Santa Rosa's Roseland Community Park gets Funded

District Awards Matching Funds for City of Santa Rosa Park
Board approves $2.42 million for Roseland Creek Community Park and Trail Project

Today (February 23, 2010), the Board approved a $2.42 million grant to the City of Santa Rosa for the acquisition of 7 acres located at 1370 and 1400 Burbank Avenue for an eventual park and trail project located in southwest Santa Rosa. The Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District recommended the project for funding in 2008 as part of its Matching Grant Program.

“This park is a needed asset for the community and will directly benefit the children in the Roseland School District,” said Efren Carrillo, Fifth District Supervisor. “Through the Matching Grant Program we are able to bolster local programs to make more parks and recreational opportunities available, as well as create quality environmental, educational and economic resources for the neighborhoods of our cities.”

This acquisition represents a portion of the larger 18 acres identified for park and trail development located between Burbank and McMinn Avenues, and is the first of a multi-phased project. The City is currently negotiating additional acquisitions totaling approximately 11 acres located at 1027 McMinn and 1360 Burbank Avenues and has applied for funding from the District as part of its 2009 grant program.

The site was identified as a potential park in the City’s general plan and comprises a reach of Roseland Creek, grasslands, and oak savanna. The proposed park is within a one-mile radius of four elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools of the Roseland School District, and is expected to support a variety of community activities, including environmental education and after-school programs.

“The acquisition of this property will bring us closer to realizing our general plan goal of increasing parkland and recreational amenities for our residents,” said Marc Richardson, Assistant City Manager and Director of Recreation, Parks and Community Services. “By partnering with the District, the City of Santa Rosa is able to leverage its resources to create an 18-acre park envisioned by the community.”

As its matching contribution, the City will provide nearly $2.8 million of city funding, grants, and professional in-kind services toward ongoing park maintenance, restoration and enhancement of the creek. The Matching Grant Program guidelines require a 1:1 contribution match from applicants, which can include direct contributions and in-kind services and materials, with no more than 50 percent of the match identified for operations and maintenance.

Both Measures C and F, approved by the voters in 1990 and 2006, respectively, provide for the Matching Grant Program. Since 1994, the District has administered and based funding for this program on available sales tax revenues. To date, nearly $28 million in matching grants have been selected for funding of land acquisition, development of recreational amenities, and restoration of open space within or near urban areas. Projects include the Town Green in Windsor, the Prince Memorial Greenway in Santa Rosa, and the 250-acre expansion of land along the Petaluma River for public access and habitat enhancement adjacent to Schollenberger Park. As the District anticipates an approximate 10 percent decline in its revenue for FY09-10, the program is budgeted at $2 million or nearly 13% of its total revenues for the year.

“Now, more than ever, this program is especially important as it leverages the resources of our city, local agency, and non-profit partners to develop parks and restore open space for our urban communities,” said District General Manager Bill Keene. “Our success relies on the ability to offer a program that responds to the changing needs of our applicants.”

About the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District
The Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District permanently protects the diverse agricultural, natural resource and scenic open space lands of Sonoma County for future generations. Since 1990, the District has protected more than 83,000 acres. Agricultural and open space lands have been protected through a 1/4-cent sales tax approved by voters in 1990 and reauthorized in 2006. For more information, please visit www.sonomaopenspace.org