Announcing 

CSPRA's 2001

Honorary
State Park
Ranger

Doug McConnell

 

 Doug McConnell - the California State Park Rangers Association's Honorary Ranger
by Kim Baker, CSPRA President

Since 1993, Doug McConnell has been known to many people in the San Francisco Bay area as the popular host of "Bay Area Backroads", the highest rated locally produced television program in the Bay Area. The show focuses on travel in northern California. Under Doug's leadership, Bay Area Backroads has produced over fifty stories on California State Parks, ranging from Patrick's Point State Park in the north to Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park in San Joaquin Valley.

Doug often interviews State Park Staff to share their knowledge and passion with the viewing audience. Not only have Doug McConnell and the staff of Bay Area Backroads increased awareness and support of California's great State Parks, they have helped educate California's citizens about the need for each of us to get involved and help protect them. In 1996 he worked with the State Parks Foundation to produce a special California State Parks show in which viewers were asked to join Doug and volunteer for much needed improvement projects at three State Parks in northern California Thanks to the promotion, hundreds of Californians worked on projects at Mt. Diablo, China Camp and Big Basin Redwoods State Parks.

In conjunction with this event, Doug and his co-producer Carl Bidleman agreed to let the foundation seek contributing sponsors for the show, despite protests from KRON sales department staff of an advertising revenue loss. In January 2000, Bay Area Backroads broadcast a special on William Penn Mott Jr, former director of both the California State and National Park Systems. Doug and his staff raised viewers' awareness of Bill Mott's legacy including his monumental contributions to the State Park System. On a pro-bono basis, Doug and his staff adapted the show for use in the William Penn Mott Visitor Center at the Presidio.

Another way Doug and the staff of Bay Area Backroads have helped California State Parks is through the production of public service announcements featuring Clint Eastwood. Again, there was no charge for the spots and they were aired hundreds of times on KRON programming and were reproduced and sent to dozens of other television stations throughout California.

On his personal time, Doug has appeared at many special events and fundraisers in support of parks including the annual March for Parks. Doug lives with his wife, two sons and a bevy of pets. Doug is an avid and passionate park supporter whose love of nature and desire to share it with others has been a strong force throughout his life.

Andrew Molera State Park is one of Doug's favorite places. Television is an incredibly powerful medium that is often criticized for its sensationalism and negative content. The exact opposite is true of Bay Area Backroads.

CSPRA is proud to present the Honorary Ranger Award to Doug McConnell for creating great television that entertains, educates and inspires Californians to support our most precious natural and cultural treasures - California's State Parks.