Brian Zimmerman

Brian is responsible for the management of more than 25,000 acres of green space in Northeast Ohio including 18 park reservations, nine golf courses, and the nationally acclaimed Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

Since assuming the role of CEO in 2010, Brian has acquired land at the fastest rate in the park district’s 105-year history aside from the park founder, adding over 3,000 acres of protected park land and forests. Brian has helped revitalize Cleveland’s urban core with the acquisition and transformation of nearly 750 acres of lakefront property including the Re-Connecting Cleveland TIGER trails project that links more than 66,000 Cleveland residents to Lake Erie and the region’s vast network of parks and trails.

He has strategically expanded park access to 49 communities across six counties, adding more than 60 miles of trails, bringing the park's trail network to more than 325 miles of trails. He has also improved park relevancy through enhanced programming, connections, and opportunities, attracting more than 19 million annual recreational visitors in each of past three years.

Through broad support and investment, Brian has helped expand and connect Cleveland’s Emerald Necklace into both a tremendous community asset and tourist destination. Under his leadership, the Park District secured more than $150 million in external grants and donations to maximize investments in projects across the park district. A recent study revealed that Cleveland Metroparks contributes $873 million in economic impact to the region. Brian has also laid the groundwork for some of the park’s most transformational investments to come including a state-of-the-art Primate Forest at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and the “CHEERS” project to create a more accessible, equitable, and resilient lakefront on Cleveland’s east side.