our environmental resources and our residents' experience at the center of every decision," said Lewis. "He also prioritizes the efficient use of funds that the Sarasota County Commission invests in our system. That kind of range is rare, and it's the type of leadership that is needed."

For Yeager, being selected is an important opportunity to continue advancing the department's strategic priorities and strengthening the county's parks system.

“Our department is tasked with providing recreational, natural, and cultural resource-based opportunities and amenities for our community and visitors. My motivation is to provide our amazing and dedicated team of park professionals with the resources they need to accomplish our mission of clean, safe, and accessible parks with diverse opportunities for all,” said Yeager.

Yeager previously served as Senior Manager of Parks, Programming, and Stewardship in the department, and before that as Division Manager of Beaches and Water Access. He began his career in parks management with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Division of Recreation and Parks. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Recreation and Natural Resource Management from the University of Florida and is a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional.

For more information, call 311 or 941-861-5000 or visit sarasotacountyparks.com.