The American Association of Special Districts is excited to announce the appointment of Katie Groke as the Park & Recreation Division representative on the AASD Board of Directors.
Groke is the Director of Community Services at the Apex Park and Recreation District in Arvada, Colo., where she has developed and executed communications strategies, program administration across a 60-square-mile park district, and board management, among numerous duties, for nearly a decade. At AASD, Groke will be represent the voice of America’s park districts on the AASD Board and steer the association’s park district-oriented programming.
“Park districts across the country have long-strived for a more level playing field to access federal grant and partnership programs, and too many get park district voices have gotten lost in the general government shuffle of their state legislative sessions,” said Katie Groke, AASD Park & Recreation Division Board Member and Apex (Colo.) Park and Recreation District Community Services Director. “I am excited to join the AASD Board to foster greater inclusion of park districts in policy discussions across the country and guide the unique governance perspectives that America’s 1,400 park districts need.”
The AASD Board of Directors voted unanimously to appoint Groke during its quarterly meeting on Wednesday, March 26, and will serve the remainder of the term through December 2026.
“America’s special districts need strong leaders to take on the challenges facing our sector of local government, which is why we are thrilled to have Katie and her leadership as an asset to the AASD Board,” Cole Arreola-Karr, AASD Executive Director. “Katie brings years of multi-faceted, firsthand experience with daily special district issues, advocacy leadership, and a robust vision for the future,” said “With an active understanding of park districts’ governance and advocacy issues at the local, state, and federal levels, America’s 1,400+ have a trusted trailblazer at the national helm.”
In addition to her roles at the Apex Park and Recreation District and AASD, Groke is also the Chair of the Colorado Parks & Recreation Association Legislative Task Force, a member of the National Recreation and Park Association’s (NRPA) Advocacy Committee, and Regent of the NRPA Revenue Development and Management School.
A group of special district managers, board members, and professional stakeholders founded AASD in August 2024 to fulfill the need for a strong national association to identify and address special districts’ common challenges. AASD’s mission is rooted in “strengthening special districts with governance resources; advancing special districts’ ability to serve their communities, and uniting the nation’s special districts through building advocacy coalitions and organizations in states and across the nation.
Learn more about AASD’s three core concepts, Board of Directors, and more at www.americasdistricts.org. For questions on this and ways to get involved with America’s special districts, contact Cole Arreola-Karr, AASD Executive Director, at contact@americasdistricts.org.