City of Santa Rosa and Partners Complete the Sale of Southeast Greenway Property from the CTC

Today, Oct. 17, 2024, a significant milestone was achieved in the Santa Rosa Southeast Greenway project when the California Transportation Commission (CTC) finalized the sale of 49 acres of Southeast Greenway property to the City of Santa Rosa. The City purchased the property from Caltrans for a total of $1.83 million.

"Santa Rosa's urban wonderland is official! said Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire (D-North Coast). "With this 47-acre property now owned by the residents of Santa Rosa, long-awaited plans for a one-of-kind urban park with walking and bike trails, natural open spaces and ball parks, all in the heart of east Santa Rosa, will soon become a reality. This Greenway will enhance the lives of families for generations to come, while also delivering 10 acres of prime land to develop desperately-needed affordable housing for seniors and working families. I'm grateful for the hard work and collaboration between CalTrans, the CA Department of General Services, the state Housing and Community Development Department and the City of Santa Rosa, to make the Southeast Greenway dream come true."

The acquisition marks a significant milestone in the decades-long effort to create a "Central Park" for Sonoma County's largest city. This initiative, led by the community-driven Santa Rosa Southeast Greenway Campaign, has been made possible through the collaboration of multiple agencies, including Sonoma Land Trust, Sonoma Water, Sonoma County Regional Parks, Sonoma County Ag + Open Space, and LandPaths. It stands as one of the most successful and extensive multi-agency and community partnerships to date.

"The acquisition of the Southeast Greenway property is a pivotal step in our city's ongoing efforts to enhance public spaces and improve quality of life," said Santa Rosa City Manager Maraskeshia Smith. "This project has been years in the making, and I'm proud of the collaboration between various agencies, community groups, and our City team to make it a reality."

The purchase was made possible through a combination of grant funding and community donations, spearheaded by Sonoma Land Trust and Southeast Greenway Campaign. Notably, Sonoma County Ag + Open Space contributed up to $1 million through its Community Spaces Matching Grant Program to help fund the acquisition.  Additional funding came from the Community Foundation of Sonoma County, the Mead Foundation, the Saba Foundation, and generous individual donors.

"We're so happy for this huge step forward," said Misti Arias, General Manager of Ag + Open Space. "The Southeast Greenway project is a prime example of what our Community Spaces matching grant program was created to do - to conserve open space in the hearts of our communities and towns and to support innovative projects that reflect the needs and vision of Sonoma County's diverse communities."

According to Sonoma Land Trust's Land Acquisition Director John McCaull, "Since 2015, we have held the role as a central convener, bringing together government agencies, community groups and funders to accomplish a very big win for people and nature. This land will be transformed into a convenient and beautiful gateway to the natural world for thousands of Santa Rosa residents and visitors, and a critical piece of climate resilient infrastructure for the city."

"Everyone at the Southeast Greenway Campaign is truly thrilled to have reached this goal. We couldn't have done this without the vision of our founding campaign members, or the generous, thoughtful support from our partners.," said Thea Hensel, Chair of the Southeast Greenway Campaign. "The community has come forth with consistent donations, great ideas, and real enthusiasm for this project. It has all added up and here we are, finally adding beautiful open space and public land to be protected in perpetuity for all to enjoy. The Southeast Greenway Campaign will continue to support the creation of this vital public space, from the master planning process through the build out. There's so much more to do, and we will support every step."

With the sale now finalized, the City is gearing up to begin the planning phase for the park, ensuring community members will have ample opportunities to provide input and share their vision for the future of the Southeast Greenway Park. Celebratory events to mark this long-awaited addition to the community are also in the works.

Stay tuned for further announcements on how you can participate in shaping this exciting new public space.

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