Heart named head of Regional Parks

County Supervisors named Occidental attorney and open space
advocate Caryl Hart as new director of the county’s Regional Parks
Department this week.
Hart, 52, the wife of Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart, is
chair of the California State Park & Recreation Commission and
“a recognized expert in parks acquisition and management,” said
Sonoma County Government Affairs Manager Jim Leddy in an
announcement of Hart’s appointment this week.
“Dr. Hart distinguished herself in the interview process with
her combination of strong private sector managerial experience,
incredible passion to the community’s parks and recreational open
spaces and dedication to public access,”said Leddy.
Hart “brings a wealth of experience in administration, building
needed partnerships for success and understanding the intricacies
of preserving and protection of our natural environment,” said
Sonoma Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Valerie Brown.
“In addition to her parks advocacy, she has private sector
entrepreneurial zest that will benefit all of Sonoma County’s parks
and, by extension, our residents and visitors,” said Brown. “The
entire Board is overjoyed to have a person of this caliber joining
our team.”
In addition to serving as a governor’s appointee to the
California State Parks Commission, Hart is a founding member of the
local non-profit group LandPaths and was a member of the Sonoma
County Outdoor Recreation Plan Advisory Committee.
She was a member of the County General Plan Update Citizens
Advisory Committee and is a member of the California Climate
Reserve Forest Project Protocol Committee.
Hart has also managed a production Company, 360 Productions for
14 years.
She has a PhD. in Environmental Science Policy and Management
from the U.C. Berkeley College of Natural Resources, a Law Degree
from the University of San Francisco and is a graduate of Cornell
University.
“I truly appreciate the Board expressing their confidence in my
ability and look forward to working with the community and the rest
of the county in preserving and enhancing one of our regions
greatest resources, our regional parks,” said Hart in accepting the
appointment.
Hart was one of five finalists for the Regional Parks director
slot that she will assume on Nov. 8. Her starting salary will be
approximately $134,000 a year.
Hart and her husband, Mickey Hart were both campaigning this
week in support of state Proposition 21 that will create an annual
$18 motor vehicle registration surcharge to fund the
budget-devastated state parks system.
“As a state parks commissioner and long-time environmental
advocate, I’ve seen first-hand the devastating impacts budget cuts
have had on our beloved state park system,” said Hart.
“For over 20 years in Sonoma County Caryl has clearly shown her
love of the land and ensuring people have access to it,” said
Sonoma County Administrator Veronica Ferguson this week.
“Caryl will bring incredible energy, passion and focus to the
Regional Parks and we know that she will help the county leverage
new resources for the community and their recreational and open
space needs.”
Hart succeeds current Regional Parks Director Mary Burns, who is
retiring on November 1.