LANGLEY — South Whidbey Parks and Recreation District commissioners are looking for a new director. They will begin interviewing candidates next week to replace Art Burke, who resigned from his position Feb. 28.

Burke, who has served as director for two years, submitted his resignation during a five-minute executive session following the board’s regular meeting last Wednesday.

On Burke’s watch, the parks district completed a community-wide user survey, undertook a master planning process with an outside consulting firm, and added 200 acres of Department of Natural Resources forest land to its 112 acres of parks property.

Burke and others have also started the trail mapping process in the Maxwelton property. The site will be transferred to the parks district from the state’s land transfer plan, and the property will be used for hiking, mountain bike riding and horseback riding.

Burke, who lives in Port Townsend, said he will be assisting Jefferson County Parks with fundraising. He said his decision to resign was partly due to his long daily commute to his home on the Kitsap Peninsula.

“It’s time to do something different closer to home,” Burke said.

“South Whidbey Parks really deserves a resident director, who is part of the community,” he added.

Burke said he will stay on until a new director is hired.

Burke was hired in January 2005 to replace Lee McFarland, who served for a year as the interim director. McFarland replaced Suzette Hart, who resigned to raise a family.