OAKLAND, Calif. – The East Bay Regional Park District has hired Amy Wooldridge as Deputy General Manager and Kirsten Holder as Assistant General Manager of Acquisition, Stewardship, and Planning. Both will join the Park District in the coming weeks.
“Both Amy and Kirsten bring extensive public-sector leadership experience, a strong commitment to environmental stewardship, and a deep understanding of the communities and landscapes of the East Bay,” said General Manager Max Korten. “Their collaborative leadership experience and proven ability to advance complex projects and build strong partnerships will be invaluable as the Park District plans for the future.”
As Deputy General Manager, Wooldridge will help oversee Park District operations and organizational initiatives while working closely with the General Manager, Board of Directors, executive leadership, and regional partners.
“I am honored to join the East Bay Regional Park District at such a pivotal time,” said Wooldridge. “I look forward to strengthening our collaborations and community partnerships as well as working on initiatives to build organizational resiliency and help ensure that the Park District continues to serve East Bay communities for generations to come.”
Wooldridge brings 22 years of senior management experience in the public sector, including 19 years as a Recreation and Parks Director. She currently serves as Assistant City Manager for the City of Alameda, where her responsibilities include oversight of citywide operating and capital budgets, organizational strategic planning, labor relations, community engagement, sustainability, park development, transportation, housing, and human services.
Previously, Wooldridge served as Alameda’s Recreation and Parks Director, where she helped deliver major park, trail, waterfront, and recreation projects. Her experience includes land acquisition, environmental compliance, cultural resource management, park planning and design, construction, maintenance, and public engagement. As Recreation and Parks Director, Wooldridge planned and built 65 acres of parks, expanding the City of Alameda’s parkland by 40% in just 10 years, including transforming a previous railroad maintenance yard into a vibrant and sustainable community park.
Wooldridge starts her job at the Park District on Aug. 31.
As Assistant General Manager of Acquisition, Stewardship, and Planning, Holder will oversee the Park District’s work to acquire and conserve parklands, protect natural and cultural resources, plan and deliver park improvements, and strengthen the resilience and sustainability of the regional park system.
“Having grown up in the East Bay, I understand how deeply these parks and open spaces are connected to the identity and quality of life of our communities,” said Holder. “I am excited to work alongside Park District staff and partners to protect park resources and advance thoughtful planning that improves access, sustainability, and climate resilience.”
Holder joins the Park District from the National Park Service’s Golden Gate National Recreation Area, where she has worked since 2013 and currently serves as the Chief of Planning and Environmental Programs Division. In that role, she leads a multidisciplinary team of landscape architects, planners, and environmental professionals, manages complex initiatives, and supports land acquisition and regional partnerships.
A licensed landscape architect, Holder has led planning, design, environmental review, and implementation for projects throughout the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Her work has included visitor access and resource-management planning along the San Mateo coast, climate adaptation and visitor improvements at Crissy Field, trail and transportation projects at Muir Woods National Monument, and management of the Trails Forever partnership program. She also brings extensive experience engaging communities, elected officials, public agencies, and nonprofit partners.
Holder starts her job at the Park District on Sept. 8.
“The East Bay Regional Park District has an extraordinary responsibility to care for lands that are both ecologically significant and deeply valued by the public,” Korten said. “Amy and Kirsten understand that our success depends not only on sound planning and management, but also on listening, working across organizational boundaries, and developing lasting relationships with the communities we serve.”
The East Bay Regional Park District is the largest regional park system in the nation, comprising 73 parks, 55 miles of shoreline, and over 1,330 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and environmental education. The Park District receives an estimated 30 million visits annually throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the San Francisco Bay Area
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