Beahta Davis, an experienced parks and recreation professional, is the new director of San Bernardino County Regional Parks.
Davis comes to the County of San Bernardino from Baltimore County, Maryland where she was Chief of Recreation Services for the Department of Recreation and Parks. She was also an adjunct faculty member at Frostburg State University in Frostburg, Maryland where she taught graduate-level students seeking a master’s degree in parks and recreation management.
Davis has more than 18 years of experience in the field and started her career as a PAL Coordinator where she was responsible for managing a recreation center for youth, ages 8 to17 years old.
Davis earned her Bachelor of Science degree in education at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois and a Master of Science degree in park and recreation resource management at Frostburg State University.
She is a member of the National Recreation and Parks Association and past-president of the Maryland Recreation and Parks Association.
Davis will lead the management of maintenance of nine San Bernardino County Regional Parks which cover more than 9,000 acres throughout the valley, mountains and deserts.
For more information about San Bernardino County Regional Parks, visit http://www.sbcounty.gov/parks or call (909) 387-2757.
Dear Mrs. Davis,
Have been fishing G.H. for 30 plus years. Park is going downhill. Restroom, by the point, next to the large lake has been closed for years. Recently restroom east, north side of large lake has closed. Depending on your fishing spot, very inconvenient to get to a restroom. The trees have been chopped down on the east side of large lake. No more shade. Picnic bench is dilapidated, large lake at the bridge. Shore line needs to be cleaned up. To much left over dead reeds, needs to be raked out. Please help our park!
Sincerely, Michelle
Dear Mrs. Davis,
I would like to raise some concerns that I have recently been having about the Calico Ghost Town Civil War festival that has recently been brought to my attention. As an African American woman myself it is highly concerning to have this event happening during Black History Month. These events have historically been connected with racist overtones and it is highly concerning that there are no speakers on the event list that give any sort of credence to the Slavery aspect of this war with specific regard to the African perspective. There are no historians or historical speakers scheduled to give a background or context to this event, it really seems to be nothing more than an event to celebrate the confederacy and allow people to ignore that the abolition of Slavery is why the Civil War was fought.
I raised these concerns while I was at the park but there was no explanation given aside from the fact that it was an event that they have always held. There was no explanation as to why a Civil War reenactment would be held during Black History month, especially when the Civil War began in April 1861 and ended in April 1865. I find that culturally insensitive especially seeing as the Ghost Town has nothing to do with this time period since it was not even an active mining sight at the time. Nor was the Civil War fought on this side of the country and California was in the Union as as a free state, meaning slavery was illegal, in 1849 well before Calico was even discovered.
Civil War reenactments are known for their racist leanings and it seems very indicative of the parks systems social/political leanings to have such a “festival” that so often disrespects the African American experience of this specific historical time, especially being held during Black History Month. I have also noticed in the pamphlet that I was given outlining the daily events of the “festival” that there are no African American people, or historians of any nature, assigned to speak of the Slave experience of the Civil War, why it was being fought and it’s true historical significance.
This event seems to be focused on supporting the white supremacist ideology surrounding the Civil War without acknowledging the facts of the war and the impact that slavery has had on the development of this country and its cultural significance that still affects society today. That with the added fact that Slavery was illegal in California since 1849 shows that this should not be an event on the roster at a State run park.
This festival should be changed/re-branded to reflect the significance of Presidents Day and have speakers reenacting famous Presidential speeches throughout history. There is a way to have this festival within this month without disrespecting the memory of the Slaves and the Native Americans that this country built its foundations on. My point is that I do not see festivals for the Mexican American War, which is actually historically significant to the development of California, or the many American Indian wars that also occurred; nor do I see any festivals celebrating the Native American tribes that were found in this area before they were driven out of their lands and onto reservations. However, I saw the Leather shop has no problem with selling authentic Native American, Peruvian and Ecuadorian”museum quality” and “hand made” products. This is a strange way for a historical park to be run.
I would suggest that you reevaluate your Civil War Days festival immediately.
Thank you.
Hello Ms. Brown, we have given your letter to Parks Director Beahta Davis. Thank you for your feedback and comments regarding our activities at Calico.
Dear Ms. Brown: Thank you so much for letting us know your concerns about the Civil War event at Calico Ghost Town Regional Park. We are in the process of re-evaluating this event, as well as developing activities that focus on Black History to implement next year. Moving forward we would like to invite you to work with us. If you have any additional ideas or suggestions, would like to volunteer, or help with the development and implementation of the new program, please email us at parks@parks.sbcounty.gov .
Sincerely, Beahta Davis, Director of Regional Parks
Good Morning
It was recently brought to my attention that sludge was being transported from Glen Helen Park and dumped into a manhole cover on Clearwater parkway. Can you please tell me where the sludge is coming from and why it can not be taken to a waste facility. This type of dumping may have an impact on the community, school and parks located in Rosena Ranch.
Hi Robert, we have sent your comment to Regional Parks and someone will be in touch with you.