New York City’s parks commissioner is leaving his post for a newly created position with a national conservation group, The New York Times reports.

Adrian Benepe will focus on urban green spaces at the Trust for Public Land, promoting public-private models for park development and environmentally sound infrastructure. He will join the nonprofit organization, based in San Francisco, after Labor Day.

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, who made Mr. Benepe one of his first appointees upon taking office in 2002, announced the departure at the groundbreaking for $15-million project for improvements to a Bronx park. The commissioner is credited with overseeing an ambitious program of building and renovating city parks during his decade in office.