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Paula Lane Open Space Preserve Closer to Becoming Reality

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors approved on September 8, 2008, the 2008 Matching Grants open space project recommendations.  Seven projects will be placed into the evaluation and approval process.   Included in this year's recommendations is the long-awaited Paula Lane Open Space Preserve in South Sonoma County.

The Paula Lane Open Space Preserve is a project of the City of Petaluma in partnership with the conservation nonprofit Paula Lane Action Network. The project is currently recommended for $1,000,000 in funding from the Matching Grants program.

The open space preserve will be a first for the South County and will include habitat protection and restoration for a heavily traversed wildlife corridor and, to date, 13 identified Special Status wildlife species. The 11.22 acre property, located in one of Petaluma's oldest rural communities, is popular with walkers and bicyclists and is easily accessible for wheelchair access. The property represents the largest open land in the West Side area. Planned programs include environmental and agricultural education, along with a community garden, native gardens and public access tailored to specially challenged citizens with viewing areas to enjoy open space and resident and migratory wildlife.

Petaluma High School has been invited to be the anchor for the organic agricultural program, enhancing the school's existing and long-standing Agricultural Education program, with discussion of a small organic vineyard, organic fruits and vegetables, culinary, medicinal and natural cosmetic herbs and flowers, and careful attention to habitat-agriculture interfaces. Petaluma Junior High School has been invited to be the anchor for the science and environmental studies program, and Mary Collins School at Cherry Valley, also within walking distance of the planned project, is anticipated to participate actively in habitat restoration.

An additional innovative feature of the open space preserve is the community garden, planned to be managed by community volunteers, growing produce for the Petaluma Bounty distribution system. Petaluma Bounty provides nutritional education, has helped begin community and school gardens in Petaluma, and facilitates providing organic produce for individuals and families.

"We are very encouraged," said a spokesperson for the Paula Lane Action Network. "The eight years of time and energy devoted to this preservation project now seem like eight minutes." If all goes as planned, the Preserve and programs could begin to be implemented as early as the Fall of 2009.

The Paula Lane Open Space Preserve project and its planned partnerships and programs have been described as one of the most innovative land use conservation efforts in Sonoma County.