Oakland, CA – At the January 12, 2010 meeting, Doug Siden was appointed president of the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) Board of Directors for 2010. Director Siden was first elected in1992 to serve on the EBRPD Board of Directors and has been re-elected four times. His ward includes Alameda, San Leandro, San Lorenzo and a portion of Oakland. Parks include Crown Beach, Oyster Bay, Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline and a portion of Anthony Chabot.

Siden was Executive Director of a successful program to provide environmental education and recreational experiences to youth, children, families and adults for over 20 years until his retirement in 1999. He holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Masters Degree. He also received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the American Baptist Seminary of the West for his leadership.  His community service includes being president of the Alameda County Chapter of the California Special Districts Association, past chair of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom Center in Oakland, vice chair of the Waterfront Action, and chair of the Alameda Rotary Club’s Community Grants Committee. Previously he served as advisory commissioner for the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and the Point Reyes National Seashore.

In 2009, the National Recreation and Park Association honored Siden with a National Individual Citation of Merit Award for his valuable contributions to environmental education and recreational opportunities to his community. Siden was Chairman for the Measure WW Campaign, a $500 million bond extension to preserve thousands of acres of open space and expand regional parks and trails for residents of Alameda and Contra Cost counties.  In November 2008, passing by over 72%, this historic bond measure extension is the largest local parks bond measure to be enacted in the country’s history.

As the newly-appointed Board president, Siden replaces Ted Radke of Martinez who remains active on the Board. Other executive officers for the 2010 East Bay Regional Park District Board of Directors include Beverly Lane of Danville as Vice President, Carol Severin of Castro Valley as Treasurer and John Sutter of Oakland as Secretary. Whitney Dotson of Richmond and Ayn Wieskamp of Livermore also serve on the Board.