Greg Hayes, Director, Department of Parks, Recreation, and Forestry, Receives APWA Award Honoring Decades of Service to the City of St. Louis

It takes commitment to dedicate more than 30 years of service to one organization. Greg Hayes, Director, Department of Parks, Recreation, and Forestry, has shown that commitment many times over during his tenure with the City of St. Louis.
 
On June 25, 2026, Greg received the Vincent Tallo Service Award, presented by the Missouri Chapter, St. Louis Branch of the American Public Works Association (APWA) for his years of service. The award’s namesake, Vincent Tallo, was a long-time employee of Laclede Gas Company and APWA leader known for his commitment to service and professionalism.

Greg Hayes, Director, Department of Parks, Recreation, and Forestry, (left) receives the Vincent Tallo Service Award from David Stewart, APWA St. Louis Branch Chairman.

Greg began his career with the City of St. Louis in 1994 in its Department of Personnel before joining the Forestry Division in 1999, serving as Commissioner of Forestry from 2001 to 2015. He was appointed by Mayor Francis Slay to serve as Director of Parks, Recreation, and Forestry in January 2015 and was re-appointed by Mayor Lyda Krewson in April 2017, by Mayor Tishaura Jones in April 2021 and by Mayor Cara Spencer in April 2025.
 
“The outstanding work done by Greg and his teams truly elevates the quality of life for our residents and visitors,” said Ben Jonsson, Chief Operations Officer, Mayor's Office.  “For 32 years, Greg has shown his commitment to making St. Louis a more beautiful, healthy, and vibrant place to live and work. Greg has a reputation for professional management and service of a large City department and it shows in his leadership and in the lasting positive impact he continues to make on our City. “
 
Early in his career Greg recognized he wanted to lead a team making a difference to City residents and joined the Forestry Division as interim Commissioner before being appointed full-time Commissioner. He became and is still a Certified Arborist with the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and has worked to maintain the City’s canopy of thousands of trees.
 
In his current role, Greg is responsible for managing the divisions of Parks, Recreation, and Forestry, which also includes oversight of 109 city parks, 7 City-managed recreation centers, and 2 YMCA-managed recreation centers, in addition to Soulard Farmers Market and Brightside St. Louis.
 
Ensuring residents, property owners, and visitors enjoy the outdoor beauty St. Louis offers has long been a primary focus for Greg, as has been building relationships with colleagues across the City, private sector, and non-profit organizations.
 
“I thoroughly enjoy public service and assisting others,” said Greg. “Making the City of St. Louis the best it can possibly be is a collective effort. I certainly value and appreciate our team, my City colleagues and the collaboration I’ve received from peers across the region.”