Forestville Trailhead - Background

The West County Trail is identified as a project in the adopted 2010 County Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. This is a 13-mile regional trail that links the following communities: Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Graton and Forestville. Most of the trail was constructed along the former Petaluma and Santa Rosa Railroad right of way.

On October 22, 2013, the Board of Directors of the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District approved a $400,500 grant to the Forestville Planning Association for the acquisition of approximately 8 acres in downtown Forestville under the District’s Matching Grant Program.

In return, the Forestville Planning Association offered an irrevocable trail easement and recorded a 4.2 acres conservation easement on the property to the County and Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District, respectively. The trail easement will allow the County to complete the trail connection between Pajaro Lane and Highway 116.

Cost & Funding

The estimated development cost is $300,000. The County has secured $200,000 in funding from the Transportation Development Act (TDA) Article 3.

Additional public grant funds will be sought to complete the project funding.

Partners

The Regional Parks Department is partnering with the following organizations to complete the project:

• Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation & Open Space District 
• Sonoma County Transportation & Public Works Department
• Forestville Planning Association