Meet the talented individuals that help Parks & Recreation grow!
Susan Slawson is a transformative civic leader whose work mobilizes parks, recreation, and community partnerships to drive equity, opportunity, and neighborhood vitality across Philadelphia. Appointed Commissioner of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation in 2024 at the personal request of Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, she leads stewardship of more than 10,000 acres of public land, hundreds of facilities, and programs that bring people together, expand access to recreation, and support vulnerable communities.
With more than 30 years of public service experience, Susan provides strategic oversight of one of Philadelphia’s largest and most dynamic city departments, spanning parks, playgrounds, waterways, recreation centers, and a concert venue—places where programs, sports, arts, and community services converge to strengthen neighborhoods and connect residents across the city. Under her leadership, the department delivers inclusive public spaces, recreation services, and community initiatives that advance a safer, cleaner, and greener Philadelphia while expanding opportunity for all residents.
Susan is a graduate of Geneva College, a mentor, 2025 Philadelphia Business Journal Women of Influence honoree, and a board member of the Pennsylvania Conference for Women.
Sue Buck’s journey through Philadelphia Parks & Recreation is a story of dedication, growth, and deep-rooted love for the city she calls home. A proud native Philadelphian and graduate of Pennsylvania State University, Sue’s career began on the front lines, working directly with the communities she now serves on a citywide scale. From her early days as a facility supervisor to leading programs in West and Southwest Philadelphia, she steadily climbed the ranks—first as a district manager, then as a regional manager overseeing four districts across both operations and programming.
Each step in her path has shaped her expertise, giving her an intimate understanding of what it takes to maintain, preserve, and protect the parks, waterways, and public spaces that make Philadelphia thrive. Now, as deputy commissioner of operations, Sue leads with that knowledge, ensuring every park, field, and recreation center is safe, clean, and ready to welcome visitors. She oversees everything from turf and landscape management to urban forestry, from park rangers to sustainability initiatives, and from storm response efforts to the Organic Recycling Center. She also ensures the seamless operation of Philadelphia’s signature events, including the Independence Blue Cross Broad Street Run and the city’s cherished New Year’s tradition, the Mummers Parade, where streets and parks transform into stages for celebration and community pride.
Under Sue’s leadership, Philadelphia’s green spaces are not just maintained—they are nurtured, safeguarded, and enhanced for generations to come. Through the ever-changing seasons, from the bloom of spring to the golden hues of autumn, her work ensures that the city’s parks remain places of beauty, recreation, and connection, where traditions flourish and new memories take root.
Leigh Ann Campbell is the Deputy Commissioner for Planning, Property, and Strategic Engagement. In this role, she oversees a wide range of areas including capital projects coordination, planning, historic properties, property management and concessions, natural lands, urban agriculture, strategic engagement, and stewardship. Leigh Ann manages tasks and employees that lead initiatives in historic asset management, properties and concessions, as well as the stewardship of open spaces such as natural lands, urban agriculture, and volunteer-based stewardship engagement.
A licensed landscape architect with over 20 years of experience, Campbell previously served as the Director of Planning, Preservation, and Property Management for PPR. She spent the first decade of her career at OLIN, a Philadelphia-based design studio, before joining the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society to focus on community-based improvements. There, she supported initiatives like urban agriculture, pop-up gardens, horticulture, volunteer-based stewardship, and capital improvement projects in partnership with various city agencies. During her graduate studies, Leigh Ann interned with Denver Parks and Recreation’s planning and natural lands division.
Outside of her professional work, Leigh Ann enjoys exploring the city with her husband and two teenage sons. She is an active member of her community, co-leading a local Tree Tender group, and has been an urban gardener for over a decade. Leigh Ann currently tends a plot at a local community garden.
Darren Fava serves as the Chief of Staff for Philadelphia’s Department of Parks & Recreation. A proud city planning graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Stewart Weitzman School of Design, he advises on the financial, operational, administrative, and strategic direction of the agency and oversees the Commission on Parks and Recreation.
Darren brings extensive experience in shaping, maintaining, and celebrating public spaces. In his more than two decades with the Department, he has led messaging and communications efforts and worked on historic preservation projects across the park system. Before joining the City of Philadelphia, Darren served with the Center City District (CCD), where he oversaw transportation initiatives and developed user-friendly navigation tools for cyclists and pedestrians. During his tenure, he helped lead the development and implementation of Walk! Philadelphia, the nation’s most comprehensive pedestrian wayfinding system.
A dedicated community leader, Darren is a longtime resident of South Philadelphia’s East Passyunk neighborhood. He co-founded and co-chaired the East Passyunk Crossing Civic Association, where he now serves as an at-large board member. He also founded the East Passyunk Community Garden, serving on its executive board as Garden Co-Chair, coordinating site maintenance with volunteers, and tending to a plot of his own.
In his free time, Darren enjoys biking and cultivating his community garden—where his dahlias are the envy of the neighborhood.
Rob Jackson is the Program Division Deputy Commissioner at Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, bringing over 20 years of dedicated service and leadership in urban recreation. A seasoned professional in the field, Robert has built his career within the department, serving in a wide range of roles, including Recreation Leader, Program Manager, and Director of Special Programs. With a strong focus on community engagement, program development, and equitable access to recreation, Robert has played a key role in shaping initiatives that support youth, families, and neighborhoods across Philadelphia. His extensive experience and deep understanding of urban recreation have positioned him as a trusted leader in delivering impactful, inclusive programming citywide. Rob’s commitment to public service and recreational excellence continues to drive innovation and growth within the department, ensuring that Philadelphia’s parks and recreation programs meet the evolving needs of the communities they serve.
Marissa Washington is First Deputy Commissioner for Philadelphia Parks and Recreation; she has been with Parks and Recreation since 2008. Her responsibility spans across the department with direct oversight of the Fiscal, Human Resources, Technology, Procurement, Safety and Warehouse units for the department. These units are responsible for the collective management of the department’s $99 million budget and human capital representing roughly 2000 staff members; permanent and seasonal.
Prior to her appointment she worked at the Police Athletic League (PAL) where she managed grants, supported the accounting unit with budget preparation, recruited volunteers and hired part-time staff for afterschool programming. While at PAL she assisted the Commanding Officer with various organizational responsibilities and national projects to build program capacity.
Marissa was also a community organizer, predominantly working on issues related to the quality of public education provided to youth in the Strawberry Mansion section of Philadelphia. She worked closely with parents in North Philadelphia to help them navigate the school system and increase accountability at the local level.
She graduated from Towson State University with a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance. Marissa is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority incorporated; a social organization founded in 1908. A lifelong resident of Philadelphia, Marissa graduated from the Philadelphia High School for Girls and resides in Upper Roxborough with her husband.