Marin names new director of parks department

An 11-year veteran of the Marin County parks department has been selected as its new director.

Chris Chamberlain succeeds Max Korten, who left Marin in October to be deputy general manager of the East Bay Regional Park District. Chamberlain became interim director after Korten departed.

“I was pretty bummed to hear he was taking a job in the East Bay,” said Chamberlain, 50, of Petaluma. “He and I were a great team. We worked well together. I learned a lot and I enjoyed our time.”

“It was the right move for him, certainly, and it created this opportunity for me, which I’m excited to take on,” Chamberlain said.

Chamberlain’s starting annual salary, not including benefits, will be $231,608. By comparison, Korten’s last annual salary was $243,235 after eight years in the post.

Chamberlain, who grew up in Orange County, has a bachelor’s degree in parks and natural resource management from Chico State University.

Chamberlain said he began his career as a Marin County park ranger in 1998 after an internship program. He advanced to supervising park ranger before leaving for positions with the Greater Vallejo Recreation District and the city of Richmond.

Chamberlain returned to Marin County in 2014 as superintendent of parks and open space, and was promoted to assistant director in 2016.

“Marin County is a beautiful place geographically, positioned on the bay and the coast and attached to the Golden Gate Bridge, which was a big draw,” Chamberlain said of his return to Marin. Also, his wife was raised in Petaluma.

“Marin was one of those agencies that was really desirable,” Chamberlain said. “The rest is history.”

County Executive Derek Johnson announced the appointment on Dec. 23 after a 10-week national search that drew 67 applicants. Some candidates advanced to various stages of interviews before the top two candidates reached the final round, including interviews with the county Board of Supervisors.

During his tenure, Chamberlain has worked to enhance fire fuel risk reduction, eliminate fees at regional parks, expand community grants, enhance sea-level rise resilience and protect natural resources, county officials said.

“Chris Chamberlain’s deep understanding of Marin County’s unique landscapes, combined with his visionary leadership and commitment to sustainability, make him the ideal choice to lead our Parks and Open Space Department,” Johnson said. “His extensive experience in managing natural resources and fostering community partnerships ensures that Marin’s parks and open spaces will continue to thrive, providing equitable access and environmental stewardship for generations to come.”

Chamberlain has been instrumental in successful project implementation and ongoing community engagement, which county officials said resulted in the 2022 renewal of county parks Measure A, a quarter-cent sales tax that nets about $14 million annually.

County officials said 2024 has been one of the busiest years for the parks staff. The year included the completion of the Roy’s Redwoods restoration and the initiation of a Bolinas wetlands restoration and sea-level rise resilience project. The department also repaired and reopened the pier at McNears Beach Park and helped preserve the Martha Co. property on the Tiburon Peninsula.

“Chamberlain’s leadership and dedication to Marin’s natural landscapes and partnership with rural land managers and farmers make him the perfect choice to guide our Parks and Open Space Department into the future,” said Marin County Supervisor Dennis Rodoni, whose District 4 includes a majority of the county’s open space preserves.

Chamberlain said his priorities as director include completing the Bolinas wye project, an effort to restore floodplains at the northern end of Bolinas Lagoon. The project is intended to make the area more resilient to climate change and improve ecosystem health.

Other priorities, he said, include improving the environmental performance of the roads and trails throughout the open space preserves and supporting the Marin County Fire Department headquarters project and San Geronimo Creek restoration efforts at the recently acquired San Geronimo Commons property.

Chamberlain said he also is keen to advance a new project to design and construct an inclusive playground for children and adults with disabilities at McInnis Park in San Rafael. Officials have reached out to partners to begin a fundraising campaign, Chamberlain said.

“It’s something that the community has a strong interest in and, really, it’s something that Marin has been lacking,” Chamberlain said.

Overall, Chamberlain said he wants to ensure that the county is delivering on the promises made with the Measure A tax effort to fund parks, open space and sustainable agriculture.

“The community entrusted us,” Chamberlain said. “It’s something we take seriously and want to make sure we do our best.”