Monte Rio park expansion gets key funding boost

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors approved Regional Parks’ application for an $8 million state grant to help acquire 1,517 acres of forestland near Monte Rio for park expansion.

Save the Redwoods League intends to purchase the property from Mendocino Redwood Co. and transfer it to Sonoma County Regional Parks by summer 2025, expanding the current 515-acre park to over 2,000 acres.

The acquisition will connect protected land from the Russian River to the Pacific Ocean, according to Misti Arias, general manager of Sonoma County Ag + Open Space, who stated: “This project is an exciting piece of a much larger puzzle.”

The property contains young-growth redwoods, Douglas fir, oak woodlands, and watershed areas supporting the Russian River, providing habitat for endangered coho salmon and steelhead trout, plus a 14-foot-diameter old-growth redwood.

Sonoma County Ag + Open Space District has pledged up to $6 million toward acquisition costs, while Save the Redwoods League and Sonoma Land Trust are raising the remaining $4 million through donations, with an anonymous donor tripling contributions through March 31.

Supervisor Lynda Hopkins characterized the opportunity as “a once-in-a-generation chance to protect a vital part of Sonoma County’s natural heritage.”

Sonoma County Regional Parks launched a community survey to gather public input on amenities and future uses for the expanded park.

Regional Parks Director Bert Whitaker noted: “Eventually, hikers could journey continuously from Monte Rio to the coast through protected forests.”

Once secured by summer 2025, the expansion property will undergo a separate planning phase with additional community involvement opportunities, while a new trailhead parking area at the current park nears completion.