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By admin, March 16, 2010 6:27 am

Sebastopol resident Lynn Deedler has big plans to get walkers and bikers off the highways. Though Sebastopol has a reputation for supporting green programs and businesses and is halfway along the Joe Rodota & West County trails, the two state highways that pass through town make it less friendly for folks who want to get around on their own power. Deedler, a member of the Sebastopol Design Review Board, has been putting in countless hours promoting alternatives that parallel Hwy 116 (a north-south route) and Hwy 12/Bodega Ave. (an east-west route). Regional Parks and the Sebastopol City Council have both endorsed the idea — an critical element toward being eligible for grants and other funding for feasibility studies and beyond.

The County is particularly interested because it would jump-start a long-dormant plan to convert the abandoned Petaluma & Santa Rosa Railroad route from Bloomfield Road in Sebastopol to Petaluma into an 11-mile long recreational trail. When the rail corridor was abandoned in the 1980s, the rights of way reverted to the original (or subsequent) owners of properties along the way. Many sections would have to be purchased or alternatives found, but one of the main barriers has been the lack of connection at the Sebastopol end. Deedler’s route runs from Bloomfield Road north to the Rodota Trail along the edge of the city; he has spoken with all the property owners along the way and found them nearly all to be receptive to considering rights-of-way for a trail. This trail would make a direct connection with the proposed Sebastopol-Petaluma trail and, with the Rodota and SMART Train corridor trail, would create a grand loop for commuting and recreational outings.

Deedler and his group, Sebastopol Trail Makers, would like to see an additional route — largely off-street — paralleling Bodega Ave. to connect the Rodota Trail to the schools on Watertrough Road, to the west of the City. The two trails could be connected by route curving around to the south of town to create a local loop approximately 7 miles long. If the Deedler’s plans come to fruition, they will significantly bolster Sebastopol’s reputation for bike-friendliness.

The next step is a feasibility study. Regional Parks wants to cover the entire length from Petaluma to Sebastopol, though most of the focus would likely be on the stretch between Bloomfield and the Rodota Trail due to the large number of private parcels involved; south of Bloomfield on the old Petaluma & Santa Rosa RR right-of-way should be less problematic. Regional Parks had an option to apply for funding for the feasibility study this year, but since a major project in Sonoma Valley was already underway, they decided to wait until the next funding cycle. Although the Sebastopol Trail Maker are eager to get underway, the delay will likely make for a stronger case next year.

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By admin, February 23, 2010 6:49 pm

District acquisitions totaling $12 million to connect to Jack London State Historic Park

Today, Feb. 23, 2010, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, acting as the District’s Board of Directors, approved five contracts totaling $391,360 to prepare for the construction of the North Slope Ridge trail on Sonoma Mountain, and to assist the District with other trail development projects at the Montini and Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preserves.

Continue reading 'North Slope Sonoma Mountain Ridge Trail Project Kicks-Off'»

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By admin, January 7, 2010 1:30 pm

Sonoma County Regional Parks is pleased to announce the kickoff of expanded public access at Tolay Lake Regional Park with the new Interim Plan (IP) Day-Use Permit Program.

The new IP Day-Use Permit Program allows the public to visit the park during posted hours once they’ve completed an hour-long orientation and obtained a permit. Regional Parks is offering these mandatory one-hour orientations, free of charge, which cover permit procedures, and rules & regulations. After the orientation, participants receive Tolay IP Day-Use Permits, along with maps, park rules & regulations, and gate access cards. Permit holders may use the park for a variety of activities, including hiking, bicycling, picnicking, or horseback riding. Regular day-use parking fees apply.

Orientation sessions:

ORIENTATIONS START PROMPTLY – LATE ARRIVALS WILL NOT BE ADMITTED

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By admin, January 7, 2010 1:24 pm

LandPaths, the Sonoma County Ag Preservation & Open Space District, and Sonoma County Regional Parks are offering an interim Permit Program at Taylor Mountain in Santa Rosa, similar to the one in place at Willow Creek and Tolay Lake. After a one-hour orientation on the property, you will receive a free permit allowing biking, hiking and horseback riding on the 1000+ acre preserve. Contact LandPaths to make a reservation (RSVP required). Orientations will be be held on the following dates:

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By admin, October 20, 2009 4:15 pm

Now that we have had some rain and the soil is workable we want to begin the long-awaited Spring Creek Trail project.  The site, which is about half a mile up the trail from the intersection of the Spring Creek and Canyon trails, is a wet muddy mess in the winter, and we hope to build a long-lasting repair with short sections of causeways.

This summer we hauled rock and tread mix up to the project site, so some of the heavy work has already been done.  Now we would like to get together a crew of 6 or 8 to actually build the project.   The work will consist of preparing the trail bed with McLeods and mattocks, moving rock and tread mix in wheelbarrows for a short distance (50 to 100 feet, generally downhill), placing materials (fabric, border rocks, drain rock, and tread mix), and finally compacting the surface.  We plan to begin work on Saturday, October 31.  This trail is gets a lot of use, and we don’t want to leave the project unfinished, so those who can will work on Sunday, Nov 1 as well.

If the weather doesn’t cooperate for the 31st or 1st, we’ll try again the following weekend, Nov. 7th and/or 8th.

Leader for this project is Tim Mayer. Please contact Tim directly to sign up for either (or both) days.

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By admin, September 25, 2009 5:29 pm

Sonoma County Regional Park recently announced a new day-use permit program to increase access to Tolay Lake Regional Park. The program, similar to that implemented at the Willow Creek addition to Sonoma Coast State Park, allows the public to visit the park during posted hours once they’ve completed an hour-long orientation and obtained a permit. Tolay Lake Re­gional Park will be open to permit holders for hiking, bicycling, horseback riding and picnicking starting September 18th. See below for a list of upcoming orientations For information on these and future orientations visit the Regional Parks Tolay Interim Plan page.  Hats-off to the park staff, volunteers and community mem­bers who supported the access planning for this south-county jewel.

Orientation sessions:

ORIENTATIONS START PROMPTLY – LATE ARRIVALS WILL NOT BE ADMITTED

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By admin, September 6, 2009 10:33 pm

On July 13, at the site of the future Taylor Mountain Park, Sonoma County Open Space District and Regional Parks staff and Third District Supervisor Shirlee Zane introduced a revised Interim Access Plan to allow public access while a Master Plan for the property is prepared. The revised Access Plan will allow hikers, cyclists and equestrians to use the existing ranch road to get to the top of the mountain. Access will be limited to those with a permit obtained by participating in an orientation meeting. This access program, similar to the current program at Willow Creek, will be managed by LandPaths.  The access program is proposed to start this fall, after the CEQA documentation is completed. The SCTC will stay involved with the Interim Access Plan and the Master Plan process.

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By admin, September 6, 2009 10:30 pm

Tim Mayer led the way in moving several tons of materials to the site of our causeway project on  Spring Creek Trail at Annadel State Park We’re now entering the design phase and expect to construct the causeway in October and early November, though the planned State Park closures may affect the schedule. Stay tuned for volunteer opportunities for this much needed project.