San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie has picked a new head of the city’s Recreation and Park Department after a nationwide search.
Sarah Madland, who has worked in the department for more than 15 years as the director of policy and public affairs, will lead the department as its general manager. She has previously worked in the City Attorney’s Office and at City Hall as a legislative aide for the Board of Supervisors.
“Sarah Madland understands that the ‘rec’ in Rec and Park matters just as much as the parks themselves,” Lurie said in a statement. “That is the type of leadership she will bring to our world-class park system.”
Madland was chosen out of more than 150 candidates who applied for the position.
“Our responsibility is to deliver programs and public spaces that are welcoming, reliable, and responsive to what San Franciscans need, so every person feels a sense of belonging in their neighborhood recreation center and park.”
Sarah Madland, San Francisco Recreation and Park Department general manager
“We interviewed outstanding candidates from both inside and outside the city,” said Recreation and Park Commission President Kat Anderson in a statement. “Sarah Madland rose to the top, because she combines vision, operational experience, political skill, and a genuine love for San Francisco’s parks and neighborhoods.”
During her time working for the department, Madland has contributed to several initiatives for San Francisco parks, such as helping expand a citywide volunteer network to support neighborhood parks and leading public investment campaigns to raise money for revitalizing the city’s parks. She also spearheaded the conversion of John F. Kennedy Drive in Golden Gate Park into a promenade.
Madland said in a statement that she wants to continue making San Francisco parks and recreation programs suitable to the needs to residents.
“Our responsibility is to deliver programs and public spaces that are welcoming, reliable, and responsive to what San Franciscans need, so every person feels a sense of belonging in their neighborhood recreation center and park,” she said.
