It is with deep gratitude, and a little sadness, that I am writing to you to announce my departure from the Oakland Parks and Recreation Foundation after a decade as Executive Director. I’ve pondered this tough decision for some time and this is the right moment for me to pursue new professional challenges.
Though my last day will be January 31, I will continue to be a champion for equitable access to open space and recreation opportunities in Oakland’s parks. I also plan to keep supporting the essential work that the Foundation performs for Oakland’s communities.
In my 10 years leading the Foundation, six since the merging of Friends of Oakland Parks and Recreation and the Oakland Parks Coalition, we have accomplished so much together:
- We’ve built, reinvigorated and activated numerous parks to increase recreation opportunities for all Oaklanders including Town Park at deFremery, the Astro Park play area and the playgrounds at Lincoln Square, Lafayette Square and Holly Mini Park.
- We’ve stepped up our youth scholarship program, helping thousands of children attend Town Camp and school break camps, learn to swim and enjoy other programs offered by Oakland Parks, Recreation and Youth Development.
- We’ve improved our fiscal sponsorship services to help community groups like For The Town, Today’s Future Sound, Afrocentric Oakland, Oakland Landscape Committee and Friends of Joaquin Miller Park provide essential recreation and stewardship programs.
- We’ve conducted rigorous, professional park surveys that continue to identify park maintenance needs and elevate the voices of park users across all areas of Oakland.
- Finally, we’ve matured into an efficient and effective organization that is professionally-staffed, well-regarded and influential in Oakland.
Through it all, our work has been rooted in equity, diversity and inclusion.
During my tenure as Executive Director, I’ve been blessed to work with passionate Oaklanders from every corner of our great city, four of whom are no longer with us and require special mention: Anne Woodell, whose vision drove our founding in 1981; Hap Smith, the director of the Oakland Parks Department who partnered with Anne to bring her vision to life; Barry Weiss, a former Board president and parks professional who drove our 2015 merger; and, Tom Guarino, another former Board president and constant source of advice.
Mandolin Kadera-Redmond, our Board president and a former chair of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission, will serve as interim Executive Director beginning on February 1. There is no one better to manage the Foundation and lead our staff, while the organization selects a new Executive Director this spring.
I want you to know how grateful I am for the opportunity to serve Oakland over the past 10 years. I move on secure in the knowledge that the Foundation will continue supporting parks and the people who use them.
Sincerely,
Ken Lupoff
Ken we will definitely miss you. Your dedication and support throughout the years has been appreciated within our department. Our families, youth, and staff will truly miss you. Good luck in pursuing your new dreams in life.
Thank you for your well wishes!
Ken,
I truly appreciated the hard work that you put into the Oakland Community. You should be really proud of this work. The list of accomplishments during your tenure speaks for itself. You can also be proud of the relationships that you managed to build with staff within OPRYD. They were important and necessary. Your easy going style could always be counted on. You have been accessible, open and easy to communicate with despite some of the tumultuous times experienced in this city.
On a lighter note:
The kindness in your voice, when having to tell us/me that the funds are just not there for your project!?(smile). With that said, you will be missed.
Good luck with your future endeavors.
Karis
Thank you, Karis!
Dear Ken,
From our earliest days when you were at Berrett Koehler to our collaboration during the past few years, you have been a joy to work with, honest, hard working, professional, kind, curious, and always leaning into what is the best thing to do next. Many blessings for your contributions and best wishes for all your future endeavors. Alan
Thank you for your reflections!
Ken, It is always pleasure working with you! your awesome attitude. Your hard work and contributions to the Oakland Parks and the community have been tremendous! THANK YOU! I wish you the best for your future endeavors!!
Stay safe,
Joseph Tanios
Thank you for those kind words!
You gave the people of Oakland a great gift with your hard work and support for Oakland’s parks. I enjoyed working for you, but even more, I greatly admire the dedication you put into a sometimes thankless but so meaningful job. Best of luck in the future!
Thank you, Laura!
Ken, please don’t leave us! We still need you. I have learned so much from knowing you. I guess it is better to leave while you are on top. Seriously, the entire City of Oakland owes you a world of gratitude for your tireless work in fundraising, park clean ups and coordination, providing funds for hundreds of underprivilege kids to attend OPRYD camps and after school programs. You will be missed deeply! I wish you the best in you future endeavors.
No one can put on a “Taste of Spring” event like you can! Please stop by Mosswood sometime and visit.
Thanks so much, Terri!
We can’t thank you enough for all your sacrifices and contributions to bring Oakland, its parks, and its your programming to a better place over the last 10 years, Ken!
Thank you, Councilmember Taylor!
Ken, it’s been great working with you through the years. Our Kitchens Around the World program last summer brought a bright ray of sunshine to the darkness of the pandemic. Thank you for making that happen. Best of luck with your next adventures!
The feeling is mutual, Maria!