
(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.