Our Mission & Vision

The mission of the Petaluma River Park Foundation is to meet our vital need for shared space that connects people, art, and nature. When we succeed, the River Park will be a vibrant, welcoming place that fosters a love of nature, sparks creativity, and unifies our community for generations to come.

Connecting People, Art, and Nature

EARLY BEGINNINGS

The McNear Peninsula sat unused for decades until 1996, when City leaders rezoned it as parkland and built a small park at its entrance. In 2018, the 24-acre property went up for sale. A handful of local residents including David Duskin, Darling Gonzalez, Seair Lorentz, and Sean Paul Lorentz mobilized around a vision for an inclusive, culturally-rich, accessible riverfront park for the Petaluma community and beyond. What happened next was kismet—longtime resident Carol McKegney was searching for a home for Huru, a monumental sculpture by Mark di Suvero. Drawn to the Peninsula's potential, these visionaries joined forces, and in 2019 formed the Petaluma River Park Foundation.

Image by Scott Hess

Once the property was purchased, we embarked on the path of turning a dream into reality—creating a community-led outdoor place that enhances the lives of both Petaluma residents and visitors alike.

a park for all

Since our founding, Petaluma River Park Foundation has centered community, from actively engaging the public’s ideas in early planning and park design to cultivating relationships with over 1,000 regional supporters, including the Peter E. Haas Jr. Family Fund.

The Foundation partnered with Sonoma Land Trust to form a coalition of local, mission-aligned organizations to create a Blueprint for Community Engagement—a roadmap that continues to guide the park's equitable development to this day. At the same time, we expanded our Board of Directors to reflect the community's diversity and secured early funding through a major grant from the California State Coastal Conservancy to support the crucial work ahead.

In Fall 2023, we launched the Dream It phase, inviting the entire community to help imagine the future River Park. As many people have historically been excluded from planning parks and public spaces due to race, ethnicity, language, income, age, mobility, gender identity, or sexual orientation, the engagement process was intentionally designed to be welcoming. Working alongside community leaders, creative partner Kimzin Creative and CMG Landscape Architecture, the Foundation engaged more than 1,200 people in shaping the park's vision. Three artists-in-residence led visual arts, graphic design, and spoken word experiences that helped transform community ideas into the park's Concept Plan.

Image by Victoria Webb

As part of the Dream It phase, we hosted events at the park and around town which offered creative ways for the community to share their hopes and dreams for the future park.

Today, Petaluma River Park is in the Build It phase (2025–2029). With the Concept Plan complete and schematic designs finished, the project is advancing through cost estimating, environmental permitting, and fundraising in preparation for construction. We look forward to many more community members and donors shaping the future of this transformative, once-in-a-lifetime park project.


Directed by James Dallara

Feels Like is the joyful result of workshops with community, led by artist Kayatta in collaboration with Petaluma Blacks for Community Development Grapevine Youth Leadership Program, Petaluma Pride, Amor Para Todos, and Petaluma River Park Community Park Designers.

A Model for the Future

We are honored to be nationally recognized for our activities empowering the entire community in the park-making process. Accolades include the California Park & Recreation Society's Innovation Award of Excellence, and the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences Gold Anthem Award for Education, Art & Culture: Community Space. Additionally, the Foundation team shared our model with park leaders nationwide at City Park Alliance’s annual Greater & Greener conference.

We are grateful for the incredible artists who were instrumental in shaping our nationally recognized engagement process.

Frequently Asked Questions

As the Petaluma River Park Foundation advances plans for the new River Park, we want to ensure that our process is as open and transparent as possible. We’ve posted our top FAQs to help everyone learn more about the River Park and our vision and values for the Park’s future. Sign up for our mailing list to ensure you receive important project updates as they become available.

  • The Petaluma River Park is a new public park created by locals. It is a rare piece of wild riverfront land in the heart of downtown Petaluma.

  • The River Park is fully owned and operated by the Petaluma River Park Foundation, a nonprofit organization. Just like a city park, it is open to everyone, and it is free. While the City of Petaluma does not provide direct funding, it does provide in-kind support. The River Park receives its funding from state and regional agencies, as well as individuals and foundations.

