Charleston native and veteran parks leader Jason Kronsberg has been named the new executive director of the Charleston Parks Conservancy. Its board announced his appointment Thursday.
Kronsberg, who has served the city of Charleston as parks director and section chief of facilities and capital projects, is the most recent of several key leaders to leave the city under freshman Mayor William Cogswell.
At the conservancy, Kronsberg will succeed Jessica Gibadlo who filled the role in an interim capacity after Darlene Heater stepped down in October 2025. Kronsberg’s starting date is to be determined.
Kronsberg brings decades of experience in park stewardship, deep ties to the community and a vision for enhancing the Holy City’s park spaces through strong partnerships, according to a Jan. 30 announcement.
“As someone who has spent much of my career caring for parks, facilities and public spaces in this community, I am honored to lead the Charleston Parks Conservancy,” Kronsberg said in a statement. “I look forward to continuing the strong tradition of stewardship and innovation that makes our parks such vital places for residents and visitors alike. It’s a privilege to work alongside such a talented conservancy team and dedicated supporters, many of whom I’ve partnered with for years, in this new capacity.”
At the city, Kronsberg oversaw the design, maintenance and operation of more than 125 parks and public spaces. In that role, he partnered closely with the conservancy on several community-driven initiatives and projects. As a former member of the organization’s board of directors, he also brings firsthand insight into the organization’s mission, partnerships and impact.
“[Kronsberg’s] leadership represents a thoughtful and natural next chapter for the conservancy,” George J. Bullwinkel III, board chair of the conservancy, said in a press release. “His deep knowledge of Charleston’s parks, strong partnerships across the public and nonprofit sectors and history of collaboration will serve the organization well as we continue to pursue our mission.”
The conservancy is a nonprofit organization that stewards and supports 26 of Charleston’s parks, playing a vital role in shaping the city’s public spaces.
“Jason Kronsberg has been an outstanding director of the Department of Parks, a longstanding member of the Charleston Parks Conservancy board of directors and has unique qualifications to guide the conservancy into a new era of success,” said Darla Moore, founder and chair emerita of the Charleston Parks Conservancy. “His extensive knowledge, expertise and abilities are precisely what we require during this pivotal phase of our growth.”
Krosberg joins the organization during a period of sustained growth, according to the announcement, marked by successful park renovations and community events, such as last year’s inaugural Bloom Charleston event and the revitalization of Colonial Lake.
- More: Charleston Parks Conservancy.
Help keep the City Paper free.
No paywalls.
No subscription cost.
Free delivery at 800 locations.
Help support independent journalism by donating today.