Overview
- The New Orleans Recreation and Development Commission voted Thursday to hire Patrice Bell as NORD’s chief executive and said her tenure begins Dec. 1 with a $200,000 salary.
- Bell was chosen after a national search that drew 176 applications and narrowed to two finalists who took part in a public forum where residents asked about programming and accountability.
- Commissioners highlighted Bell’s administrative background at Xavier University and as chief administrative officer at the Louisiana Gateway Port as assets for running NORD’s operations.
- Rivals and residents raised fiscal oversight as a top issue during the final interviews after a delayed audit at Baton Rouge’s park agency revealed nearly $70,000 in employee misappropriation while Corey Wilson led that system.
- Bell will be expected to expand youth and community programs, improve maintenance and digital access, and strengthen checks on spending and background screening for coaches as NORD seeks to rebuild public trust.