OAKLAND — The mastermind and producer of “Trailhead,” the documentary about the Oakland hiking park system, has developed an ambassador program designed to welcome and assist park users navigate the 95-acre Dimond Canyon and 550-acre Joaquin Miller Park.

Stan Dodson is one of Oakland’s most ardent volunteers and community activists. In his spare time, the general manager of La Farine bakery focuses his energy on maintaining Oakland’s parklands.

As an avid hiker, Dodson has orchestrated countless trail restoration projects, produced a documentary film about the Oakland’s vast trail system and now has turned his efforts to develop of a park ambassador program.

Volunteers attend a three-hour training program designed to provide them with information about trail usage and practices.

The mission of the ambassadors is to be a resource to park users. Donned with maps and knowledge of trail conditions, volunteers help hikers and bikers navigate their way through the labyrinth of trails.

“I fit park patrol into my normal recreation routine. I wear the shirt, pack the resource cards and maps in the backpack and hike. The only requirement is to welcome and assist park users.” Dodson said.

Ambassadors are not expected to be experts.

“At least now there is someone to respond to questions,” Dodson continued. “We serve as a liaison between users and various agencies. My experience so far is that people are super excited to get and map and trail advice.”

Dodson draws his cadre of volunteers from dedicated hikers, dog walkers, and mountain bikers who are in the park and lead by example by following all park rules and regulations. The program provides them with shirts and backpacks to wear on their habitual constitutionals. The program currently has 25 volunteers that has logged nearly 250 hours on the trails just in the month of August.

“There’s a fairly low threshold in terms of time commitment. I hike a couple of times a month. I can wear a shirt,” Dimond resident Matthew Lonergan said. “This is not about enforcing rules or finger shaking. The goal is to help people enjoy the park. It’s more about showing people things.”

“I see people need direction. I see people don’t know the park. What’s not to love. We are there to help. It’s a great program. It’s totally flexible. Totally loose in Stan’s wonderful, inevitable way. It’s easy,” said BB Borowitz, a Glenview resident.

Ambassadors are trained to use SeeClickFix to report maintenance issues to the Public Works Department. All trail maintenance is done by volunteers. Ambassadors are also coached what to do if someone gets hurt in the park, how to call 911 and indicate the location, by indicating the nearest trailhead. The ambassadors are not there to enforce the rules, but to alert authorities who is violating park rules.

“I’m a third-generation Oaklander. I love the parks,” said Messiri Freeman, a Maxwell Park resident. “People don’t realize how green Oakland is. People need to be aware of the rules and how to function within them. When I grew up, there was tons of things to do in Oakland. I want to maintain that. There was a time that parks were central to everyone in Oakland. I want to maintain that.”

The program costs $1,500 to run and is privately funded through donations from individuals and community groups. Among the major donors to the project are Downtown Suburu in Oakland and the Dimond district’s Oaktoberfest.

“I believe in Stan’s mission,” said Lonergan, who is also the steering committee chairman of the Oaktoberfest. “The synergy is unmistakable. The mission of Oaktoberfest is to fund programs that improve and promote the Dimond district, including giving at risk youth places to go. The parks are an ideal conduit activating funds. In the past, we have sponsored murals. This is extending the circle a little. It’s the perfect way to include and bring folks into the Dimond.”

FYI

To learn more about the Park Ambassador program visit, oaklandtrails.org.

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