North Huntingdon Township has a new director for its parks and recreation department, and he is excited about coming to the township.

Matt Bruno grew up "right over the hill" from North Huntingdon, and from a young age, he loved the rolling hills and valleys of western Westmoreland County.

"I've always been an outdoors person," Bruno said. He regularly goes hunting and fishing. His love of nature continued to blossom as he grew older.

A graduate of Penn-Trafford High School, Bruno attended Slippery Rock University. While studying there, he decided to turn his green inclinations into a career and majored in parks and recreation management and environmental education.

He interned at Keystone State Park, and after graduation he took a job with Westmoreland County's Parks and Recreation Department. He works there as an assistant coordinator of programming and planning.

In his work for Westmoreland County, Bruno said, he has worn a number of hats. To set up the variety of events the county runs, Bruno has worked with members of the community, event sponsors and organizers and foundation board members.

Bruno said that variety of work will serve him well in North Huntingdon, where he will administer similar programs.

"North Huntingdon's programs are somewhat the same as how the county does stuff," he said.

The township's parks received high praise from Bruno, who said he was attracted to the job by the high quality of the department's previous work. He said the township's parks were well maintained, and the department sponsors a variety of good activities.

"They have an awesome foundation built for the programs," he said.

Although Bruno did not did have any specific plans in mind, he said he will spend his initial time learning what the township does and seeing how to expand that work.

"I see the programs growing. I have a big interest in making things bigger and better if we can," he said.

Bruno said he looks forward to working with the recreation board, township manager, board of commissioners and members of the community.

Commissioner Anthony Martino said the board was impressed by Bruno's previous work. Martino described parks and recreation as a "vital" part of the township and said he thought Bruno would do well as director.

"He comes with a very good resume," Martino said. "I think he's going to be a very good guy for our township."

Bruno starts work on June 2, with an annual salary of $44,000. Bruno takes over for previous director Chandra Scheftic, who announced her resignation in March.