  • The mission of the River Park is to meet our vital need for shared space that connects people, art, and nature. When we succeed, Petaluma River Park will be a vibrant, welcoming place that fosters a love of nature, sparks creativity, and unifies our community for generations to come.

  • Petaluma River Park encompasses 35 acres including the majority of the McNear Peninsula and adjacent property across the river at 500 Hopper Street. The land provides a remarkable opportunity to create a significant preserve in the heart of the city—the equivalent of six football fields of open space, just steps from downtown Petaluma.

  • The River Park is being created to serve a broad community of residents of and visitors to Petaluma, Sonoma County, and the Bay Area. We are working together with locals from a wide range of sociocultural backgrounds, ages, and abilities in our community park-building process to ensure that the River Park is a place for all.

  • Following the Dream It phase, the River Park Foundation moved into the Build It phase which includes refining the park’s design, projecting costs, navigating the permitting process, and raising the funds necessary for construction.

  • The Concept Plan was created after several years of deep engagement with the community and design team. The Plan envisions the fundamental components of what the Foundation will build, how it will restore the land, and how it will connect to the community.

  • Visit the park, volunteer, attend an event, make a donation, sign up for the newsletter, and follow us on social media!

  • Current plans call for beginning construction at the River Park in 2028 with celebratory programs and events in 2030. This timeline depends upon various factors, including the final River Park design and the level of funding achieved.

  • To date, funding has been secured from individual donors, private foundations, county and state grants, and local businesses. We will continue to look to these sources, both locally and regionally, to meet our full funding needs. The total budget has not yet been determined, as it depends on final design and programming as informed by the community engagement process.

  • The River Park is intended to serve as a model of tidal marsh and riparian habitat restoration and a prime example of riverbank stabilization that is climate-smart and sea-level rise resilient.

  • Huru is a 38-foot-tall, wind-activated sculpture by Mark di Suvero, an internationally acclaimed sculptor with studios in Petaluma and New York. di Suvero is widely regarded as a pioneer in the use of steel as an art medium and the use of a crane as an artist’s tool. His works are exhibited throughout the world, and in 2010, he received the National Medal of Arts from President Obama.

“My work carries me from New York to Los Angeles and around the world, and here in my own community, it's a privilege and honor and joy to be part of this public placemaking.

Time and time again, I have seen the value and magical alchemy that happens in cities when you create safe, welcoming, and inspiring places for people to gather together in person."

– Stephanie Blake, CEO Skylight; Board Member,
Petaluma River Park Foundation

Board of Directors

The Petaluma River Park Foundation has assembled a stellar Board of Directors, drawing on local talent in the arts, ecology, place-making, community engagement, strategic planning, fundraising, and operations. 

  • BOARD MEMBER

    With extensive experience in education and community engagement supporting immigrants, Ana is the Lead Bilingual Family Mentor for Petaluma Family Resource Center. She is a trusted member of the Latino community and is a skilled communicator and creative thinker who brings people together. Ana studied business administration, child development, and English as a second language.

  • BOARD MEMBER

    Stephanie is CEO of Skylight, a pioneering placemaking firm transforming buildings, districts, and neighborhoods across North America. She provides strategic vision for Skylight by fusing her passion for history, culture, and architecture with her marketing and tech background. She delivers unique solutions to drive revenue in underutilized spaces. Upon graduating from Yale University with a degree in History, Stephanie spent half a decade with Google in the Bay Area, Buenos Aires, and New York. She sits on the junior board of Creative Time, the General Plan Advisory Council to the city of Petaluma, the Yale Real Estate Association, Yale Women in Bay Area, and is active in other nonprofit and arts organizations.

