2024 Class of Fellows, Pamela Galera, FASLA, Southern California Chapter

City of Riverside, CA
by City of Riverside

Southern California Chapter - Category: Leadership/Management

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Southern California Chapter - Category: Leadership/Management

Pamela Galera has successfully led the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of urban parks, nature trails, and community resource centers in disadvantaged communities by advocating for nature-based solutions and forging partnerships among agencies, residents, and tribal councils. Through her leadership and advocacy, she transformed the Santiago Creek corridor in the City of Orange by creating an eight-mile trail and bike path, leading a creek restoration project, and completing several new and renovated parks. Galera serves as president of the Santiago Creek Greenway Alliance. In Anaheim, she led the creation of the 26-acre Anaheim Coves nature park, providing 2.5 miles of accessible trails, fitness zones, native riparian habitat, and a nature play area for nearby disadvantaged communities. She then focused on reconnecting the community of Riverside to the Santa Ana River and advocated for the OC River Walk, which will create a vibrant environmentally sustainable public realm and reshape Orange County. As Director of Parks, Recreation, and Community Services, Galera leads a team of 300 and directs the stewardship of 3,000 acres of park and open space as well as 14 community centers. As chapter president, she started a mentoring program, with partnerships with four university programs, annually partnering two dozen students with established Landscape Architects. That successful program led her to launch a networking group for female managers to mentor emerging women professionals.