Community Corner
Sonoma Garden Park to Benefit from Matching Grant Program
Funding recommendations approved for Urban Recreation and Open Space projects by County
Two million dollars in grants for six urban open space and recreation projects were recommended on Wednesday for inclusion into the Matching Grant Program by the Board of Directors of the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District.
Among the projects approved is completing access improvements and habitat restoration in Sonoma Garden Park, east of of Sonoma. The non-profit Sonoma Ecology Center, in partnership with the City of Sonoma, was awarded $102,950.
The Matching Grant Program was part of the original ballot measure that created the District in 1990. Passage of voter-approved Measure F in November 2006 extended the District’s funding toward this unique competitive grant program, which has since been offered by the District on a regular basis to City and County agencies and non-profit organizations for urban open space and recreational projects within or near cities.
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“The Matching Grant Program provides support to our hard-working community partners for their grassroots efforts to meet local needs relating to recreation, open space protection, and restoration and preservation of riparian areas,” said Efren Carrillo, District 5 Supervisor.
Shirlee Zane, Board of Directors President, commented, “Contributions towards trail connection projects like SMART will help us realize the rail and trail corridor throughout the county and our goal of GHG reductions by 2015.”
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“The strong interest in the District’s Matching Grant Program demonstrates how important open space, habitat restoration and recreational opportunities are in shaping the livability of our urban communities,” said Bill Keene, the District’s General Manager.
Other Sonoma County projects and the amounts recommended for funding include: Creekside Park in Monte Rio ($389,000), Forever Forestville ($750,000), Guerneville River Park ($368,000); Irwin Creek Trail Access and Riparian Restoration ( $107,290), and the SMART Pathway, Hearn Avenue to Bellevue Avenue ($282,760).
