Superintendent John Debo Announces Retirement

Superintendent John P. Debo, Jr., announced yesterday that he will be retiring from his position as superintendent of Cuyahoga Valley National Park, effective July 3rd.

Debo will begin work in August as the chief development officer for the park’s non-profit “friends group,” the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association. As chief development officer, he will be responsible for raising funds for the association and park projects.

In addition to major fundraising, Debo will oversee CVNPA’s membership program, community relations and outreach activities, and will report to chief executive officer Deb Yandala.

One of the largest and most recognized national park friends groups in the country, Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association is a non-profit organization created to engage public support for the park and provide services to enhance its public use and enjoyment. The 2500 member organization administers innovative education, arts, visitor service, retail, and volunteer programs in the park and raises money for a variety of park projects.

“We are thrilled that John Debo has chosen to stay in Northeastern Ohio and that he will bring his years of outstanding service and contacts in the region to help us increase community support for the park," said Yandala. "CVNPA is an innovative organization at the service of the park and our region, and bringing John on board is a wonderful step forward in our development and advocacy roles.”

Debo has worked for the National Park Service for 33 years, and has served as superintendent of Cuyahoga Valley National Park for 21 years, having assumed this position in April 1988. He began his National Park Service career in 1976 at Acadia National Park, and subsequently worked in positions at Fire Island National Seashore, Lowell National Historical Park, National Park Service Headquarters in Washington D.C., and Boston National Historical Park. 

Debo has received high recognition for his work over the course of his career, including the Department of the Interior Meritorious Service Award, the National Park Service Sequoia Award for Interpretation and Education, the National Park Service Director’s Appleman-Judd Award for Cultural Resources, and the Legends Award from the American Recreation Coalition.

“My 21 years at Cuyahoga Valley have been intensely busy, and tremendously rewarding”, said Debo. “During this period, this park has emerged as one of the truly fine units of the National Park System, and is distinguished by the many partnerships with non-profit organizations and community volunteer groups who collaborate with the NPS in the management and operation of the park.”

“I am very excited to be able to go to work with the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association to help support the valley and park I love. My job now will be to make connections with those people, organizations, foundations, and businesses who care about the park. They will be potential donors, advocates, and volunteers. I know they are out there, as I have met them every day of my 21 years as superintendent; in my new capacity with CVNPA I can directly ask for their help in protecting and continuing to build a great national park and an enormously valuable community resource for northeast Ohio.”
 
During Debo’s tenure, major park developments have included park visitor centers, the Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center, Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad stations and infrastructure, the Ohio & Erie Towpath Trail, and dozens of historic building rehabilitations.

Debo points to the Cuyahoga Valley Countryside Initiative, involving an innovative approach to preserving historic farmsteads and agricultural tradition in the Valley, and his work in helping foster the growth and development of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association, as among his most important contributions to the park’s mission. 

Debo gives credit to grassroots supporters, who have been strong advocates and volunteered by the thousands for the park, and recognizes the critical role of former congressmen John F. Seiberling and Ralph Regula in providing vision and federal funding for land acquisition, development, and operation of the national park. 

“Cuyahoga Valley National Park could not be where it is today without staunch public and congressional support," said Debo. "That we are the sixth most-visited National Park speaks volumes about the wisdom of the investment in protecting and developing this beautiful national park.”

Debo points to the 1999 acquisition of the former Richfield Coliseum as a watershed moment for the national park, “where protection of the park won the day over commercial mall development, which would have ruined the peace and tranquility of the Cuyahoga Valley and negated almost 25 years of work and investment in preserving the valley from exploitive development.”