Brian Zimmerman is responsible for the management of more than 25,000 acres of green space in Northeast Ohio including 18 park reservations, nine golf courses, and the nationally acclaimed Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.
Since assuming the role of CEO in 2010, Brian has acquired land at the fastest rate in the Park District’s history aside from the park founder, adding over 4,000 acres of protected park land and forests. Brian has helped revitalize Cleveland’s urban core with the acquisition and transformation of nearly 750 acres of lakefront property including the Re-Connecting Cleveland TIGER trails project that links more than 66,000 Cleveland residents to Lake Erie and the region’s vast network of parks and trails.
As CEO, Brian has strategically expanded park access to 49 communities across six counties, adding more than 60 miles of trails, bringing the park's trail network to more than 325 miles of trails. He has also improved park relevancy through enhanced programming, connections, and opportunities, attracting more than 19 million annual recreational visitors in each of past three years.
Brian has also overseen the transformation of Cleveland Metroparks Zoo into a nationally recognized facility for animal care and wildlife conservation. Under his leadership, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and non-profit Cleveland Zoological Society have invested $35 million in larger and more complex animal habitats, including African Elephant Crossing, Rosebrough Tiger Passage, Asian Highlands, Daniel Maltz Rhino Reserve and Susie’s Bear Hollow. Brian has also laid the groundwork for some of the park’s most transformational investments to come including a state-of-the-art Primate Forest at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.
His efforts have been recognized nationally through several awards including the 2021 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park Management by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA), the highest national honor in parks and recreation. The Gold Medal award was the fifth Gold Medal in Cleveland Metroparks history and the second awarded under Brian’s leadership. Brian also recently received the 2023 Leadership Award from the Harvard Business School of Northeast Ohio, the 2023 Smart Business Smart 50 Award and was named one of Ohio Business Magazine’s Most Influential Leaders across the state.
He received the 2022 Shatten Award by Greater Cleveland Partnership and was also recognized as among Northeast Ohio’s “Power 150,” a list of the region’s most influential CEOs, politicians, and civic leaders. In 2020, he received the COVID Impact Relief Award by Smart Business. Brian has been previously recognized as the 2018 National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials (NACPRO) Professional Fellow Award, Crain’s Cleveland Business 2017 CEO of the Year, a finalist for Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, and 2016 "Professional of the Year" by the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association.
In addition to his role with Cleveland Metroparks, Brian is a member of the American Academy for Park & Recreation Administration (AAPRA) and serves on several boards including Destination Cleveland, Flats Forward, iHeartMedia Local Advisory Board, Northeast Ohio Sustainability Community Consortium and has served as past Chair of Cleveland Neighborhood Progress.