Jan. 25, 2010, 12 a.m. - Mayor Adrian M. Fenty announced new directors of the mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services, the mayor’s Correspondence Unit, the Office of Boards and Commissions, Serve D.C., and the Office of Community Affairs.  

“For a government to operate effectively, it must maintain the most qualified, dedicated team possible,” said Fenty. “Our new directors have the energy, skill, and commitment required to provide excellent service to District residents.”  

Director of the mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services 

Chris Taylor will serve as director of the Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services, where he was a Ward 6 constituent services coordinator from October 2008 to August 2009. In this position, Taylor was responsible for resolving constituents’ concerns, ranging from homelessness to city service complaints. Taylor’s work with the Ward 6 Core Team led to the closing of 14 nuisance properties in the ward that were breeding grounds for illicit activity.  

As director of the mayor’s Correspondence Unit (MCU), the position Taylor took in August 2009, he continued to emphasize swift constituent response. During the four months of his leadership, the MCU significantly increased its rate of response to constituent queries.  

Prior to joining District government, Taylor held management roles with Renaissance Hotels and Clipper Cruise Lines. He coordinated operations for two cruise ships with Clipper Cruise from 2005-2006, which were recognized by Condé Nast Magazine as among the leaders in the Small Ship Cruise Lines. While directing front desk operations for Renaissance Washington, D.C. Hotel, Taylor increased customers’ overall arrival experience from 81.9% to 91.6% based on satisfactions surveys. 

Taylor graduated from Virginia Tech in 2002 and currently resides in Ward 6.

Fenty Breaks Ground On New Kenilworth Recreation Center

      Fenty, Allen Y. Lew, executive director of the Office of Public Education Facilities Modernization and Jesus Aguirre, interim director of the Department of Parks & Recreation joined Ward 7 residents for a ceremonial groundbreaking to announce renovations at Kenilworth Parkside Recreation Center.

“I am pleased to join with the Eastland Gardens and Kenilworth community to break ground in celebration of our progress at Kenilworth Recreation Center,” said Fenty.  “When our work here is done, the new and improved recreation center will be an integral part of this community for years to come.

The complex will include an exciting health and fitness oriented recreation building for seniors and teens creating a major draw for the neighborhood community.

 Additionally, there will be rooms for art, a daycare center, administration offices, and locker rooms for the existing outdoor pools and associated support spaces.

A goal for this project is to be registered with the United States Green Building Council and certified with a Silver LEED rating in sustainable design. The project scope includes the design associated with the construction of the community center, immediately adjacent outdoor areas and associated parking.             

Demolition is scheduled for mid February with a projected completion date in June 2011. 

To stay informed of the recreation center’s progress, visit the project page for Kenilworth Parkside Recreation Center at http://dpr.dc.gov