Ernie Shaw, a longtime supervisor in the Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department, has been named the department’s interim director while a search is conducted for retiring director Fred DeVictor.

Shaw has been with the department for 31 years. He currently is the superintendent of recreation operations, meaning he oversees all recreation programs, recreation centers and the city’s swimming pools.

“I just want to keep things running smoothly like they have in the past,” Shaw said. “The staff does a great job. I just want to keep everything organized.”

Shaw said he was not certain that he would be a candidate for the director position. He said he is interested in the job, but he currently lives just outside the city limits. City policy requires department heads to live within the city limits. Shaw said he was uncertain whether he wanted to move.

In other park news, the city has announced that it will name the future greenbelt park near Langston Hughes Elementary in West Lawrence DeVictor Park. DeVictor, whose last day with the department is today, had served in the Parks and Recreation Department for 37 years.