Mayor Bryan Baptiste has named his Offices of Community Assistance director, Bernard Carvalho, to head the county's new Department of Parks and Recreation.

The new department was split off from the Department of Public Works after a charter amendment approved by the voters in November's general election.

Carvalho, a 21-year county employee, took the new post yesterday and will oversee the development of the new department, which oversees planning and operation of all county recreational facilities.

Janine Rapozo, county executive on transportation, will serve as interim director of Carvalho's old agency.