Smooth Leadership Change Passes The Torch At Wellington’s Award-Winning Rec Program

The Village of Wellington said goodbye to Parks & Recreation Director Bruce DeLaney recently and welcomed longtime village employee Eric Juckett into the top role at Wellington’s award-winning Parks & Recreation Department.

DeLaney spent 24 years with Wellington and is one of the pillars of its longtime success in the recreation sector. He has held the department’s top post for the past 10 years.

Arriving in 1994, DeLaney witnessed first-hand the growth and development of Wellington from the days before the community’s incorporation.

“When I started with the village, it was still the Acme Improvement District, and we had virtually no facilities. It was first getting started,” DeLaney recalled. “As the years went by, it developed, we built more facilities and became a village — and everything seemed to explode from there.”

Working in parks and recreation wasn’t always a part of DeLaney’s career path. He traces the beginning of that relationship back to family.

“It just kind of happened. I moved here from Cleveland with my wife and family, working with John Hancock Financial Services for 18 years,” he said. “The children were young, and I volunteered in a couple of programs to help coach and things like that. The recreation program was in the initial stages.”

As it became obvious to him how recreational programs would continue to grow, DeLaney decided to take a chance by changing careers. He began as an athletics coordinator, moved up to athletics manager, and in 2009 became the director of the department.

“I’m most proud of the staff that we built together. What we’ve ended with over there and this adventure that we are on is awesome. There are dedicated people. They come and are totally invested in what we are doing,” DeLaney said. “Once we got to that point, then everyday was a good time. We are all on the same page, and when everybody is on the same page, you get to be able to accomplish things.”

The programs offered during his years as director yielded many accolades for the Village of Wellington. In addition, the department achieved accreditation from the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA), a national standard of best practices given for excellence in both operations and services.

After dedicating years of service in working hard so that others can play, DeLaney is ready to spend some of his own time recreating with family.

“We’re looking forward to the various holidays like the Fourth of July. When working those events, you’re not with family,” said DeLaney, who recently moved to live closer to his son, daughter and granddaughter. “I have a boat and plan on doing some fishing. I’ve let my golf game go down the tubes, and now maybe I’ll pick that up again.”

The most effective leaders are those who have a long-term plan for growth, even after leaving a post. Juckett, DeLaney’s successor, is ready to tackle the challenge of filling the longtime director’s shoes.

“Eric is going to do a great job,” DeLaney said. “He’s a smart guy and going to do great things, especially with the people there.”

Juckett is a Florida native who was born in West Palm Beach and grew up in Royal Palm Beach. He has since made Wellington his permanent home. With an entire professional career being tied to parks and recreation, he is proud to be a part of the Village of Wellington team.

“I started out as a part-time life guard while in college, then I became a full-time lead life guard. Then I was an aquatics supervisor, became aquatics manager and now the director,” Juckett explained. “I love sports, being outside and engaging with the youth. If you had asked me, though, I did not envision being in parks and recreation.”

Yet since his second year working for Wellington, Juckett knew he wanted to stay and raise his family here.

“This is a rare field where you can see people happy,” Juckett said. “You can’t put a price on it. You can’t measure the smiles or a parent’s happiness when seeing their child succeed.”

That feeling is something Juckett understands on a personal level, too. On the occasions when he has free time, it revolves around his family.

“Now that my son is four, my hobbies are what he’s into. He played t-ball, and I was an assistant coach. It was very rewarding,” Juckett said.

The ties back to family and people is a recurring theme with both the former and new director.

“The value of parks and recreation truly is that it is for anyone and everyone, and it gives them the opportunity to enjoy life,” DeLaney said. “Put some of the struggles and stress behind you. Watch your kids participate, and you get to participate, too.”

Juckett is ready to continue DeLaney’s work and keep the department constantly evolving based on what the people want.

“I’m a big proponent of keeping residents in Wellington. Programs will always be a staple, but people also want family events,” Juckett said. “I enjoy seeing people thrive in Wellington.”

While the department goes through this well-planned transition, the focus will remain the same: providing residents with the best park facilities and finest recreation programs available.

Learn more about Wellington’s Parks & Recreation Department at www.wellingtonfl.gov.