U. S. Park Service: Kenkel to oversee Point Reyes

A veteran of the National Park Service and a familiar face in the Bay Area will take the helm of Point Reyes National Seashore, starting in January.

Federal park officials announced Thursday that Craig Kenkel, who has worked in leadership roles at Golden Gate National Recreation Area and San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park, will move from his current post in Ohio to become superintendent of the coastal Marin County park.

Kenkel replaces former Point Reyes Superintendent Cicely Muldoon, who took the top job at Yosemite National Park this year. Kenkel now works as superintendent of Cuyahoga Valley National Park, his latest position in a 37year career with the National Park Service in locations from Alaska to the Pacific Islands. Trained as an architect, one of his first jobs with the agency was helping restore the lighthouse at Point Reyes.

“I first experienced Point Reyes early in my career, and instantly connected with its dramatic wildness, ruralness and small communities,” Kenkel said in a statement. “When I was a San Francisco resident, the park was often my respite from city life. I’m both excited and honored to join the incredible team of employees and partners who care for Point Reyes and serve all who live in and visit the park.”

Point Reyes National Seashore was established in 1962 to protect West Marin from development. Unlike most national parks, its 71,000 acres are made up of vast stretches of historic ranchlands, which to this day operate as working beef and dairy farms.

Kenkel takes the job amid a debate about how much the park service should cater to the commercial ranches while protecting the natural landscape. The issue has spawned a prolonged legal battle. Among the controversies is the sanctioned killing of Tule elk, which the park service has defended as necessary to balance the needs of animals and humans.

Beyond ranches, Point Reyes contains more than 80 miles of undeveloped coastline, 147 miles of hiking trails, several backcountry campgrounds and isolated beaches.

Acting National Park Service Regional Director Linda Walker said Kenker was up to the challenge of overseeing the popular seashore, praising his “extensive experience caring for historic and cultural resources in parks and managing them in balance with natural resource conservation and public use.”

Kenkel worked as superintendent at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park from 2010 to 2014. He also worked in various roles at Golden Gate National Recreation Area, including acting superintendent in 2017 and acting deputy superintendent from 2009 to 2010.