Photo at right provided by the Long Beach Parks, Recreation & Marine Department

11:15am | Longtime director of the Long Beach Parks, Recreation & Marine Department Phil Hester plans to retire, according to Greg Mellen of the Press-Telegram this morning. Hester has served as director since 1998 and has worked in Long Beach since 1988.

The Press-Telegram article cites unnamed sources who say that Hester will retire no later than the end of the year. Hester was not immediately available for comment, according to a Parks Department employee today.

Hester oversaw a massive department that includes more than 100 parks, five golf courses and several beaches. Budget cuts in recent years have forced the department to drastically reduce its services, limit events and cut staff such as park rangers. Many of those same cuts are expected to be brought to the City Council this summer during the Fiscal Year 2011 Budget process.

More to come…