State Parks Society Award Winner Named Garland's Downtown Development Manager

Nancy Tunell has joined the City of Garland's Downtown Development Office as the Downtown Development Manager. She is passionate about bringing people together to enhance shared spaces and creatively transform their surroundings for the better.

Tunell began working at the City in the Neighborhood Vitality Department in 2017. Most recently, she served as the City's Volunteer Coordinator. In that role, Tunell wrote the winning application for the 2024 Governor's Community Achievement Award, garnering $310,000 in landscaping funds. She also secured the North Central Texas Council of Governments' Solid Waste Implementation Grant for $81,000. In addition, Tunell established the annual Duck Creek Litter Cleanup.

In 2023, Tunell was awarded Part-Time Employee of the Year by the North Region of the Texas Recreation & Park Society.

A native of Richardson, Tunell earned her degree in International Business and Spanish from Texas State University-San Marcos. Her love for diverse cultures led her to teach English in Costa Rica, Ghana, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand.

Now settled in Garland, Tunell balances her career with family life as she and her husband raise their twin baby girls.