  • BOARD MEMBER

    Dave is a retired National Park Service executive with over 40 years of experience in public land management, facilities stewardship, and real estate operations. He retired in 2022 as Superintendent of San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. His background includes facilities management, project development, property appraisal, financing, rehabilitation, and long-term asset management. A native of Boston, he relocated to Petaluma in 1990. Dave has been active in the Petaluma community through volunteer leadership with neighborhood and youth organizations and currently serves on the board of the Petaluma Golf and Country Club. With the Petaluma Park Project, he supports governance, facilities stewardship, and strategic planning to sustain community green spaces

  • BOARD MEMBER

    “Peetz” is a landscape architect whose nearly 40-year career with the National Park Service focused on park planning and design, cultural landscape preservation, and advancing inclusive access to park resources. She has volunteered on local climate and community resilience efforts, including serving as a Cool Block leader, supporting the launch of the Cool Petaluma initiative. She retired in 2023 and continues her stewardship and advocacy work through a partnership with the Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program. She is fluent in Spanish and enjoys traveling, hiking, gardening, art, dancing, and time with her two sons.

  • BOARD CHAIR

    Trained as an artist, blacksmith, and metal fabricator, David has a B.A. in Art and English Literature and a Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture. Building on his formal education and a series of apprenticeships, David is working on both public and private commissions and teaching graduate students at Academy of Art University in San Francisco.

  • BOARD MEMBER

    Ned, a Marine Corp Veteran, moved to Petaluma in 1976 from Southern California to open the restaurant, Steamer Gold Landing, which was located on the Petaluma River in the Great Petaluma Mill. It was open for 25 years! Ned has extensive experience in Construction, Development, Fundraising and Executive Management. He has worn many hats throughout his career. Ned was the president of Alpha Properties Management, a subsidized housing business overseeing Section 8 apartments. He was also a board member and founder of a successful local bank, The Bank of Petaluma. Ned and his wife, Sally, have been and continue to be enthusiastic supporters of Petaluma River Park!

  • BOARD MEMBER

    Ray has 25 years of experience in nonprofit executive management. Most recently, he served as Director of Operations and subsequently, Interim Executive Director at the Marin Agricultural Land Trust. Currently, he is the principal of Fortitude Consulting, which provides forensic accounting, system development, and provides interim CFO services to a variety of nonprofits. Ray is an avid road biker and canoeist.

  • BOARD MEMBER

    Rebecca has a background in business, education, and community organizing, with a BA in History/ Political Science from the University of New Mexico. She and her husband, Dr. Stephen Fuette, have raised three young men (Luke, Zach, and Jonas) in Petaluma. She most recently served as a Bilingual Kindergarten Aide at McKinley Elementary, where she supported Spanish-speaking students and families. Her extensive volunteerism includes leadership roles with St. Vincent’s Elementary Parent Association & SVHS PFO Board, Sonoma Academy Parent Association & is currently in her 5th year as a Sonoma Academy Board of Trustee. She has spearheaded numerous school events, fundraisers, served on several committees and student belonging initiatives, demonstrating her commitment to fostering inclusive and supportive educational environments.

  • BOARD MEMBER

    Eliza is a trained field biologist who also works and volunteers in public health. Eliza cares for vulnerable populations, whether they are human, plant, or animal. She holds a BS degree from UC Santa Cruz in Ecology and Evolution and has spent nearly a decade participating in ecology field research in many ecosystems around the world. She’s an avid paddler, kayaking for field work and for fun, as well as a certified yoga instructor.

  • BOARD MEMBER

    Tatiana Mora Liautaud is a Project Director with extensive expertise in non-profit leadership focusing on systematic, social, and economic development. Through her multifaceted career, which includes roles such as Project Director at PRODEV in Haiti and as co-founder of FotoKonbit, Tatiana has demonstrated a profound commitment to community-driven education and empowerment. Tatiana served as the Sr. Project Manager at Downtown Streets Team in Petaluma providing a pathway to recovery from homelessness through innovative team-building and community service strategies. She is now the Community Services and Development Director for Rebuilding Together Petaluma, where she assists, coaches, develops, and encourages folks through the barriers of attaining permanent employment and housing. 

