Metropolitan New York Recreation & Park Society, Inc. “METRO” was founded in the early 1970’s by Professor Lester Rhoads who taught Recreation courses at Kingsborough Community College.  Professor Rhoads was a strong advocate for all professional recreation associations but recognized that both national and state professional organizations were too expensive for students and their conferences were too far away to travel to.  He realized the value of starting a local professional organization and thus METRO was “born”.  Professor Rhoads was the first President of METRO.  Other Presidents that followed included: Fran Daly, Geri Hahn, Karen Nash, Kathleen Neary Nitchelm, Irene Ludwig, Matt Gold, Adrianne King, Dorothy McNamara, Ori Caroleo, Joe Murawski, Phil Foley, Rochelle Duva, Linda Dianto, Ray Gomes, Charlynn Willis, and currently Debbie Lake.

METRO continues to work in achieving its founding objectives which are:

• To unite in one City Society all persons engaged in the Recreation and Park movement
• To promote principles and standards for the improvement of Recreation and Park programs, services and personnel
• To encourage the development and education of all persons interested in working in the field of Recreation and Parks in New York City
• To influence institutions of higher learning to prepare an adequate and modern curriculum to fully prepare students to better carry out the recreation needs of all persons living in an urban area
• To initiate any legislation pertaining to Recreation and Parks and to further the legislation which is best for the public welfare of New York City