Have you met Joe?

If you haven’t been introduced to Joe Bruns, it’s very possible you’ve seen him out and about in the parks, or at a minimum have enjoyed his work. Joe is MetroParks’ Project Manager, and he has had a hand in all of our recent capital projects. They include the Great Miami River Trail extension at Timberhill MetroPark, Miami 2 Miami Trail construction at Gilmore Ponds MetroPark, the new bridge and Dry Fork Creek streambank restoration at Governor Bebb MetroPark, and one of Joe’s favorite projects – the new playground at the Timberman Ridge Area of Forest Run MetroPark.

At the age of 10, Joe had a friend who could juggle which inspired him to learn the art of juggling. After hours of practice and research, he mastered three-ball juggling. Over time, Joe has learned to juggle much more than three balls. In fact, it’s not unusual for him to juggle many projects at once for MetroParks. He works closely with Operations staff, the Director of Operations and Director of Planning to keep all the projects moving – always striving to be on time and on budget.

Making Playgrounds a Reality

Some of Joe’s favorite projects are playgrounds, which he considers a gateway to nature. They bring people from a very young age to parks, creating a habit that can last a lifetime! All of MetroParks’ playgrounds are vastly different because all our parks are different. Joe loves to play his part by making it hard for kids to decide what playground is their favorite; they all offer a variety of equipment and environments to enjoy.

Joe strives to find small, simple ways to create an exceptional park experience for our guests. You might have noticed when visiting one of our newer playgrounds that the swings face green space, and away from parking lots. Joe believes that by putting the focus on nature, you might be able to capture a child’s attention, allowing them to get lost in the moment as they sail through the air surrounded by trees. And who doesn’t need that? Time to slow down, breathe, and really appreciate all that nature has to offer.

But planning playgrounds is not all fun and games… in fact, much of the budget for a new playground is spent on the surfacing. That squishy surface is pricey and generally costs about 45% of the total expense! Luckily, our Planning division is able to find and apply for grants to subsidize our playgrounds. About 70% of a playground’s budget is paid for by a variety of grants awarded to MetroParks. Our small but mighty Planning team is great at leveraging grants, which fund many of the projects you see in the parks.

Providing an Exceptional Park Experience

Joe enjoys working for MetroParks because all the staff share his goal – providing an exceptional park experience for everyone that sets foot in one of our parks. From playgrounds, to bridges and kayak launches to trails, Joe’s daily work is his legacy. Through his job, he has a direct impact in contributing to the public’s well-being, which bring him great pride. If you see Joe in the parks, stop and say hi! And if you haven’t checked out the new playground at the Timberman Ridge Area of Forest Run MetroPark yet, it’s well worth your while. Come out and see us!

Visit our website to learn more about MetroParks’ upcoming capital projects.