Personalities Of Pittsburgh: How Jayne Miller Plans To Make Pittsburgh The No. 1 Park System In The U.S.
Jayne Miller took over as president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy a little less than a year ago after the retirement of Meg Cheever, the organization’s founder. Miller left a position as superintendent of the nation’s top-ranked park system in Minneapolis. Since coming to Pittsburgh, she has embarked on a complete overhaul of the Conservancy, an effort that includes finding out what people really want from their local park system.
What inspired you to work in this field?
About 25 years ago I figured out why I do what I do. I grew up in the Adirondacks in upstate New York. ... My dad worked really hard, but he also made sure that we were active. ... When we got home from school, we were told to change our clothes and get outside and play. ... When I look back at my childhood, there are all these things I absolutely loved. Being able to give that back and improve people’s lives is a critical part of why I’ve done what I’ve done and am still doing today.