Tara Eggleston Stewart is a Division Chief with the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission’s (M-NCPPC) Department of Parks and Recreation. She currently oversees operations and programming for the Aquatics and Athletic Facilities Division which includes the management of aquatic facilities, golf courses, ice rinks, tennis facilities, a trap & skeet center, and multi-use complexes.
Prior to her current position, Tara served as Division Chief for the Arts and Cultural Heritage Division for nearly four years. Prior to that position, Tara was involved with Aquatics programming for over 20 years and is the former Countywide Aquatics Coordinator for the Department. From 2008 to 2015, Tara was responsible for aquatics program development, marketing, and training. She is a graduate of Howard University and also holds a Master’s Degree in Sports Business from New York University. She has also earned several pool operating and water safety certifications and trains & certifies candidates on the patron, instructor, and instructor trainer levels.
In 2010, M-NCPPC’s Department of Parks and Recreation was selected for the “Best Overall Commitment to Aquatics” award by Aquatics International Magazine. In 2011, Tara became the author of the “Minority Report” column, a quarterly piece highlighting ways to increase minority participation in aquatics activity. In 2012, she was honored as the M-NCPPC’s “Woman of the Year”, received a VIP Award from the Department of Parks and Recreation, and was one of Aquatics International Magazine’s “Power 25” for her community and diversity work within the aquatics industry.
In 2013-2014, Tara served as the Aquatics Network Chairperson for the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and previously worked as an instructor for NRPA’s National Aquatic Management School. In 2014, she earned her Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) designation through NRPA. She also served as the 2014 and 2015 Conference and Exposition Chairperson for the Association of Aquatic Professionals (AOAP), currently serves on the AOAP Board of Directors, and was the first African-American President of AOAP in 2018-2019. In 2018, Tara was featured for the second time as one of Aquatics International Magazine’s “Power 25” for her continued commitment to diversity programming and inclusion within the aquatics field. Tara also serves on the Board of Directors for Diversity in Aquatics.