W HEN AU DR EE JON ES-TAY LOR arrived at the Oakland Office of Parks and Recreation as director in 2004, she was ecstatic about the natural resources the California city provided for recreational activities. There was just one problem: The inner-city kids weren't signing up for its great programs, such as sailing, swimming, and hiking. The solution involved recognition of the particular challenges posed by Oakland's remarkably diverse population, with a demographic breakdown that includes 27 percent AfricanAmerican, 26 percent White, 25 percent Hispanic, and 17 percent Asian. W W W . N R P A . O R G S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 2 Parks & Recreation 39