Parks Chief Hadaway Announces Retirement

James Hadaway, general manager of the Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Department for the last 15 years, will retire later this year.

Mayor Tom Bradley praised the 62-year-old Hadaway for his tenure, which included the renovation of inner-city parks and $250 million in spending on new recreation centers.

Since Hadaway took over the department in 1976, its annual budget has increased from $33 million to $96 million. But he has faced pressure to cut back on spending in recent months because the city is facing a budget deficit.