A transformation
The Santa Rosa Southeast Greenway Project will transform a two-mile vacant corridor into 49 acres of park amenities, trails, natural open spaces, and community gathering places that residents across Santa Rosa can enjoy.
The Southeast Greenway is one of many new and developing parks in the U.S. evolving out of abandoned or underutilized transportation corridors, such as old railways and highways. The Greenway movement aims to create multi-use parks and trails that promote recreational activities, environmental sustainability, and alternative transportation options.
Designing the Greenway
Residents, community organizations, public agencies, and local leaders are all part of the shared vision for the Southeast Greenway.
The City of Santa Rosa and project partners are building off decades of community input to prepare the official park master plan, which will guide the development of the Southeast Greenway.
The Big Dream
The Southeast Greenway will become a place where people come together to move, play, rest, create, connect with nature, and experience the many mental, physical, social, and spiritual benefits of access to quality green space.
The Greenway also will help connect Santa Rosa to other nearby parks and open spaces, including: direct connections to Spring Lake Regional Park, and Trione Annadel, and with planned improvements, Sonoma Valley Trail to the east, and to the Prince Memorial Greenway and West County trails to the west.
It will support connecting Santa Rosa in new ways via active transportation and recreational bike and pedestrian opportunities, including: to SMART, downtown, and beyond.
Leadership
The Southeast Greenway is property of the City of Santa Rosa and the project is managed by the City in collaboration with Sonoma Land Trust and other partner agencies.
Funding
The Project is currently funded through Park Development Impact (PDI) fees, a Priority Conservation Area grant program by the Bay Area Metropolitan Transportation Commission, and funds from the Sonoma Land Trust made possible by generous donors.
Additional funds for this project will be sourced from a combination of funds including public agency grants and private fundraising efforts.
A Grassroots Story
The land currently making up the Greenway was originally acquired by Caltrans between 1952 and 1972 in order to expand Highway 12 from Farmers Lane east through Spring Lake Park, all the way to Melita Road.
In 1989, residents successfully opposed the addition of a bridge across Spring Lake from the Highway 12 realignment plan.
Since then, several milestones have kept the Greenway a community led vision to transform a vacant corridor into 47 acres or park amenities, trails, natural open spaces, and community gathering places that residents across Santa Rosa can enjoy.
2009
Several neighbors from the Neighborhood Association for Bennett Valley formed the Southeast Greenway Campaign, bringing new energy to the community movement.
2011
The Greenway was selected for a community planning grant process in which over 300 community members participated.
2014
The campaign formed formal partnerships with elected officials, the City of Santa Rosa, and county agencies. This group developed a plan to acquire the property.
2024
The City of Santa Rosa and partners, Sonoma Land Trust, and Southeast Greenway Campaign Committee finalized an agreement with Caltrans to sell the Southeast Greenway property to be used as “Land for Public Purpose in Perpetuity.”
Questions or comments?
Contact the project team at info@SoutheastGreenway.org
Support the Greenway!
Be part of the community-led Santa Rosa Southeast Greenway. Sign up for email updates to find out about upcoming events and ways to share your feedback.