Superintendent of recreation Rick Robbins has been named the interim executive director of the Collinsville Area Recreation District. He is replacing executive director Mark Badasch, who announced last month that he was retiring effective Jan. 2.

The appointment was approved at the recreation district's board of commissioners meeting on Dec. 20.

"He's dealt really well with the community and he's done really well with the staff. They all get along, he's a really friendly people-person. So I think he'll be able to maintain what we've got going on here," said board president Mary Ann Bitzer. "We have a lot of confidence in Rick and we know he'll do a good job."

Robbins, 50, had been the Collinsville Area Recreation District's superintendent of recreation since 2007. Prior to that, he worked as the supervisor of athletics and fitness services at the Peoria Park District; the recreation program coordinator at Sunnyvale Parks and Recreation in California; and the athletic supervisor at the Park District of Highland Park in Illinois.

Robins has a bachelor's degree in parks and recreation from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and is certified in sports management from North Carolina State University and in facility management from the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association.

Bitzer said the board is looking into finding a company to conduct a search for the next permanent executive director. Illinois Association of Park District CEO Peter Murphy made a presentation to propose the organization's services at the board's December meeting. However, Bitzer said board members Andrew Carruthers and David Tanzyus requested that the board look into other companies as well. She said a final decision on hiring a company to find the next director may be made at the board's January meeting.

— Ramona C. Sanders