  • BOARD SECRETARY

    Sean Paul is a sculptor whose work is often kinetic and interacts with the viewer, requiring their participation for its activation and movement. He is an expert metalworker and is the West Coast Studio Manager for Mark di Suvero (Spacetime cc).

  • BOARD MEMBER

    Brand consultant and former worldwide creative director for the Intel Corporation, Susan is a gifted visual strategist who brings her expertise in integrated marketing, creative direction, and strategic partnerships to the Petaluma River Park Foundation. Her identity as a leading brand authority stems from her work with Steve Jobs, Doug and Susie Tompkins, Lester Barnett, and Peter Drucker.

  • BOARD MEMBER

    Donna has nearly 40 years of experience in Parks and Recreation across California, including 13 years as Director in Windsor, where she founded the People4Parks Foundation. Now retired, she serves on nonprofit boards, is part of the Windsor Impact Giving Circle, and consults for Blue Point Planning. In Los Altos, she led the development of a LEED Gold recreation center honoring the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe and advanced JEDI principles in partnership with the County’s LGBTQ Affairs Office.

  • BOARD TREASURER

    As a CPA and audit partner in the Not-for-Profit Service Group with Hood & Strong LLP, Jorge works in public accounting and has developed a niche of clients that work in the climate and conservation areas. He serves on the board of the Santa Rosa Junior College Foundation, and formerly served on the boards of the Petaluma National Little League, Petaluma Community Foundation, and the Petaluma Youth Commission.

  • BOARD VICE CHAIR

    With a strong background in communications and production, Deb is an active volunteer in the Petaluma community. Among other positions, she served on the board of the Petaluma Educational Foundation and was a co-producer of Seniors on Screen, a Class of 2021 Initiative. She is drawn to the Petaluma River Park project because of its tenet of attracting diverse community members to engage with nature through recreation, education, the arts, and land stewardship.

Emeritus Board

  • Darling is a co-founder of Petaluma River Park.  She was also a founding member of the foundation's Board of Directors and served until 2024 when the board inducted her into its Emeritus Board.  Darling was born and raised in the Philippines.  She studied, taught, and practiced Industrial Design there before moving to the US.  Darling is a mother of two wonderful boys and runs an art business with her husband, David.

Staff Members

The River Park team brings extensive knowledge of the Petaluma community, as well as expertise in strategic planning, park-making, fundraising, community engagement, and marketing to the project.

  • EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Born and raised in Petaluma, Seair became Executive Director of the Petaluma River Park Foundation in 2021. She is one of the original founders, visionaries, and volunteer developers of the project to purchase McNear Peninsula and transform it into a community park. Seair has held multiple marketing and community outreach positions in the Bay Area, including with the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Headlands Center for the Arts, The Culinary Institute of America, Redwood Hill Farm & Creamery, and Griffo Distillery. She holds a dual MBA and MA in Museum Studies from John F. Kennedy University and earned a BA in History from UC Santa Cruz.

  • PARK KEEPER

    Travis joined the team in 2026, bringing resilience, determination, and a genuine appreciation for the outdoors. He enjoys the satisfaction of caring for the park’s landscapes and helping preserve a space where the community can relax, explore, and connect with nature. Travis believes that even the small details of maintaining a park can have a lasting impact on the people who visit it. He also works with Rebuilding Together Petaluma, a local nonprofit dedicated to helping the community. 

  • PARK KEEPER

    Kyle joined the park in 2026 while in school to become a firefighter. A Petaluma native, he is a graduate of Santa Rosa Junior College and Sonoma State University with a B.A. in Environmental Studies, focused in Urban Planning. Kyle is interested in the interaction between humans and the natural world and enjoys working outdoors and engaging with the community. 

  • DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

    Marge became Development Director in 2022 after three years of fundraising for the Petaluma River Park Foundation as a volunteer while working as Senior Director of Development for the Green Music Center at Sonoma State University. She is a career-long nonprofit manager and fundraiser, including more than 10 years at The Nature Conservancy. Marge has an MPA with a focus on environmental policy and nonprofit management from North Carolina State University and a BA in Mass Communications from the University of Delaware.

