Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Office of Engagement, Lake Work FL

Chris Korbelak leads the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department’s Office of Public Engagement Team, a small but talented team of professionals committed to engaging all members of their unique community to increase awareness and usage of more than 110 County-operated parks, beaches and recreational facilities, and communicating the many benefits each offers.

An intermediate graphic designer when he joined the department as a part-time communications specialist in 2006, Chris quickly discovered a hidden passion for helping people by connecting them to opportunities to explore nature and engage in free and affordable physical activities.

Over the next several years Chris produced many of the department’s logos and printed publications and was involved with establishing the department’s first social media accounts and redesigning its website. In 2015, Chris began leading the Public Engagement team, providing creative direction for a wide range of public awareness campaigns, including award-winning printed and electronic designs and videos.

Tell us how and why you became involved in socially responsible communications, any thoughts on why design can be an especially effective tool for this goal, and, if you wish, give us an example of a project of which you are proud?

When Chris started designing graphics and publications for the department, it sparked memories of his childhood spent exploring nature between two nearby parks and enjoying various sports and activities. He realized how those experiences shaped who he is today and is passionate about helping others access similar opportunities. Chris is especially excited about his team’s park prescription initiative, which equips doctors with custom prescription pads and tools to recommend outdoor activities for preventing and treating medical conditions.

Given the confluence of events and challenges our society now faces, does this moment in time present any special opportunities, urgencies, or obstacles to designing for good?

Now more than ever, we must care for ourselves, our neighbors, and the planet. Parks promote physical activity, reducing chronic disease risks, and lower stress, anxiety, and depression. Recreation programs boost self-esteem, confidence, and social skills. Parks are vital community hubs, offering safe spaces, cultural events, and social gatherings. They protect wildlife habitats and ecosystems, while trees and green spaces improve air quality, provide shade, reduce pollution, and lessen urban heat. Overall, parks support health, community, and environmental well-being.