FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Monday, July 29, 2025
Contact: Charlie Pearce, City Manager
Email: cpearce@ellsworthmaine.gov
Ellsworth, ME — The City of Ellsworth is proud to announce the hiring of Roddy Ehrlenbach as its first Director of Parks & Recreation, effective August 4, 2025. This milestone appointment marks a major step forward in the City’s efforts to expand recreational offerings and strengthen community connections through placemaking and public space investment.
Ehrlenbach, an Ellsworth High School graduate, brings more than 20 years of experience from Sugarloaf, where he helped usher through some of the resort’s most ambitious outdoor recreation projects – including the Brackett Basin and West Mountain expansions, major mountain liking trail initiatives, and trail crew management. In addition to his operational expertise, Ehrlenbach was responsible for safety oversight and handled complex tasks such as permitting and grant administration.
He also brings valuable municipal governance experience, having served on both the Select Board and Planning Board in Carrabassett Valley.
“Roddy is more than a seasoned recreation professional – he’s a passionate, communityminded leader who understands the transformative power of parks and recreation,” said City Manager Charlie Pearce. “He spoke with real conviction about growing up in Ellsworth, the impact that outdoor recreation had on his life, and his commitment to ensuring that every child in our city has access to enriching experiences in the outdoors and beyond.”
Ehrlenbach will lead the newly created Parks & Recreation Department, working in close partnership with the City’s Public Works and Facilities teams, as well as a wide range of community and volunteer groups.
“Roddy grew up here. He has a powerful sense of responsibility and pride in Ellsworth, and understands how public spaces – our parks, trails, playgrounds and community centers can create belonging and opportunity” said City Council Chair Michelle Beal. “His passion for giving back to the community that raised him is deeply moving, and we’re lucky to have someone who cares this much leading the charge in the city’s first Parks and Recreation Department.”
Roddy Ehrlenbach noted his enthusiasm for joining the team saying, “I am excited to be returning home and grateful for the opportunity to help shape the future of Ellsworth’s Parks & Recreation Department. I have been fortunate to find a profession I am passionate about and I look forward to enhancing public access to Ellsworth’s many outdoor recreation opportunities for residents and visitors alike.”
Key areas of focus for the new Director include:
- Foundational Department Building: Designing internal structures, programming models, staffing systems, and revenue strategies to ensure long-term sustainability of Ellsworth’s recreation ecosystem.
- Recreational Asset and Event Management: Overseeing 27+ recreational assets, coordinating citywide festivals and events – including potential new initiatives like an expanded Christmas Festival and Spring Eel Festival.
- Facilities & Capital Asset Management: Overseeing the City’s janitorial and facilities teams and managing the maintenance and long-term capital planning for dozens of municipally owned buildings (large and small) – ensuring that Ellsworth’s physical infrastructure remains safe, functional, and aligned with community needs.
- Community Engagement & Policy Leadership: Serving as liaison to the Recreation, Arbor, Cemetery, and Harbor Commissions, while also promoting Ellsworth’s urban forest, stewarding green spaces, and engaging citizens in new programming and placemaking initiatives.
- Waterfront and Trail Development: Leading transformative projects such as the Riverwalk South trail system, which will link Ellsworth’s soon-to-be-dredged marina with its historic downtown, and exploring recreation expansion at Branch Lake and Card Brook, as well as looking to create new gateways to the Downeast Sunrise Trail.
The City looks forward to formally introducing Ehrlenbach to the community in the weeks ahead. Residents can receive updates on new programming, facility improvements, and opportunities to get involved as the Parks & Recreation Department takes shape at EllsworthMaine.gov.
