Spotlight u Sacramento County names New Parks Director Jeffrey Leatherman, a California State University, Chico, graduate in Recreation Administration, has been named Director of the 50,000 acre Sacramento County Regional Parks system. The County Board of Supervisors approved his appointment, effective Feb. 12, to succeed Janet R. Baker who retired July 1, 2011. Leatherman comes from serving as general manager of the ValleyWide Recreation and Park District in San Jacinto, Riverside County. Recreation and Park Commission member Robert Bastion, said he is “extremely happy that we do have a new director for Regional Parks and that we are moving ahead. As a Regional Parks com-
missioner, I am looking forward to working with the Regional Parks team in a positive manner to work out some of the challenges we are facing.” The new director grew up in Truckee; he is married and has three children. http://www.arnha.org/pkwynews. html
Director Named for Santa Barbara County’s New Super-Department
by Chris Meagher, Santa Barbara Independent, Published: October 13, 2011 A former NFL football player who has worked for the City of Temecula since 1991 is be the director of the new county Community Services Department. Herman Parker was appointed by the Board of Supervisors and will lead the newly created depart-
ment which merges Parks & Recreation, Housing and Community Development, the Human Services Commission, the Arts Commission, and the Library Advisory Committee. Before his job as director of community services for Temecula, Parker worked for the City of Riverside and the County of Los Angeles. He also played briefly in the National Football League for the Buffalo Bills. County CEO Chandra Wallar said in a statement that Parker is a well-accomplished public servant with an excellent reputation. “He will bring a unique blend of talents and skills to the position which mirrors the unique needs of the new department,” she said. http://www.independent.com/ news/2011/oct/13/directornamed-countys-new-super-department/
Doug Stafford Takes His Love of Gardening Into His Retirement
After 40 years of park work, for four California cities, long time CPRS member Doug Staf ford celebrated his retirement on April 16, 2012. Stafford’s horticultural career began as a nursery landscaper during his high school and college years. After 2 ½ years studying Landscape Architecture at Cal Berkeley, he earned a Parks Administration degree from Cal Poly Pomona. After a stint in the Navy during the Viet Nam war, Stafford’s parks career began in Union City. His second parks job took Doug to the City of San Diego as their General Park Supervi80
sor, overseeing 700 acres of turf maintenance. Doug’s next job was with the City of Santa Monica as their Park Superintendent, where he managed parks, park buildings, beaches, and trees for 11 years. Thinking back, Doug’s most dramatic parks experience was when a huge storm battered the Santa Monica municipal pier and half of it collapsed into the ocean. The tons of debris then washed up onto the beaches, and it took weeks to clean up. And for the last 24 years Doug enjoyed being the City of Monterey Parks Superintendent. Doug also volunteered much of his time to CPRS by organizing a monthly luncheon for District 9 Park Managers and he was the Park Operations Representative for District 6. Even though Doug’s official retirement was in Feb 2011, he continued working part time for another year. Doug’s passion for parks and gardens has taken him to over 70 European and 60 American gardens. He has photographed them and his photo library is over 5,000 images.
Aquatics Industry Leader Joe Hunsaker Dead at 74
By Paul Steinbach — AB Senior Editor Longtime aquatics industry leader Joe Hunsaker, cofounder of Counsilman-Hunsaker & Associates, died March 11 at age 74, having battled multiple sclerosis since 1978 and more recently cancer. Hunsaker, who won an NCAA championship in the 200 individual medley as a University of Illinois continued on page 82
SPRING 2012 • CALIFORNIA PARKS & RECREATION