The River Park's Location & Current Stewards

Petaluma River Park is a rare riverfront parkland in the heart of downtown Petaluma. It consists of approximately 35 acres of undeveloped land over two sites: on the McNear Peninsula and directly across the McNear Channel at 500 Hopper Street.

The Petaluma River Park Foundation (the “Foundation”) is a 501c3 non-profit organization whose mission is to create a shared space that connects people, art, and nature. The Foundation was founded in 2019 by Petaluma residents with the sole purpose of building the River Park.  

The Timeline

The Foundation has created a three-phased approach to park-making.

Today, we are in the "Dream It" phase. The key outcome of this phase is a final CONCEPT PLAN–a document that provides a specific but still high-level vision of the future park. 

This summer, we are inviting you to give input on the draft concept plans, including the final list of park features and amenities. We will then use that input to create a single, final plan at the end of 2024.

Our Process

The majority of the "Dream It" phase has been spent conducting an in-depth site analysis of the River Park land and extensive community engagement, specifically with communities that have been historically excluded from the public place-making.

Site Analysis

Led by our team of partners at CMG Landscape Architecture and Prunuske Chatham Inc. (PCI), we've conducted numerous studies and analyzed dozens of relative reports to understand the River Park land itself and how the future park will connect with the rest of the city and region. 

You can read an overview of our Site Analysis findings in the Spirit of the Park report and find all of our studies on our website. 

Environmental Restoration Opportunities

Listening to and learning from the land and its context is critical to creating a park that works for both the environment and the people of Petaluma. Though much of the park appears wild and undeveloped, a history of human disturbance has limited its habitat value. After years of investigation, the Foundation's environmental restoration specialists, PCI, have identified key habitat creation opportunities at the park. 

Primary Habitat Creation Actions:

• Improving the shoreline for fish and turtles 
• Expanding the brackish tidal marshes that ring the site
• Preserving and improving the vernal pool
• Adding more shrubs and trees to increase the structural diversity of the planting and support a variety of bird species
• Though not currently found throughout the park, native oaks would add shade and habitat to the park. Many species of plants and animals rely on native oak trees for nesting and food.

These interventions will increase biodiversity at the park and, when combined with nature-based shoreline strengthening, will increase the resiliency of the park in the face of climate change and sea level rise. 

Community Engagement

Since its inception, the Foundation understood that a community-led park design process was essential for ensuring that the River Park is truly a park for all.

Early on, the Foundation partnered with Sonoma Land Trust and more than a dozen organizations to establish a blueprint for how to engage the community, and later partnered with expert consultants, Kimzin Creative, to engage the community in an artistic, fun, and equitable way.  

Community Engagement

At the center of this process are 15 “Community Park Designers”—a group of individuals nominated by their community to work hand-in-hand with the Foundation and the design team to co-design the draft plans for the Petaluma River Park over a year-long engagement process. Representing our Equity Priority Populations, these individuals are helping to ensure that the Petaluma River Park is truly "a park for everyone." 

Overall, thousands of individuals shared their hopes and dreams for the Petaluma River Park between 2020 and 2024. To see the artifacts of the community's dreams for the River Park, we encourage you to visit our Dreamscapes exhibition on view at the River Park Foundation's Headquarters, at the Petaluma Health Center, and at the Petaluma Senior Center through the end of August 2024.

Our Process

All of the data we collected about the park site and the community's needs was then filtered through the lens of the River Park's mission and vision:

The mission of the Petaluma River Park Foundation is to meet our vital need for shared space that connects people, art, and nature. When we succeed, the River Park will be a vibrant, welcoming place that fosters a love of nature, sparks creativity, and unifies our community for generations to come.  

Our Process

The process produced the "Spirit of the Park"—a set of 12 Guiding Principles that reflect what the community wants the park to be and what the land will support. These standards will be our roadmap for park development, design, and operations. The English and Spanish versions are available below.

You can read the full Spirit of the Park booklet and primary reports on our website.  

Turning Dreams into Reality

The Foundation’s focus is now on building a River Park that supports the community's vision with the right park facilities and amenities.

The next few slides will explain the primary features and amentities included in the draft plans for the River Park and collect your feedback. 

Water Access

We have heard that access to the Petaluma River is one of the things that the community is most excited about for the new park. Please answer the following questions about what "river access" means to you.

Performing Arts Venue

We have heard that creating a place to stage art and culture is a community priority. What kind of venue or venues for performances would you most like to see at the River Park?