Regional Parks Newsletter
November 2020
A season of gratitude
This is the time of year to give thanks – an occasion to voice the gratitude we feel daily, but often don't take the time to express. Here at Regional Parks, we are ever-thankful for our members and visitors, whose support makes our mission and vision possible.

This month, we are also thankful for several special happenings:

Our staff and visitors who continue to rise to the challenge during this pandemic

Read on for more!
Land purchased for Monte Rio's first regional park
We're thrilled to announce that we have acquired more than 500 acres just south of Monte Rio for a future regional park – the first of its kind for the lower Russian River.

Purchased from the Torr Family, the property (shown in the photos above) offers potential for multi-use trails and environmental education across three distinct landscapes: forested hillsides west of Main Street, redwood-shaded flatland along Dutch Bill Creek and unique serpentine habitat east of Bohemian Highway.

A big thank you to our funding partners and Sonoma County voters who approved the local park tax Measure M in 2018. Read more about this property and its potential – and see the article in The Press Democrat.
How is Hood Mountain faring after the Glass Fire?
The recent Glass Fire burned approximately 80 percent of Hood Mountain's 2,000 acres. We've found that about 50 percent was a moderate- to high-severity burn that killed or severely damaged many trees. We're removing the most hazardous trees and clearing access roads and trails, and while we don't yet know when we'll be able to re-open the park, we do know nature will rebound.
Wide trails for hiking or riding during COVID-19
Recreating during the pandemic has made a couple of things abundantly clear: Getting outside for our physical and mental health is more important than ever, and some trails are better than others for doing that safely.

If you #OptOutside this holiday season, here are three Sonoma County multi-use trails that offer room to spread out or take you off the beaten path. 
Pandemic safety: We're all in this together
The pandemic has changed life for all of us. This includes daily operations at every one of your regional parks – and what we ask of visitors. We understand this remains a difficult time and everyone is feeling pandemic fatigue. We're thankful the parks serve as a safe space and a refuge for many, but as holidays near and case numbers climb, we're sharing a friendly reminder to please #RecreateResponsibly.

  • Stay 6 feet from others you don't live with.
  • Wear a face covering when you can't stay 6 feet away.
  • Keep your face covering on when talking with park rangers and staff.
  • Don't gather in large groups.
  • Avoid crowded parks.
  • Pack out what you pack in.
Park programs in your living room
What do sand crabs and a one-room schoolhouse have in common? They both were recently featured in our Facebook Live presentations. These weekly programs are a chance to catch some great (socially distanced) outdoor education from the comfort of your living room. Our naturalists go live every Thursday afternoon to share a little about who and what make your parks so special. Tune in, start a watch party, and have fun learning about your parks virtually!
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Sonoma County Regional Parks
707-565-2041