August 2022

Honoring the Legacy of

Dr Nina Roberts

Aniko Kannas-Millan honors a beloved friend and colleague who lost a battle with  cancer earlier this year. To quote colleagues at SFSU, "...to truly honor Dr. Nina, get outside, visit a local park, and reflect on nature’s beauty and how we can increase access to our parks." Read Aniko's submission for Dr Nina Roberts' social justice field guide, and learn about how she honors and continues Dr Roberts' important work.

by Aniko Kannas-Millan

I am proud to say that I was the first Black female Park Ranger hired at Santa Clara County Parks in 1994. I am disappointed to say I was still the only Black female Park Ranger when I retired in 2020. In all that time, 26 years, only one other Black male was hired. How can that be in California? In the Bay Area? Along the way I appointed myself as...

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ParkRx Santa Cruz County

Cross Sector Pilot Targets Health and Park Equity

ParkRx Santa Cruz County is a new cross-sector effort that ​County Park Friends is proud to Co-Lead with County Public Health and Parks Department leaders across our beautiful community. The natural wealth of our parks and nature can improve health and must be available to all. Learn the....

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Kaiser Permanente Donates $25,000

to Sgt. Gutzwiller Willowbrook Park Memorial ​

Willowbrook Memorial News

County Park Friends is honored to announce Kaiser Permanente has provided a $25,000 grant to support the memorial for Santa Cruz County Sheriff Sergeant Damon Gutzwiller. Sergeant Gutzwiller was killed in the line of duty on June 6, 2020 and is survived by his partner and two young children.

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