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Caryl Hart
By BOB NORBERG
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Fundraising to keep Annadel State Park open has reached a tipping point, with Sonoma County Regional Parks now prepared to take over operation of the sprawling east Santa Rosa park on a day-to-day basis.
“I am in a position to move forward, to enter into an operating agreement with the state,” said Caryl Hart, regional parks director. “We have raised the bare minimum to keep the park open.”
Annadel is one of five of Sonoma County’s state parks and among 70 statewide scheduled to be closed July 1 as part of the state’s budget-cutting efforts.
Hart refused to disclose how much money has been raised through the Sonoma County Parks Alliance, a coalition of public and private groups, to keep Annadel open but said fundraising must continue.
It costs about $300,000 a year to operate Annadel, she said. The 4,000-acre park is a major draw for hikers, equestrians and cyclists.
She said the takeover from the state would rely on rangers, maintenance workers and staff from Regional Parks, along with some presence from the state, which will continue to own Annadel.
“We would have oversight, running day-to-day operations, charging for use, collecting revenue, coordinating with partners, have fundraising … we would be the lead agency,” Hart said.
The next step is to get an operating agreement approved by the county Board of Supervisors and the state parks department.
On Monday, VeloStreet, the nonprofit agency that owns and raises money from Levi Leipheimer’s King Ridge GranFondo, announced $15,000 in matching grants for Annadel.
“From VeloStreet’s perspective, the importance is building a community in Sonoma County that invests in cycling resources,” said Greg Fisher of Bike Monkey, organizer of the GranFondo. “We have had this great cycling resource for years and now it is threatened. Sonoma County, Santa Rosa, our community benefits the more access people have riding bikes.”
LandPaths, a Sonoma County conservation group, also has received a $5,000 donation for Annadel, said Executive Director Craig Anderson.
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If the money being wasted on SMART were spend on things that are really used now and could be for future generations, like Annadel, how many parks would be saved?
One unneeded bike bridge can fund Annadel Park for 60 years or more, go figure.
The “study ” alone could fund it for years !
One thing users can do it to purchase annual parking passes instead of relying on free street parking. If you use the park pay for a pass, its a great thing to have at multiple regional parks.
How about all of the people whom use Annadel each put in $300.00 annually to save the park? After 1,000 of you pay the maintenance fees for the year will be paid and Annadel will no longer be under hostage of Moonbeam and his goons. That will cost you less than $1.00/day which is way cheaper than a fair-trade non-fat decaf soy latte or even a yoga studio membership!
Brian Brown:
How can you help ?
Next time you are by the park exterior or walk through the park interior, pick up a few pieces of litter.
Not everyone was taught properly about placing litter where it belongs: in the nearest trash can.
I love that park. What can I do to help?
Annadel is a state park only on the basis of ownership. But who uses it? Does it attract statewide visitors the way Humboldt Redwoods State Park? No.
Annadel is, based on usage, a fine county park. And it makes sense that those who use it have the most interest in its maintenance. The first step in preserving our park system is for users to accept that responsibility. Depending on Sacramento and Washington to continue funding local parks is a recipe for their decline.
Currently, Annadel is a state own park.
Next door to it are two other parks, one a “regional park” and one a “city park.”
Three parks essentially all on the same tract of property and contiguous / side by side.
So, please explain to me why taxpayers are forced to pay three distinct and separate public employee administrations when one would be sufficient?
Even with this change, we are being forced to support two separate park administrations.
Make all the excuses you want. They don’t fly.
Thank you Sonoma County.