  • OPERATIONS MANAGER

    Alex brings her love of people, parks and Petaluma to our team. She has worked in customer relations and office management for several local companies, including Darey Brands and Redwood Hill Farm and Creamery. Bilingual in English and Spanish, Alex also worked in community engagement and as a tutor for California Mini-Corps through the Migrant Education program.

  • DONOR RELATIONS MANAGER

    Devin joined the staff in 2026, bringing experience in fundraising from the Exploratorium in San Francisco and the Redwood Empire Food Bank in Santa Rosa where she focused on fostering meaningful relationships with donors and crafting intentional fundraising events. Her passion for the park’s mission stems from previous work with the City of Santa Rosa Recreation and Parks Department. She holds a BA in Sociology from UC Davis, with a focus on people and society, shaping her dedication to community-centered public spaces.

  • COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER

    Pam joined the River Park team in Fall 2023, bringing passion, dedication, and an ‘all-hands on deck’ attitude to community-building for the River Park. Her record of equity-focused community engagement work is strong and varied, from teaching college students about race and diversity to national service with Americorps VISTA to planning and managing local outreach events. She served as a Board Advisor for the Latino Health Forum and lead organizer for the 2017 and 2018 North Bay Women of Color Conference. Pam holds an MA in Education and a BA in English from Sonoma State University.

  • OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

    With a multidisciplinary professional background spanning operations, community-centered development, and the built environment, Bridgett joined the staff in 2026. Most recently, she served as Executive Director of Sienna Ranch—a youth environmental education program—directing organizational operations, regenerative land management initiatives, and strategic brand development. Previously, she spent more than a decade in the Bay Area architecture and design industry. She holds a BA in Environmental Studies and Earth Science from UC Santa Cruz, and is deeply committed to nurturing the next generation of environmental stewards.

  • COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR

    After wowing the team in her role as a Community Engagement intern, Alexsandra was promoted to a staff position in 2026. While earning her B.A. in Sociology from Sonoma State University, she conducted qualitative research as a Research Assistant on perinatal health and completed her undergraduate thesis project on the connections of beauty, consumption, and maternal health. She hopes to make meaningful contributions to the community and is thrilled to work alongside a team striving to create a vibrant space for the public to embrace and enjoy. 

Committed Supporters

These individuals and organizations have expressed support for this project and have served as allies, advisors, and partners.

Ag + Open Space, Sonoma County

Basin Street Properties

Bay Area Ridge Trail

Blue Zones Project Petaluma

Marnie Burke de Guzman, Strategic Cultural Planning and Arts Production

California State Coastal Conservancy

Josiah Clark, Ecologist

Damon Connolly, California State Assemblymember

Bill Dodd,
California State Senator

California Trout

City of Petaluma

Conservation Corp North Bay

Committee on the Shelterless (COTS)

