The Mark West Area Community Fund Park Project, by Karen Fies and Brad Sherwood
Our speakers for the October 16, 2024 meeting were Brad Sherwood and Karen Fies of the Mark West Area Community Fund. Brad is the President of the Fund. He is an Assistant General Manager at Sonoma Water and previously served on the Mark West Union School District Board of Trustees and Mark West Area Citizens Advisory Council. Karen is the chair of the Mark west Area Municipal Advisory Counsel and retired as the Director for the Sonoma County Human Services Department.
The Community Fund’s goal is to build community in the Mark West, Larkfield, and Wikiup unincorporated areas. This area was severely impacted by the 2017 fires. The area has had a significant increase in density, including apartments, and more children than in the past. The County's Parks Department has not helped the area. Community Fund was created to help with the rebuild after the fire and to fund parks. It raised over $3 million to purchase property and build a park along Old Redwood Highway in a vacant field near the old Cricklewood Restaurant. With the help of the Sonoma Land Trust, the property has been purchased and the Community Fund is working on developing the park. They intend to build a small “pocket” part, rather than a regional park or village square. Karen has taken a leading role in the park's development and is actively working on such details as applying for grants, decommissioning the sewer, grading and sidewalks, planning and planting fruit trees, and designing and installing pvc lines for water. She’s not a developer but knows the County organization and is adept at working with the various departments to get things done. The Community Fund has targeted 2025 for park’s opening.
The Fund is also actively seeking help with donations and from volunteers for various projects at the park. Many thanks to Brad for his return visit and to Karen for providing us with the details of her work. Good luck on the new park and on all your efforts to build community in the Mark West-Larkfield-Wikiup area!
Click HERE to view a recording of Karen and Brad's presentation.
