Doug Siden, Alameda resident and East Bay Regional Park District board member, was honored recently with an Individual Citation of Merit. Siden, was elected in 1992 to serve on the park district board and has been re-elected four times. The citation was in recognition of his contributions to environmental education and recreational opportunities to his community. He represents Alameda, a portion of Oakland, San Leandro, and San Lorenzo on the board. Parks in his ward include Crown Beach, Oyster Bay, Martin Luther King Jr., Regional Shoreline, and a small portion of Anthony Chabot.

The Individual Citation of Merit is a national honor that is awarded each year to one individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the park, recreation and conservation movement. Siden was nominated by East Bay Regional Park District General Manager Pat O'Brien. In his nomination, O'Brien highlighted Siden's involvement in his community, often with low-income youth, and for his leadership as chairman for the Measure WW Campaign, a $500 million bond extension to preserve thousands of acres of open space and expand regional parks and trails for residents of Alameda and Contra Cost counties.

"Doug would be the last to tell you about his accomplishments and the first to compliment others. He never forgets to thank the volunteers and staff that make things possible on a day-to-day basis, but will never admit just how tirelessly he works to bring people together

Before his retirement in 1999, Siden was executive director of a successful program to provide environmental education and recreational experiences to youth, children, families and adults for more than 20 years. He has a bachelor of arts and a master's degree.

He also received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from the American Baptist Seminary of the West for his leadership.

He is president of the Alameda County Chapter of the California Special Districts Association, past chair of the Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center in Oakland, vice chair of the Waterfront Action and chair of the Alameda Rotary Club's Community Grants Committee. Previously he served as advisory commissioner for the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and the Point Reyes National Seashore.