DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson has appointed Christopher Bass as the new Director of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Affairs. The appointment is effective immediately.
Bass brings over 15 years of experience in parks and recreation management, strategic planning, and community programming. He previously served as Parks and Recreation Director for the City of Douglasville. In that role, he managed department operations, set goals and policies, and worked to meet the needs of a growing population. He led the opening of the $15 million Douglasville Town Green & Amphitheater and oversaw park design and construction projects such as Jessie Davis Park ($25 million) and Willing Workers Park ($5 million). Bass also started the city’s Sports Tourism Program and accelerated implementation of a 10-Year Parks and Recreation Master Plan, completing its recommendations in five years. Under his leadership, Douglasville’s department was named an NRPA Gold Medal Finalist in 2023 and 2024, received the Grand Plaque Award in 2024, and achieved CAPRA re-accreditation.
“Christopher Bass brings visionary leadership, technical expertise and a strong commitment to community-centered public spaces,” said CEO Cochran-Johnson. “His experience delivering high-quality facilities, expanding programming, and earning national recognition for excellence makes him exceptionally well-prepared to lead DeKalb County Parks and Recreation into its next chapter.”
Before becoming director in Douglasville, Bass was Assistant Parks and Recreation Director there. He oversaw recreation facilities, athletics programs, managed a $5 million annual budget, and guided CAPRA accreditation efforts. Earlier at Columbus Parks and Recreation, he managed recreation facilities including 26 afterschool programs with oversight of 175 employees. He maintained a $4.7 million operating budget there while helping establish agreements that expanded services for youth.
Bass holds both a Master of Public Administration degree and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from Columbus State University. He is certified as both a Parks and Recreation Executive and Public Manager. His professional involvement includes roles with the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA), National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) National Certification Board, as well as Georgia’s state association.
DeKalb County schools enrolled about 98,287 students during the 2022-23 school year according to data from the Georgia Department of Education (https://www.gadoe.org/). Enrollment dropped by approximately 2.2% compared to the previous year (https://www.gadoe.org/). Black students made up the largest portion at about 55.7%, followed by Hispanic students at roughly 20.1% (https://www.gadoe.org/). White students accounted for around 14%, while multiracial students were about 3.3% of enrollment during that period (https://www.gadoe.org/).
Bass’s achievements have been recognized through several awards honoring his leadership within parks administration.
