Wichita’s longtime parks and rec director out following flap over a clubhouse rental
Troy Houtman, Wichita’s longtime parks and recreation director, abruptly left his job as head of one of the city’s largest departments on Monday.
A city spokesperson would not explain the circumstances surrounding his departure, saying it’s “a personnel matter.” Houtman did not return a phone call and email from an Eagle reporter on Monday. The change comes one week after he called the position “one of the best jobs I’ve ever had” and said, “I really enjoy being here.”
Reggie Davidson, the city’s superintendent of recreation, has been named interim director of the parks and recreation department.
Houtman’s exit comes less than two weeks after he was grilled by Mayor Lily Wu and city council members over his handling of a lease agreement at Clapp Park. During that city council meeting, it came to light that Parks and Recreation had been undercharging Duck’s Flying Discs to lease the clubhouse at Clapp Park for two years.
Questions about cost of clubhouse rental
Houtman appeared unable to answer specific questions about the deal at the Sept. 3 meeting and spent much of his time defending the original $300-a-month rental price and praising the private company and its owner, Christopher Dendurent. The $300-a-month rate was supposed to increase by 30% each year starting in 2022.
When asked directly by City Council member J.V. Johnston, and later by Mayor Lily Wu, how much his department had been charging Duck’s to lease the space, Houtman said he did not have that number off the top of his head.
Council member Maggie Ballard later had to ask Dendurent, the Duck’s owner, how much the city had been charging him. Dendurent said the city has invoiced him $300 a month since the contract started in 2021 — with no increases.
The City Council agreed to extend the lease for up to one year at $659.10 a month, but Wu demanded someone be held accountable for the mistake.
“City Manager (Robert) Layton, I would like to know who should be held accountable for the lack of amount that has been collected,” Wu said. “Again, it’s not the fault of the tenant. So we need someone to be held accountable for that action that has not taken place for the last two years.”
Conversations at a Wichita Park Board meeting
Houtman reflected on the exchange at last week’s Wichita Park Board meeting, saying he was “extremely embarrassed.”
“We are working on making some adjustments and changes,” Houtman said. “But, by and large, I think we are doing what we’re supposed to be doing. There’s a question in regards to competence and whatnot, and I think our team is fully competent and very dedicated and hard working. So I do apology that we did make a mistake, and I’ll own up to that. And I think as the leader of this department, I think it’s important that I admit when we have to make some improvements. So, however, it came at the worst possible time. I’m extremely embarrassed, and I’m very keen on making some adjustments and making some changes.
“Other than that, I just wanted to share that I really enjoy working with my team, and I think this is one of the best jobs I’ve ever had, and I really enjoy being here. And I do appreciate the support of the park board.”
Layton hired Houtman as Park and Recreation Department director in September 2014.
