Open space inside of Petaluma continues to grow and get dramatically better for all of us. Helen Putnam Park for example has expanded twice over the past ten years and maintenance continues to improve. The River Park didn’t even exist six years ago and I don’t think most people are aware of the massive planning effort currently underway to turn that into a huge multi-use open space playground both on the peninsula and on the Hopper Street side.
Della Fattoria opened its doors Monday night to introduce a new group committed to being "for" a positive vision for future growth of downtown Petaluma. It was a lively scene and a packed house. I"m a big fan of rubbing shoulders at a crowded community event and this was a good one. "Renaissance Petaluma" is the name of the group of citizen business owners which is promoting a positive vision for a downtown renaissance. Good stuff. Check out the video.
https://youtu.be/U4iEydTfeMw?si=OgRM629ctscG06iW
The new North River Apartments are being leased out a people are moving in. They call it "La Via" now. I thought that the units I saw were fairly sophisticated and sweet. Very efficient use of square footage. Love the tall ceilings.
I knew that Lafferty Ranch was going to be a special place for Petaluma to access as a public park. But it turns out that it is even better than expected. I am now a docent with LandPaths and guide hikes there for the public. Come check it out! Find a scheduled docent led hike on the calendar for LandPaths.org
City Thread is a consultant that will help Petaluma develop a strategy and build the community consensus necessary to quickly build out an interconnected bicycle path network in Petaluma. I'm excited about what we are about to accomplish with City Thread.
The City is working with interested members of the public and with Safe Streets Petaluma to implement a quick build program that would allow members of the public to suggest street safety improvement and to have them quickly implemented with temporary structures that would allow for the demonstration and testing of the safety measure. If it turns out to be a good improvement to the neighborhood then a similar permanent installation can be built.
Fun to watch some of the new safe street changes going in around town in a couple of locations. The idea is to slow down cars and make it safer and inviting for bicycles, pedestrians and other folks to also use the streets. Even though I am a casual bicycle rider, some of the new lane configurations along Petaluma Blvd. South had me confused. So I got two other serious bike experts to come along and help me answer some of the questions people have about how the new lane striping is meant to be used, what's finished, what isn't done yet, what seems to be working and what might not yet be working with the street design changes. It's a work in progress, for sure.
Our Public Works department is currently tearing up Petaluma Blvd South to turn four narrow lanes into three. And add a bike lane. And make it safer for people walking around. We already have a previously installed section of road diet on Petaluma Blvd North. Now our town is assessing the value of a road diet design upgrade for Rainier Avenue as a potential complete street option. Check it out!
What makes a town walkable? What is a good walk? What are some relatively simple improvements we can implement to make Petaluma even more walkable? Often times a good walk can also be a good bicycle ride. Public transit absolutely relies on walking to connect people to and from their destinations.
A significant quantity of dirt has left the site in the last few weeks at the North River Apartments at Petaluma Blvd North and Oak Street and Water Street.
