COMMISSION

Parks Transformation
In 2013, the Secretary of Natural Resources appointed
the Parks Forward Commission to evaluate State
Parks’ operational and organizational structure and
make recommendations for managing a sustainable
park system that serves California’s diverse and growing population. The Parks Forward
Commission conducted a thorough evaluation of the department, held public meetings, met
with stakeholders, employees and park users to gather input on existing challenges and
identify potential solutions. The Parks Forward Commission published a report titled A New
Vision for California State Parks with its final recommendations in January 2015.
In 2014, the Parks Forward Commission recommended that State Parks assemble a team
of employees, outside entities and professional consultants, known as the Transformation
Team, to carry out recommendations from their draft report. In February 2015, the
Transformation Team published the Transformation Action Plan, consisting of four strategic
goals that would guide the Parks Transformation process. Since then, the Transformation
Team developed committees and initiatives to develop projects that would meet these goals.
Transformation Team committees worked on improving processes for operating the
department such as streamlining the hiring process, making budget improvements,
developing a new organizational structure, creating a new partnership office, and improving
ties with local communities. Each committee consists of park managers, rank and file
employees, subject matter experts, and consultants.
OHMVR Division and SVRA staff participated in every aspect of the Parks Transformation
process. For example, OHMVR Commission Chair Ted Cabral is a member of the
Transformation Team Advisory Committee that provides high-level guidance to the
Transformation Team. OHMVR Division and SVRA staff are members of Transformation
Team committees that work on service based budgeting, park operations, marketing,
interpretation and education, resource protection, and organizational structure planning.
In 2016, State Parks released the Organizational Structure Opportunities Project that
outlines the Transformation Team’s process for reviewing the department’s organization
structure to make it more efficient, relevant, and offer more career opportunities for
employees. In addition, State Parks held several public meetings for each department’s
program to inform the public of efforts to review the organizational structure and receive
feedback. State Parks held two public meetings about the OHMVR Program in Northern
and Southern California, both of which were well attended. The OHMVR Division and
SVRA staff are committed to continue working forward to develop a sustainable model for
the future of California State Parks.
2017 Program Report 5