SEPTEMBER 2021 NEWSLETTER

Wright Hill in the right place It’s official: Wright Hill is now part of Sonoma County Regional Parks! That means it’s destined to become another public park and preserve for all to enjoy.  A 1,236-acre mosaic of grasslands, rock outcroppings, bay-oak woodlands and redwood-Douglas fir forests, Wright Hill is adjacent to the Red Hill portion of Sonoma Coast State Park just south of Jenner. Sonoma County Ag + Open Space transferred ownership of the property to us last month, and we now begin a three- to five-year planning and infrastructure phase that will culminate in the opening of Wright Hill Regional Park and Open Space Preserve. We also are preparing to host regular park preview days on the land, and we’ll announce those details here soon.  Wright Hill’s transfer caps an incredible spate of recent growth for Regional Parks, growth that includes Ag + Open Space’s transfers of Calabazas Creek and Carrington Coast Ranch. We look forward to sharing all of these beautiful lands with you.

See photos of Wright Hill

'Another open space jewel'

Labor Day weekends are best at the beach For people who love lounging, boating, grilling, swimming and similar activities during these late-summer days, Sonoma County’s beaches beckon. That’s doubly true on Labor Day weekend, when the Russian River beaches, coastal beaches, and Spring Lake Swimming Lagoon offer perfect venues for outdoor holiday fun.   The swimming lagoon is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily through Labor Day and on weekends through September. Also at Spring Lake, kayak and paddleboard rentals are available on those same days from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. And our River Shuttle will continue shuttling fun-seekers to Steelhead and Sunset beaches every weekend through September from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Rent a boat

Catch a shuttle

Leave no trace

Get your bark on! The Water Bark dog swims return for the first three weekends in October, and we can’t wait to see all your pooches splashing about at the Spring Lake Swimming Lagoon. Pre-sale tickets (recommended) are $7 per dog for Regional Parks members or $9 per dog for non-members. Tickets are $10 per dog at the door.

Water Bark is a fundraiser for Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation, which supports trail construction and maintenance, fire preparedness and other critical Regional Parks projects. Support the Foundation to support your parks!

Get your discounted Water Bark tickets

Fence-free living for parks wildlife As this footage shows, old fencing poses a threat to wildlife by impeding movement across wildland. This year, crews from our Natural Resources division have removed more than 3 miles of fencing, mostly barbed wire, at Taylor Mountain, Ragle Ranch, Crane Creek, Helen Putnam, Hood Mountain, North Sonoma Mountain and Mark West.

In doing this work (which was made possible by the Measure M parks sales tax approved by Sonoma County voters in 2018), we improve animals’ movement through wildlife corridors, helping their populations thrive and reducing human-animal conflicts.

Learn more about Natural Resources

Tips for camping at Doran Regional Park If you’re looking for a beautiful year-round campground with lots of activities, check out Doran Regional Park! As this video explains, those able to visit mid-week might snag a last-minute autumn getaway at Doran; but if not, reservations can be made up to a year in advance.

Watch the video

Reserve a campsite at Doran

Seeking a youth commissioner If you are 18 to 24, live in Sonoma County, love parks and open space, and are willing to represent local youth on important issues, then we have a perfect leadership role for you: youth commissioner with the Regional Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission.

This volunteer role requires curiosity, confidence, and a willingness to address big issues from climate change to equity and diversity. Apply by Sept. 15 and serve your community!

Submit an application

Share your thoughts on river revitalization The County of Sonoma, in collaboration with Russian River Confluence, is launching the Russian River Revitalization project. This project engages with the public to establish a campaign and infrastructure to advocate for the health of the Russian River. To help organizers reach that goal, please take a moment to complete this online survey.

Take the Russian River Revitalization survey

Choose your adventure Late summer to early fall can be one of the most active and wonderful times of the year in Sonoma County. Below are a few September offerings from Regional Parks, with events tailored for various interests.   Note: Outdoor activities will be canceled if the air quality index (AQI) exceeds 150 at a given location. On smoky days, please check the host park’s AQI by looking at the map on PurpleAir.com. Senior Saunter at Riverfront - Sept. 7 Introduction to Disc Golf at Andy's Unity Park - Sept. 10 Science Saturday at Environmental Discovery Center - Sept. 11 Family Fun Hike at Bird Walk Coastal Access Trail - Sept. 12 Senior Paddle at Spring Lake - Sept. 14 Little Parkies at Doran - Sept. 18 Creek Clean Up at Maxwell Farms - Sept. 18 Meet Watson School at Running Fence-Watson School Historic Park - Sept. 19 Fire Recovery Trail Work at Foothill - Sept. 25 Winging It Wednesday at Helen Putnam - Sept. 29

See full calendar of September activities

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Sonoma County Regional Parks (707) 565-2041 parks@sonoma-county.org SonomaCountyParks.org

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