Lynda Deschambault was elected to the Board of Directors in November 2024 to represent Ward 2. She is the Board member representing Ward 2. Protecting the environment is her life’s work. She has more than 37 years of experience as an Environmental Scientist and Educator, including 20 years at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. View More.
Luana España was elected to the East Bay Regional Park District Board of Directors in November 2024 to represent Ward 4. Director España is a community affairs representative at the Port of Oakland. She has served on the East Bay Regional Park District’s Park Advisory Committee, the Bay Area Ridge Trail’s Board of Directors, and the Hayward Area Recreation & Park District’s Citizen Advisory Committee with a focus on shaping policies that make public spaces more sustainable, accessible, and enjoyable for everyone.
John Mercurio was elected to the Board of Directors in November 2022. Previously, he served on the Park District’s Park Advisory Committee for 17 years. An avid park user, he has volunteered for over 35 years to preserve open spaces and improve trail access.
Director Mercurio served as a Concord Planning Commissioner for 11 years and as a Concord Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commissioner for 12 years. Appointed by Governor Gray Davis, he served on the California Recreational Trails Committee for 12 years.
Director Mercurio has a BA in Social Science, a California Teaching Credential and an MPA. He is married, with two children. He proudly supports Save Mount Diablo and is a member of the Regional Parks Foundation.
Dennis Waespi was elected to the Board of Directors in November 2014. He worked at the East Bay Regional Park District in a variety of positions for 38 years, beginning in 1974. Director Waespi served on the Castro Valley Sanitary District Board of Directors from 1999 to 2011 and on the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District Board of Directors from 2008 to 2014. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Alameda County Waste Management Authority, the Alameda County Source Reduction and Recycling Board, and the Alameda County Parks, Recreation, and Historical Commission.
Colin Coffey was appointed to the Board in January, 2017. Previously, he served on the Park District’s Park Advisory Committee twice, first appointed by former EBRPD Director Ted Radke from 2001 - 2009 and appointed by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors from 2012- 2017. He has also been a volunteer Ambassador for the parks for 12 years. He is a longtime supporter of the John Muir Land Trust and a member of the Regional Parks Foundation.
Elizabeth Echols was elected to the Board of Directors in November 2020. Previously, she was appointed as the Director of Ward 1 to serve the remaining term left by retired Director Whitney Dotson.
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Olivia Sanwong was elected to the Board of Directors in November 2022.
Previously, she served on the District’s Park Advisory Committee (2015-2022) and was elected to the Board of Directors for the Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, Zone 7 (2018-2022). Director Sanwong is a UCLA-educated mathematician and MBA with over 20 years of professional experience in the science and technology sectors.