Sonoma County Regional Parks

Conserve, Educate, Explore:  Visit one of Sonoma County Regional Parks and do all three!  Twenty thousand county residents have discovered their genetic link with the natural beauty and bio-diversity inherent in Sonoma County’s 50 parks, beaches and trails.
 
Imminently qualified to integrate the connection between people and landscape, Caryl Hart conducted a tour of the geographic and political terrain within Sonoma County.  Funded through a combination of $0.025 sales tax and use fees, the Regional Parks Department annual $20 million budget covers maintenance, acquisitions, operations and programs.  Guided by a state recognized Integrated Parks Plan, our county is mapping its’ strategy to strengthen the outdoor economy for a sustainable future.
 
Driven by the recognition of tourism’s demand for our recreational vitality and health enhancing environment, the Regional Parks Department is creating a well coordinated, user friendly guidance process to maximize resident and visitor enjoyment of hiking, biking, paddling, picnicking, fishing and learning opportunities.  This approach is a reflection of the model currently in place in New Zealand.
 
Caryl briefly discussed the benefit of the County’s TOT, or Transient Occupancy Tax.  Generated through commercial lodging operations, the TOT provides partial funding for department operations.
 
Reaching out to youth, educating them in ecology and conservation, the department offers ongoing community education, some bilingual.
 
Want to know how you can help preserve our fabulous environmental resources?  Visit one of your 50 parks, join the annual pass population, or give the gift of an annual pass!  At $30 for a Senior, that’s a landslide of a great deal!
 
Visit your parks at http://parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/