(Redwood City, CA) Today, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved  the appointment of Meda Okelo to the San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Commission as  recommended by Supervisor Warren Slocum. Okelo will represent the 4th  Supervisorial District  on the Parks and Recreation Commission; his term commences immediately and will expire on  January 10, 2017. 

The County’s Parks and Recreation Commission is responsible for establishing policies to guide  the work of the County’s Department of Parks. The Parks Department has undergone exciting  changes this past year including the Board of Supervisors reestablished the Parks Department  as a free-standing department during the budget hearings; the Parks and Recreation  Commission adopted a new Master Plan; a brand new Parks Director, Marlene Finley, started  work on November 10th; and, a new Parks website debuted in December. 

Supervisor Slocum, who represents the 4th  District in San Mateo County which includes the  communities of East Palo Alto, Redwood City, the portion of Menlo Park that is east of El  Camino and the unincorporated community of North Fair Oaks, recommended Okelo, 30-year  resident of East Palo Alto and its former, longtime Community Services Director. In his former  position at the City of East Palo Alto, Okelo was responsible for developing and implementing  goals and objectives for the City’s Recreation and Parks Department, including the coordination  of the Parks Capital Improvement fundraising program. He also developed the City’s Summer  Sports Camp Reading Enhancement Program, the Summer Performing Arts Camp, the Summer  Rainbow Camp and the Young Adult Diversion Program. 

“I am extremely delighted to recommend Meda Okelo to the San Mateo County Parks and  Recreation Commission. His extensive background, his passion for parks and recreation, and his  experience in serving the needs of a diverse community will help strengthen and shape the  future of Parks and Recreation plans in San Mateo County,” said Slocum.