Petaluma River Park Foundation Acquires 38-Acre Riverfront Property

PETALUMA, CA — The Petaluma River Park Foundation has purchased a 38-acre riverfront property adjacent to the parklands it already stewards, it was announced Tuesday.

The nonprofit acquired the property at 500 Hopper Street from Scannell Properties in a deal made possible through support from an anonymous benefactor, as well as a donation from Ginnie and Pete Haas Jr., who is a great-great-grandnephew of Levi Strauss and still serves on the executive board of Levi Strauss & Co.

Nearly all riverside properties in Petaluma have been privately owned for over a century but this purchase places the one-of-a-kind riverfront parcel squarely in the hands of the local community, the foundation said in a news release.

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Since 2020, the foundation has owned 24 acres of the McNear Peninsula. This acquisition more than doubled the land under its stewardship and is expected to result in dramatic increases in public access to and the restoration of Petaluma’s most precious natural resource, according to Seair Lorentz, executive director of the Petaluma River Park Foundation, who could not contain her enthusiasm.

“This acquisition, fueled by the incredible support of our anonymous benefactor and Ginnie and Pete Haas, empowers our local community organization to be stewards of and provide equitable access to even more land in the heart of Petaluma,” Lorentz said. “Our Foundation’s mission to unite people, art, and nature in a shared, communal place finds new purpose and vigor with this remarkable addition.”

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Gift To The Community

“We believe that the Petaluma River Park Foundation is the ideal steward for this land,” said Ginnie and Pete Haas. “It is important to preserve this open space for current and future generations to enjoy. We are delighted to contribute to making this park a reality for Petaluma and hope others will join us in the effort.”

The couple lived in Novato for many years but upon their purchase of a historic Petaluma home became proud members of the Petaluma community.

New Riverfront Park, Restored Tidal Slough

The acquisition expands the vision of a community-driven park for people, art and nature to both sides of the river and the McNear Canal, the foundation said. Central to the vision for the property is the creation of nearly a mile of riverfront trail to provide a critical missing link in the completion of the citywide bike and pedestrian trail system outlined in the 1996 River Enhancement Plan.

Visitors arriving by foot, bike or SMART rail will benefit from the new public access. Plans also include the desired creation of a pedestrian bridge between the new property and the existing River Park on the McNear Peninsula. The bridge would connect existing trails and parks such as Alman Marsh and Shollenberger Park in the southern part of the city to the downtown and west side neighborhoods. This would create a highly desirable, off-surface street, bicycle and pedestrian route throughout a large portion of the city, the foundation said. The new trail segment would also add to the Bay Area Ridge Trail and Bay Area Water Trail, promoting Petaluma as a new regional destination for outdoor recreation.

With the doubling of its waterfront holdings to just over a mile, the Petaluma River Park Foundation along with environmental Consultants Prunuske Chatham Inc., and local organizations Point Blue Conservation Science, Friends of the Petaluma River and Sonoma County Land Trust, will provide consistent, evidence-based habitat creation and restoration, and conduct critical sea-level rise resilience planning.

The foundation said it intends to involve the community directly in the restoration and stewardship process through programs such as Point Blue’s STRAW program (students and teachers restoring a watershed) and others. The ultimate goal is that restoration of the wetland and upland habitats of the river—which is a tidal slough—will create a living, outdoor classroom where students and the public can learn about and engage with this unique ecosystem in an intimate and ongoing way.

A Collective Dream

The acquisition garnered enthusiastic support from the City of Petaluma by helping make real the city’s 25-year vision to enhance riverfront restoration and access. Development of the property and the envisioned pedestrian bridge promise numerous benefits, including an expanded riverfront park and communal space; a safe, cross-town connection for pedestrians and bikers; and the possibility of affordable, transit-oriented housing.

“The City of Petaluma is thrilled to embrace this transformative acquisition by the Petaluma River Park Foundation,” said Peggy Flynn, Petaluma city manager. “The purchase of the 38-acre riverfront property not only aligns with our long-standing commitment to riverfront restoration and public access to the River but also opens a gateway to a brighter, more accessible climate-smart future for our community. This collaborative effort promises a vibrant riverfront park, improved connectivity, and potentially affordable housing options—all essential elements in our vision for a thriving Petaluma. We look forward to working hand-in-hand with the Foundation and the entire community to shape this promising chapter in our city’s history.”

The foundation pledged to stick to its “go slow, get it right” strategy, which emphasizes a community-centric approach through extensive public engagement and partnerships with community-based organizations.

Community members can submit ideas for the River Park by taking this online survey. The foundation invites people to sign up for its email list so they can stay tuned for opportunities to give input on the Petaluma River Park during upcoming public planning workshops.

When Scannell Properties purchased the land in 2019, it had a mixed-use master plan development that included office, retail, and residential.

“We’ve been talking with the Petaluma River Park Foundation for years with the intent to provide public access to the river as part of this master plan,” said Walker Williams, senior development associate for Scannell Properties. “So, when our development plans for the site didn’t pan out, we saw this as a natural next step for this land. This has been such a rewarding collaboration, and we are thrilled to achieve our mutual goal of an accessible, natural conservatory for the community in connection with 500 Hopper, a site that has been inaccessible to the public for decades.”

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