Daily Acts

Downtown Streets Team

Friends of the Petaluma River

Phil Ginsburg, Parks Advocate

Healthy Petaluma

Jared Huffman,
U.S. Congressman

Thom Knudson,
Trust and Estate Attorney

Debra Lehane, Arts Consultant/Independent Curator

Sylvia Lemus,
Cotati Mayor

Mike McGuire,
California State Senator

Ivana Mestrovich, Athena Foundation

Kelly Nice, Co-Founder and Partner, Nice & Company

North Bay Organizing Project

Rachel Osajima, Public Art Advocate

Julie Parish, Parks Advocate

Petaluma Blacks for Community Development

Petaluma Downtown Association

Petaluma Small Craft Center

Petaluma Wetlands Alliance

Point Blue Conservation Science

Armando Quintero, California Department of Parks and Recreation

Rebuilding Together Petaluma

REI Cooperative Action Fund

ReLeaf Petaluma

Rotary International

Merlin Schlumberger, Arborist

Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District

Sonoma Land Trust

Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit

Trust for Public Land

Urban Land Institute

Major Contributors

Anonymous

California State Coastal Conservancy

California Wildlife Conservation Board

Peter E. Haas Jr. Family Fund

Mick and Sabrina Hellman

McKegney Family

Metropolitan Transportation Commission

Ned & Sally Foley

Robinwood Foundation

Saba Foundation

State of California

SEals of Approval

Priority Project – SF Bay Joint Venture

Priority Project – Petaluma Watershed Collaborative

Community Partners

North Bay Organizing Project

Our House, SRJC Petaluma

Petaluma Arts Center

Petaluma Blacks for Community Development

Petaluma BOUNTY

Petaluma Boys and Girls Club

Petaluma Downtown Association

Petaluma Health Center

Petaluma Historic Chinatown Park Committee

Petaluma Historic Library and Museum

Petaluma People Services

Petaluma Pride

Petaluma Relations Council

Amor Para Todos

AVANCE McDowell and
McKinley Elementary

Blue Zones Project Petaluma

Boys and Girls Clubs of Sonoma-Marin

Café Puente

Children’s Museum Sonoma County

Conservation Corps North Bay

Committee on the Shelterless (COTS)

Daily Acts

Downtown Streets Team

Friends of the Petaluma River

LandPaths

Life on Art

Petaluma Senior Center

Petaluma Village Network

Point Blue Conservation Science

Raizes Collective

Rebuilding Together Petaluma

ReLeaf Petaluma

SRJC Petaluma’s “Our House”
Intercultural Center

SRJC CalWorks

Sonoma County Regional Parks

Sonoma Land Trust

Sonoma Resource Conservation District

St. Vincent Church Petaluma

This list does not include the more than 900 additional individuals and organizations
who have made financial contributions to this work.

Dream Team

From Dream It to Build It to Love It, Petaluma River Park Foundation continues to engage a Dream Team to guide us through the process. We are delighted to have the following people and many more remarkable consultants on board.

  • PUBLIC PLACE MAKERS

    CMG Landscape Architecture leads on design, applying their expertise in placemaking and waterfront park planning to create an artful and inspired site plan. Our project is led by Principal Jamie Phillips and Associate Principal Lauren Stahl, whose projects have included Crissy Field Next, Flood Park, and Treasure Island: Parks + Open Space.

  • RESTORATION ROCKSTARS

    Our longtime partners Maggie Jensen and Brian Bartell of Prunuske Chatham Inc. (PCI) shepherd the project’s environmental restoration goals and help us navigate the regulatory, permitting, and environmental compliance domain as we work towards a climate-resilient and environmentally sound plan for the Petaluma River Park.

  • PARK PIONEER

    Park visionary, Greg Moore, serves as strategic advisor. Greg is Founder and Past President & CEO of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy and is a leader and consultant to some of the most exciting park projects in North America and around the world.

  • COMMUNITY CONNECTORS

    Dr. Daniela Domínguez and Nikko Kimzin of Petaluma-based Kimzin Creative direct our art-forward, community-led engagement strategy with a focus on involving historically marginalized communities. They have worked with organizations across the Bay Area to amplify and center equity in planning processes.

Community Park Designers

The Community Park Designers (CPD) program is a cohort-based initiative empowering community members with direct decision-making in shaping the future of Petaluma River Park. Thank you to the members of the past cohorts whose roles ensured that the park’s creation and sustainability align with the diverse vision of the community by prioritizing inclusivity and accessibility for all residents and visitors.

  • Cohort 1 (2024-2025) worked closely with our staff and Dream Team to carry forward the community's vision for the park, leading to the final Concept Plan and guiding principles for the Foundation.

    Members: Ann, Blair, Claudia, Dahlia, Dalya, Emelina, Faith, Howard, Humaira, Josue, Lina, Maria, Martin, Nzinga, Ri, and Tatiana

  • Cohort 2 (2025-2026) began as the River Park entered the Build It phase. Their roles included advising on design phases, activating community programs, and advocating for inclusive access and usage of the park.

    Members: Carina, Dalya, Ellyn, Emelina, Estrella, Faith, Maria, Mario, Mau, and Tej