Parks & Recreation Staff

Monica A. Tierney, MBA, MEd., CPRE.

Director of Parks and Recreation

Phone: 267-274-1112
Email: monicat@lmt.org

Monica Tierney serves as the Parks and Recreation Director for Lower Makefield Township, where she oversees 10 full-time staff, approximately 160 summer hires, 700 acres of parks, 28 miles of bike trails, the Community Pool, and the Community Center. She also manages special events and diverse recreational programming.

During her tenure, Monica has spearheaded significant projects, including the opening of the Community Center and Dog Park, the Memorial Park Expansion Project, and the launch of Camp LMT. She expanded the special events schedule, introduced new programming, added a college internship program, and developed the township’s Parks and Recreation Master and Strategic Plan. Monica also implemented measurement tools to enhance planning and efficiency.

A notable achievement under Monica’s leadership was earning national accreditation from the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) through the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) in 2022. This distinction places Lower Makefield Township among the elite Parks and Recreation agencies nationwide and marks it as the first agency in Pennsylvania to achieve this status. The accreditation signifies excellence in managing lands, facilities, resources, programs, safety, and services.

Monica’s primary goal is to foster an outstanding environment for her employees, residents, and program participants.

Professional Service:

• 2014–2016: Member, Nutritional Coalition of Bucks County
• 2015–2017: Executive Board Member, Neshaminy Coalition for Youth
• 2019: Presenter, Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society (PRPS) Conference
• 2020: Member, Pennsylvania Recreation and Parks Conference Committee
• 2020–2021: President, Bucks County Recreation and Parks Council
• 2019-2021: Served on the Bucks County Senior Games Committee
• 2022/2023: Presenter at NRPA Conference
• 2023: Presenter at PRPS Conference

Current:

• 2023-Current: Writer for the PRPS “Dig It” Blog
• 2023-Current: Member of the PRPS Government Affairs Committee
• 2023-Current: Serves as a Mentor for PRPS, AAPRA/NRPA, and CAPRA

Current Member:

• Bucks County Recreation Council
• Bucks/Mont Aquatics Consortium
• Pennsylvania Recreation and Parks Society
• National Recreation and Parks Association

Certifications:

• Certified Parks and Recreation Executive

Lynn Todd, CPRP

Operations Manager

Phone: 267-274-1103
Email: ltodd@lmt.org

Lynn has been a valued member of Lower Makefield Township since 2013, playing a key role in enhancing the membership and registration process through the implementation of Community Pass, the Parks and Recreation management software. Her career has evolved from Pool Membership Coordinator to overseeing Parks and Recreation Operations.  In her current role, Lynn ensures maximum departmental efficiency, managing inspections, licenses, work orders, inventory, and facility maintenance, including equipment procurement. She also manages the coordination and tracking of all training and certification programs for staff. Her commitment to excellence extends to reviewing policies and procedures, ensuring they align with the Department’s CAPRA accreditation standards. Lynn’s contributions have significantly strengthened the department's operations and service delivery.

Member:

• Bucks County Recreation Council
• Bucks/Mont Aquatics Consortium
• Pennsylvania Recreation and Parks Society
• National Recreation and Parks Association

Service:

• 2021-Current serves on PRPS Membership Committee

Certifications:

• Certified Parks and Recreation Professional

Rob Vandegrift

Program Manager

Phone: 267-274-1111
Email: rvandegrift@lmt.org

Robert Vandegrift is an enthusiastic and dedicated professional joining the Parks and Recreation team at Lower Makefield as the Program Manager in 2024. With four years of experience at Whitemarsh Township, Robert has developed into a well-rounded parks and recreation specialist. During his tenure at Whitemarsh, he successfully managed a DHS licensed summer camp, various youth programs including STEM and Art, group fitness classes, and numerous special events. As a local to Lower Makefield, Robert is eager to contribute to the ongoing community projects and support his neighbors. With many exciting developments on the horizon, he is ready to dive in and make a positive impact.

Current Member:

• Bucks County Recreation Council
• Bucks/Mont Aquatics Consortium
• Pennsylvania Recreation and Parks Society
• National Recreation and Parks Association

Service:

• 2023-Current serves as At-Large member for PRPS District Committee

Kathy Howell

Membership Coordinator

Phone: 267-274-1110
Email: kathyh@lmt.org

Kathy started as a seasonal employee, as a Registration Coordinator, in March of 2021 assisting with the LMT pool membership registrations for the 2021 Season. In August of 2021 she started full time employment with Lower Makefield Township as Membership Coordinator in the Parks & Recreation Department. Kathy is responsible for all aspects of membership, scheduling orientation training classes, and registration for class, programs and summer camp. In addition to her membership and registration duties, Kathy has taken on the position of lead event planner for Veterans Day and Community Day.

Service:

Past

• Chair – Santa’s Workshop-St. Frances Cabrini Home and School, Fairless Hills, PA
• Held Various leadership positions for the St. Frances Cabrini Home and School Association in Fairless Hills, PA
• Conwell Eagan Assistant Cheer Coach/Team Parent/Spirit Night Parent

Current:

• 2017 – Current Serves Morrisville School District Cinderella’s Closet
• 2019 – Current Serves as Co-Chair on Morrisville School District Cinderella’s Closet

Current Member:

• Bucks County Recreation Council
• Pennsylvania Recreation and Parks Society
• National Recreation and Parks Association

Soumya Belagodu

Administrative Assistant

Phone: 267-274-1110
Email: sbelagodu@lmt.org

Soumya joined the Park And Recreation department in April 2022, as an Administrative Assistant. Soumya is responsible for providing administrative support to the Director of Parks and Recreation as well as provide clerical support to the Operations Manager, Program Manager, and Pool Manager. Soumya answers phone calls and assists residents with registrations for various classes provided at the center. She also assists Membership Coordinator with registration for the Pool and Dog park. In addition, she helps with maintaining and organizing all the supporting documents needed for the membership. Soumya assists and supports the team to achieve better results.

Current Member:

• Pennsylvania Recreation and Parks Society

Past:

• Assistant Teacher at Montessori School

Certification:

• Certificate in Customer Service

“Stan the Can”

Stan the Can recently retired after 40 years of service at Lower Makefield Township. His retirement was announced in 2023 as part of Pathway to Zero Waste Plan. In his retirement he enjoys using his wit to educate the public about Environmental Sustainability, he is an active member of the Lower Makefield Township Environmental Advisory Board and is often outspoken.

In his spare time, he enjoys long walks in the park, visiting with family and traveling parks throughout the nation. He has a dream of visiting every National Park.