Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/827763
EXPLORE YOUR PARKS Your Guide to Marin County Parks & Programs SUMMER 2017 F ifty years ago, in October, 1967, Janis Joplin performed at McNears Beach Park, her talents rivaling the panoramic Bay view. Like other musicians of the time, she had recently moved to Marin, living in a cottage nestled in redwoods near the Baltimore Canyon Open Space Preserve. "The reason we chose Marin is simple, really," recalled Grateful Dead publicist Dennis McNally, years later, "It's paradise." Luckily, the wild spirit of the county at that time not only nurtured rock and roll, but land protection as well. Thanks to the tireless work of environmental pioneers in Marin, Open Space Preserves were saved from development. They are now important refuges for wildlife and visitors seeking respite from urban life. That's why we have Bolinas Lagoon, instead of a hotel complex with a marina, and hills filled with wildflowers, not sprawling subdivisions. That spirit continues in the work of Marin County Parks today. Our approach to road and trail work engages the community, to steward the environment and transform a network of degraded logging and ranch roads into a sustainable, recreational trail system. Forward thinking design and preservation projects help ensure that the rich marshland in our preserves can survive climate change. The responsibility of continuing the legacy of conservation drives our work. As the grass in the hills turns from green to gold and we enjoy the last wildflowers of the season–like the pink clarkia dotting the slopes–I am reminded why we choose to be here. It's paradise. DIRECTOR'S CORNER Max Korten Director & General Manager Marin County Parks IT'S THE SUMMER OF LOVE YOUR PARKS!