Staff Spotlight, Chris Sardinas

Chris Sardinas, assistant park manager at Hillsborough River State Park

Chris Sardinas, Assistant Park Manager

Hillsborough River State Park

Chris is a Florida native, born in Miami but raised in Tampa. Chris has always had a passion for the outdoors and grew up fishing, camping and hiking throughout Florida.

After graduating from the University of South Florida with his Bachelor of Science in biology, Chris started his Florida Park Service career as a seasonal park ranger at Judah P. Benjamin Confederate Memorial at Gamble Plantation Historic State Park. While working there, he found a new appreciation for Florida history and interpretation. He conducted guided tours of the Gamble Mansion and brought visitors back to the 1840s to help them understand life on a South Florida sugar plantation.

He also quickly jumped into helping other parks with prescribed burning and exotic plant removal projects.

Soon after, he was promoted to park ranger at Little Manatee River State Park, where he expanded his ranger skills while spearheading the exotics removal program and volunteer coordination.

Soon after, he accepted the position of assistant park manager of the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail. After nearly six years in the Florida Keys, Chris was ready to return to the Tampa area with his wife, son and two dogs.

This move continues his journey with the team at Hillsborough River State Park. If you catch him on his day off, he will mostly likely have a fishing rod in his hand or be in his little shop working on a project.

Join the Florida State Parks Team!