Parks California expands resources for parks from philanthropic and corporate partners and leverages public dollars to tackle projects that improve parks for all visitors. Collaborating with State Parks and other partners, Parks California will ensure protected lands remain resilient while meeting the evolving, lifelong needs of all Californians. With expanded programs, amenities, and resources, we will work to bring younger and more diverse visitors to parks and public lands.
Ensuring Our Parks Thrive
Parks California is a statewide nonprofit working to ensure our state, regional, and local parks thrive. From redwood groves and desert springs to light houses and ghost towns, we’re working with our partners to make California parks more welcoming, accessible, and relevant to all visitors.
Ensuring Our Parks Thrive
Parks California is a statewide nonprofit working to ensure our state, regional, and local parks thrive. From redwood groves and desert springs to light houses and ghost towns, we’re working with our partners to make California parks more welcoming, accessible, and relevant to all visitors.
Ensuring Our Parks Thrive
Parks California is a statewide nonprofit working to ensure our state, regional, and local parks thrive. From redwood groves and desert springs to light houses and ghost towns, we’re working with our partners to make California parks more welcoming, accessible, and relevant to all visitors.
Ensuring Our Parks Thrive
Parks California is a statewide nonprofit working to ensure our state, regional, and local parks thrive. From redwood groves and desert springs to light houses and ghost towns, we’re working with our partners to make California parks more welcoming, accessible, and relevant to all visitors.
Ensuring Our Parks Thrive
Parks California is a statewide nonprofit working to ensure our state, regional, and local parks thrive. From redwood groves and desert springs to light houses and ghost towns, we’re working with our partners to make California parks more welcoming, accessible, and relevant to all visitors.
Ensuring Our Parks Thrive
Parks California is a statewide nonprofit working to ensure our state, regional, and local parks thrive. From redwood groves and desert springs to light houses and ghost towns, we’re working with our partners to make California parks more welcoming, accessible, and relevant to all visitors.
Ensuring Our Parks Thrive
Parks California is a statewide nonprofit working to ensure our state, regional, and local parks thrive. From redwood groves and desert springs to light houses and ghost towns, we’re working with our partners to make California parks more welcoming, accessible, and relevant to all visitors.
Ensuring Our Parks Thrive
Parks California is a statewide nonprofit working to ensure our state, regional, and local parks thrive. From redwood groves and desert springs to light houses and ghost towns, we’re working with our partners to make California parks more welcoming, accessible, and relevant to all visitors.
Ensuring Our Parks Thrive
Parks California is a statewide nonprofit working to ensure our state, regional, and local parks thrive. From redwood groves and desert springs to light houses and ghost towns, we’re working with our partners to make California parks more welcoming, accessible, and relevant to all visitors.
Partner With Us
Parks California was established as a California nonprofit public benefit corporation. Initial seed funding and staff support to launch Parks California was provided by donors including the S.D. Bechtel, Jr., the David and Lucile Packard, William and Flora Hewlett foundations, and Resources Legacy Fund.
Who We Are
Board of Directors
Steve Lockhart
Dr. Lockhart formerly served as Chair of the Board of NatureBridge and currently serves as a director of REI. As a member of the National Park Service Second Century Commission, he advocated for environmental and science education within the national parks. He is an Eagle Scout, a Rhodes Scholar, and an avid mountain climber.
Chief Medical Officer, Sutter Health, David and Lucile Packard Foundation Trustee, and Parks Forward Commissioner.
Teresa Alvarado
Ms. Alvarado formerly led the offices of CEO Support and Communications & Community Engagement at the Santa Clara Valley Water District. She also was the first executive director of the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley and founded the Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley.
San Jose Director of SPUR, an urban policy organization that promotes good government and planning, and Bay Conservation and Development commissioner.
Sharon Farrell
Ms. Farrell has worked for all three organizations within the Golden Gate National Parks—the Conservancy, National Park Service, and Presidio Trust--over the past two decades. She oversees the planning and implementation of a number of cross-boundary community stewardship, science, and landscape-level restoration programs and projects.
VP of Conservation and Stewardship, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, Acting Director of the One Tam Initiative, and facilitator of the California Landscape Stewardship Network.
Belinda Faustinos
Prior, Ms. Faustinos served as the Executive Officer of the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy. She was also the Executive Officer of three joint powers entities: the Watershed Conservation Authority, the San Gabriel River Discovery Center Authority and the Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority.
Executive Director of Nature for All, which works to build a diverse base of support in the Los Angeles region for ensuring equitable access to the wide range of benefits nature can provide.
Our Team
Kindley Walsh Lawlor
Formerly led human rights and environmental efforts at Gap Inc. and Gap Inc. Foundation, where she was well-respected as a designer of multi-stakeholder solutions with extensive experience navigating complex issues and building teams. At Gap Inc., she most recently led a career advancement program focused on educating and empowering women globally. Kindley served two terms on the International Labour Organization’s Better Work Advisory Committee, focusing on improving labor rights in global sewing factories.
President and CEOLeads Parks California as it partners with the state Department of Parks and Recreation, philanthropies, corporations, community groups, and other organizations to expand park programs, amenities, and resources.
Heana Chung
Heana has held several executive positions during her 16 years at the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA), including Chief Operations Officer and Chief Financial Officer. She led the national expansion of the organization from one to 18 chapters, in addition to overall management of the organization’s operations and finances. Prior to joining PCA, she spent more than 15 years in executive management positions at information technology companies.
Vice President of Operations & FinanceLeads the establishment and implementation of the infrastructure needed to grow and support Parks California.
Geoff Kish
Geoff has led partnerships to enhance park conservation across all levels of government, from national park management to the revitalization of community parks. He was most recently the Principal of Ridgeline Management Consulting, where he helped nonprofit organizations build capacity. Previously, he served in leadership roles at the Downtown Providence Parks Conservancy, the Santa Monica Mountains Fund, the Center for Park Management at the National Parks Conservation Association, and at IBM Global Business Services.
Vice President of ProgramsLeads strategic and operational efforts in all program areas, actively working with the California Department of Parks and Recreation to identify and develop priority projects across the state.
Natalie Schaefer
Natalie has been in fundraising for over 20 years, helping to raise millions to fund career technical education programs and facilities, service-learning opportunities, and environmental education. Most recently, she comes from California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) in San Luis Obispo, where she was the Executive Director for Strategic Development Initiatives. Her duties included fundraising for campus-wide diversity initiatives, and maintaining strategic corporate and foundation partnerships.
Vice President of Partnerships & ResourcesResponsible for raising the funds needed to achieve the organization’s vision and for developing innovative public-private partnerships that support California’s parks.
Myrian Solis Coronel
Myrian most recently led REI’s Next Gen Marketing program. Prior to joining REI, she worked at KPBS, a local PBS and NPR affiliate, where she managed special events and developed media and outreach campaigns. She has been a board member for several organizations including I Love a Clean San Diego and MANA de San Diego. She is also the co-creator of the Latina Giving Circle. From 2018-2019, she was Chair of the California State Park and Recreation Commission, serving as the Commission’s first Latina Chair.
Director of Community EngagementDrives Parks California’s work engaging with communities and community organizations throughout the state.
Job Opportunities
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Parks California Launch Video
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