The community of Guerneville will soon get its first public boat launch as part of Sonoma County Regional Parks’ effort to expand river access and public recreation on the Russian River. Construction of the launch area for non-motorized watercraft began in August at Guerneville River Park.

Sonoma County Regional Parks is requesting community input on its proposed plan to create a Russian River access park near Cloverdale. The Russian River Parkway’s draft master plan will guide the development and management of the future 19-acre north county river park. Regional Parks invites the public to review the project presentation at russianriverpkwy.com and provide comments through June 30, 2021.

As part of the ongoing effort to rebuild wildfire-ravaged Foothill Regional Park in Windsor, the Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation has received a $500,000 Kaiser Permanente grant. This funding will allow Sonoma County Regional Parks to renovate the 211-acre park with a new “climate-adaptive” design to make it more resilient to future wildfires and offer greater protection to surrounding neighborhoods.

Sonoma County Regional Parks has completed and opened an extension to the regional West County Trail in downtown Forestville, greatly improving public access and safety, and officially linking the community to Graton, Sebastopol and Santa Rosa via a paved non-motorized, multi-use path.

Sonoma County Regional Parks has constructed and opened a nature-inspired outdoor play area where kids and families can connect with the natural world at Taylor Mountain Regional Park and Open Space Preserve.

The Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District (Ag + Open Space), a special district dedicated to protecting our working and natural lands forever, transferred ownership of a 335-acre coastal property to Sonoma County Regional Parks. This land, known as Carrington Coast Ranch, will eventually open to the public as a regional park and open space preserve just north of Salmon Creek.

Sonoma County Regional Parks is asking for community feedback on the potential for future trails, campsites and other recreational amenities at North Sonoma Mountain Regional Park and Preserve. The department is creating a master plan to guide the park’s development and invites the public to review and comment on three plan alternatives between now and Oct. 30.

Sonoma County Regional Parks is hosting a third community workshop to gather input on a potential Russian River bicycle and pedestrian trail between Forestville and Jenner. The meeting will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 23 at the Monte Rio Recreation and Park District office, 20488 Highway 116. Spanish interpretation and refreshments will be provided.

Sonoma County Regional Parks is hosting two community workshops to gather input on a potential Russian River bicycle and pedestrian trail between Forestville and Jenner. The meetings are scheduled for May 7 from 6 to 8 p.m. and May 11 from 9 to 11 a.m.  at Guerneville Elementary School, 14630 Armstrong Woods Road.

Sonoma County Regional Parks invites the public to a Feb. 23 informational meeting for two trails planned on the North Coast. Park planners will provide updates on a 1.1-mile trail proposed for the Kashia Coastal Reserve north of Salt Point State Park and a .9-mile trail proposed for Stewarts Point Ranch.

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors today approved the Tolay Lake Regional Park master plan, an action that allows the county’s largest park to open daily later this month.

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday, July 10, to introduce an ordinance that will place on the Nov. 6 ballot a one-eighth-cent sales tax measure for regional and local park improvements. If approved by voters, the sales tax would support the county and cities with their long-term needs to maintain parks, protect natural resources, reduce wildfire risks, provide health and recreation programs, and open new parks and trails.

Sonoma County Regional Parks will receive a $620,000 state grant to study the feasibility of creating a bicycle and pedestrian trail along the lower Russian River.

Regional Parks is hosting a community meeting July 12, 2017 to review and invite feedback on a draft master plan update for Maxwell Farms Regional Park in Sonoma. The meeting is from 7 PM to 8:30 PM. at the Boys and Girls Club inside the park at 100 W. Verano Avenue, Sonoma CA 95476.

In November of 2007, Sonoma Land Trust purchased a 1,665-acre property in southern Sonoma County at risk of subdivision and vineyard development and named it Tolay Creek Ranch. The acquisition of Tolay Creek Ranch completed the protection of a 7,500-acre wildlife corridor extending from the foothills of Sonoma Mountain to the bay.

The Sonoma Land Trust on March 3, 2017 donated the 1,665-acre Tolay Creek Ranch to Sonoma County Regional Parks. The property is adjacent to Tolay Lake Regional Park, and its donation doubles the size of the park. Once at risk for subdivision and vineyard development, the Tolay Creek property features sweeping views of San Francisco Bay, dazzling wildflower displays, and plenty of space for hiking.

The Sonoma Land Trust on March 3, 2017 donated the 1,665-acre Tolay Creek Ranch to Sonoma County Regional Parks. The property is adjacent to Tolay Lake Regional Park, and its donation doubles the size of the park. Once at risk for subdivision and vineyard development, the Tolay Creek property features sweeping views of San Francisco Bay, dazzling wildflower displays, and plenty of space for hiking.

The draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed Tolay Lake Regional Park master plan is available for public review and comment from Jan. 10, through Feb. 23, 2017.

Community members, parks staff, and elected officials will gather in Bodega Bay on Friday, Aug. 19, to dedicate the newest segment of the Bodega Bay Pedestrian & Bicycle Trail and to name a trail bridge in honor of Elizabeth “Liz” Burko, the late State Parks superintendent who oversaw the Sonoma Coast.

Sonoma County Regional Parks is organizing a participatory design process to involve the Moorland neighborhood in each step of planning for a new 4-acre park.  A neighborhood steering committee will guide a design process built upon a series of community workshops beginning Thursday, Sept. 3, at the Moorland Avenue park site in southwest Santa Rosa.