Polk County hired a new recreation director to replace director Patty Aldred, who is retiring this week.
Jerry Stensland started the position on Saturday, Dec. 14.
Stensland enters the position already familiar with Polk’s recreation department. The county hired Isothermal Planning and Development Commission (IPDC), who contracted Stensland to create Polk’s recreation master plan, recently approved by county commissioners.

Stensland has an extensive background in recreation, tourism and grant writing. He graduated from the University of South Dakota with a bachelor of science degree in
accounting and the University of Iowa with a bachelor of arts in physical education and a masters in athletic administration.
Stensland worked with the Rutherford County Tourism Development Authority where he developed a comprehensive database of tourism assets, developed an economic impact analysis of outdoor recreation and tourism assets and developed a comprehensive grant database as well as being a grant writer for the tourism asset foundation. Stensland also has operated his own business as a consultant in the areas of recreation and trail planning, recreation project management, grant writing and photography.
He worked for Rutherford County from 2006 to 2012 as the recreational, cultural and heritage planner where he wrote grants and managed projects, including 20 in the areas of parks, trails, heritage preservation, health and wellness and arts. He obtained $1.4 million worth of grants while in Rutherford County and created six master plans for current and planned parks.
Stensland also formerly worked for the Daily Courier as a reporter and photographer and for newspapers in Arkansas.
Residing just over the Rutherford County line, Stensland is currently a member of the Rutherford County Health Council, the Rutherford County Tourism Asset Foundation and the vice chair of the Chimney Rock State Park advisory committee.
Stensland is the co-founder and president of the Rutherford Outdoor Coalition, served two three-year terms on the Foothills Conservancy, is co-founder of Save Chimney Rock, a member of Friends of Chimney Rock and a member of the Rutherford County Healthy Children Collaborative.
Stensland replaces Aldred, who has been with the recreation department for 18 years. Assistant director Christine Zellner also retired last week.
The county hired Stensland as an interim director and plans to review the department during the interim period. The county has not replaced Zellner.
Stensland said he is excited about working for Polk County and is impressed with how many recreational programs the county has already.
He said Aldred and Zellner have all the programs very organized and he plans to utilize resources such as Facebook, local newspapers and the county’s website to let the community know of the department’s programs.