Half a Century in the Making
Kathryn Anderson, Architect, Advocate and Sunrise Rotarian holds the schematic for the Southeast Greenway plan which will develop the formed Highway 12 extension from Farmers Lane to Spring Lake Park. Read on ......
In wonderful Rotary order, and Marty Behr's guidance, our nearly 20 group heads out.
Conceived in the 1950's as part of President Eisenhower's Interstate Highway initiative and then Cal Trans, the 100-yard wide by 1.8-mile stretch has focused much scrutiny, and eventual transfer expected in August to the City of Santa Rosa. At that point, title rights will permit advancement of development plans to take on the complex collaborative synergy of various constituents. Three of the more vocal are on topics of:
Unhoused people camping, affordable housing and vehicle traffic.
Here on the north border is Martha Street our group heard from one homeowner who told us of nuisance littering, dumping on their semi-isolated area. Our guide from the Southeast Greenway Foundation informed us that adjacent neighbors have apprehension of homeless occupation of the proposed park area. Another advocacy group wants housing included in the final plan. A third interest remains in automobile thorofare. Our guides who have been active in procuring the property for over a decade spoke to the ecological considerations such as surface and ground water management, landscaping, bicycle and pedestrian paths and vehicular parking.
Residential neighborhoods border the Greenway. Their interests and concerns will be an ongoing dialogue.
Challenges ahead were discyssed, and the need for public engagement in balancing priorities.
Can you imagine this view from the central park area, and actual green, lusher ground cover?
At the east end here at Spring Lake Park access is restricted and the terrain noticeably more challenging. We gained remarkable appreciation for the persistence of Greenway advocates, and invitation to join their engagement in the continuing stewardship, support and held vision for what an American Institute of Architects identified as the best opportunity in the country for a city the size of Santa Rosa.
Thank you, Katherine, Marty, James and Jim, for the exercise and update. For more about the Santa Rosa Southeast Greenway, visit https://southeastgreenway.org/
