(Photo by Maya Springhawk Robnett - KAWC)

Yuma West Wetlands.

The Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area is getting a new chief. Charles Flynn is stepping down after 19 years as executive director.

His biggest accomplishment was spearheading a multi million-dollar redevelopment of Yuma’s Colorado River waterfront and restoring 400 acres of adjoining wetlands. The project included building two parks and a seven-mile trail system.

Flynn said he’s grateful that the project was never mired in partisan bickering.

“People wanted a re-connection to the riverfront,” he said. “And that then also developed a tremendous bipartisan support.”

The next stage is to raise money and restore land for another park celebrating the Quechan Indian Tribe. Flynn called it one of the “new beginnings” of the riverfront project.

Flynn’s last day is Friday. His successor is Lowell Perry Jr., who was most recently the director of the Cleveland Promise Neighborhood.