Regional Park District Expands Youth Workforce Development Program

CASTRO VALLEY, CA — A recent expansion by the East Bay Regional Parks District to its youth workforce development programs is increasing benefits for Bay Area at-risk youth and the greater community.

By building up its programming, not only are the district's efforts to maintain safe trails for visitors supported, but wildfire risk is also being reduced, according to a news release issued by the district.

“Youth workforce development programs offers the Park District’s Fire Department one of the important tools in our toolbox for fuels reduction, especially when wildfires can endanger park visitors, wildlife, and the diverse habitats in our many parks,” Park District Fire Chief Aileen Theile said.

Park District General Manager Sabrina B. Landreth said she is thankful to the EBRPD Board of Directors for its increased investment in the workforce development programs.

"We are strengthening and building upon our past successes so that we can have a more robust effort and a larger impact in supporting local youth, including at-risk or underserved individuals,” Landreth said.

The Park District, which is the largest regional parks system in the nation, works with service providers, such as Civicorps, to assist local young adults, typically ages 18 to 25, who may be facing challenges in life from dropping out of school to early parenthood to not having job or career training opportunities.

“We have recruited several fuels crew employees that had training and experience from Civicorps,” Theile said. “This success in building our Fire Department staff to help prevent wildfires is a positive for these young people, the Park District, and our community.”

Another key component and growth area for the Park District is workforce or job development opportunities for at-risk youth in park operations on the small trails crew that helps maintain trails in the 73 parks system.

“It takes dedication to do this work and to appreciate the significance of protecting people and our lands,” Robert Kennedy, Park District Chief of Maintenance and Skilled Trades, said. “We are currently building and expanding a cohesive, coordinated team for the small trails crew that undertakes important work to improve and maintain trails, remove hazards, and help reduce wildfire fuels, all in an urban forest setting.”

With Civicorps’ partnership, the youth participants working with EBRPD rotate through assignments, including current ones with the small trails crew where they gain experience and provide public service in working on small trail grading, retaining walls, culvert repair, riparian zone restoration, tree clearing, fuels reduction, and split rail fencing installations.

“The youth who work with us are already trained on how to use power equipment like chainsaws," Kennedy said. "They are very motivated to be here and get the job done. It allows us to get the trails work done faster, which benefits the whole community.”