Park Plans 2023
According to Kelly Creek Protection Project website, these plans will be developed in three different phases:
Phase 1 would last approximately three to four months and would include grading the upper parking lot and completing the construction of the lower parking lot and associated infiltration basin, two pedestrian bridges, temporary restroom, north segment of the loop trail with connection to Helen Putnam Regional Park and the barn center.
So folks, this is Phase 1 of what the public will get if this project is approved:
NO upper parking lot (grading only)
Only 1 of the 2 infiltration basins. Is Davidon counting on both of these for runoff created by the homes?
2 bridges: we assume one bridge will connect the lower parking lot to the North trail. But developing either one of the remaining bridges will create a bridge to the area south of Kelly Creek which is supposed to remain undeveloped.
NO playground or picnic area
NO restoration of the Red Barns
NO nature center
NO loop trail. If the loop trail is 0.7 miles, how long is the North Trail? Half of 0.7 miles? Will the North Trail connect to a trail that has been built in Helen Putnam Park?
NO trail along D Street and Windsor Drive to reach the barn center
This park will only be accessible from the Lower Parking Lot. This means that anyone in the 28 new homes, or anyone coming from Victoria, will need to walk along Windsor Drive, then along D Street, to the parking lot, enter at the parking lot, traverse the bridge and walk along the North Trail. It will NOT be a loop.
Others using the the park means: parking in the paved D Street lot, walking along the North Trail, turning around to walk back along the North Trail, using the port-a-potty, and getting back in your car to return home.
From Kelly Creek Protection Project website:
The remaining Phase 2 and Phase 3 depend upon the following: Once the property is transferred to Sonoma County Regional Parks, the exact timing for implementation of the different phases of the Putnam Park extension project will depend on available funds and priorities of the Sonoma County Regional Parks District. KCPP plans to collaborate with Parks in pursuing grant funding to support the improvements described in our park plan. But that can occur only after the City approves the project and we have closed escrow on the 47 acres Davidon has agreed to sell to KCPP.
Phase 2 would last approximately six to nine months and would include construction of the upper parking lot off Windsor Drive, permanent restroom, playground, group picnic area, trail along D Street and Windsor Drive to the barn center, internal bracing of the barns, ephemeral drainages restoration, pasture improvements, planting, and irrigation.
Phase 3 would last approximately three to four months and would include completion of the south segment of the loop trail, installation of the third footbridge, and barn restoration.
How well funded is the Sonoma County Regional Park system?
For the public to determine if the park amenities are a realistic vision, we should be given an estimated cost analysis of the amenities:
The public should ask about the funds available for Sonoma County Regional Park system for park development—not maintenance. What will be the availability of funds for the Putnam Park Expansion for all phases now? What do the reserves show for 5 - 6 years from now?
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Right now, the Sonoma County Regional Park system has 50 parks to visit (and maintain).
With more park and open space acquisitions in the future, how can we believe funding for the proposed Helen Putnam Park Expansion amenities will take precedence?
What might be the wildfire prevention costs throughout the park system?
Will the park system experience emergencies such as wildfires?
Does past experience predict the future?
How long did it take the Sonoma County Regional Parks to build the new trail entering Helen Putnam installed across from the West Haven development? Wasn't that expansion of the park a condition of development of West Haven years and years ago? If the time it took for that parking lot construction is an indicator of Sonoma County Regional Park system amenity installation, it could be many, many years before we see any of these more complicated amenities installed.
if the funds are available . . . .