Board of Directors
The Board meets the first Tuesday of each month at 11 a.m. (see calendar for location). The public is invited to attend. Contact us if you're interested in serving. Go here to view meeting minutes. Go here to for FODP's Founding Members.
Officers
Leslie Barron-Johnson
Chair
Leslie has lived in the Glenview for 13 years and practices Qi-gong regularly in Dimond Park. She has been on the Friends of Dimond Park board for three years. Leslie is currently consulting for non-profits after retiring from a career working in community health, first at Planned Parenthood Northern California and then at La Clinica de La Raza. She loves hiking in the Oakland Hills and gardening. Leslie truly values how Dimond Park is utilized by so many different groups, and hopes to make further improvements for the entire community.
Steve Ghidinelli
Vice Chair
In the 47 years living in the Glenview area, Dimond Park has been central to Steve and his family, including tennis on the Dimond courts, swimming at the pool, and walking along Sausal Creek. To Steve, Dimond Park is a treasured source of calm and community, and an excellent example of what a city’s green space can offer. This is why he volunteers…to help support this precious resource.
Alex Parks
Treasurer
Bryan moved to Oakland in 2021, but didn't discover Dimond Park until 2024. While dealing with depression, he sought a volunteer opportunity with the Friends of Joaquin Miller Park. But a happy scheduling accident led him to Friends of Dimond Park instead. Inspired by the park’s beauty and the volunteer's strong sense of community, Bryan knew he wanted to continue helping preserve this vital resource for others to enjoy.
Lyn Hunter
Secretary
Lyn is a University of California retiree. She worked for UC Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley Lab as a managing editor in their public affairs office. She's an avid tennis player, loves to garden, does arts & crafts, and is committed to acting locally to help improve the world we live in. Which is why she volunteers for Friends of Dimond Park. She is also handles communications for FODP.
Board Members
Opie Bellas
Jean Bush
Suzanne Drolet
Helen Anderson
Brett Johnson
Kathy Kenworthy
Cynthia Koo
Marilyn Miller
Riley O'Neil
Laurie Umeh
Founding Members
Friends of Dimond Park was founded in 2015 by Laurie Umeh, Opie Bellisis, and Marilyn Miller (pictured below, l-r), and Hayward (Hay) Blake Jr. (below right), who passed away in 2024. The group initially came together to improve accessibility at Dimond Park. ​Over the years, their work to support the park expanded, adding news members and volunteers along the way.
