August 22, 2024
FAIRFIELD — Linda Seifert and nine of her friends some 15 years ago gathered in her living room to discuss what they viewed as a threat to hundreds of acres of centuries old oak woodlands and connected vistas along Rockville Road.
Land speculators had purchased the property and were planning a 360-home gated community.
The first 10 concerned citizens became 20, then 50 and then hundreds of Solano County residents rallied against the development.
“That project changed my life,” said Seifert, who parlayed that work into a seat on the Solano County Board of Supervisors.
The two-term supervisor, retired to San Luis Obispo since 2017, returned to the park space Wednesday for a ribbon cutting and christening of the former Rockville Trails Preserve to the 1,500-acre Patwino Worrtla Kodoi Dihi Open Space Park.
Leland Kinter, treasurer on the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation tribal council, blessed the park in the Patwin language.
The park name is pronounced Put.win.no War.klaw Kaw.doy De.he and means “Southern Rock Home of the Patwin People.”
Kinter schooled the more than 100 attendees on the proper pronunciation, noting particularly, that in the native language, the letter “r” is rolled.
It was appropriate, then, that just minutes before that Nicole Braddock, executive director of the Solano Land Trust, noted that parks and open spaces can be the “greatest classrooms.”
And so, Patwino Worrtla Kodoi Dihi Open Space Park, with its 14 miles of trails, including an All People’s Trail for visitors of all physical abilities, will become just that with interactive signage and other learning opportunities.
The trails will be open for hikers, bicyclists and equestrians.
“Wow, we’re here; we did it,” an exuberant Braddock exulted. “Oh gosh, it has taken so
long.”
The Land Trust purchased the property from Rockville Trails Estates, first 300 acres and then 1,700 acres, for $13.5 million in 2012. Next came a drive to establish a $2 million endowment, proceeds of which are set aside to care for the property. That campaign was completed in May 2014. Another nearly $4 million has been spent to develop the park trails and other amenities.
A private function was held Tuesday night to thank the principal donors. There is also
public money included.
“On July 25, 2023, the Board (of Supervisors) approved a 10-year forgivable construction loan in the amount of $750,000 to the Solano Land Trust to offset their initial startup construction costs to open the park, including the parking lot, entrance road and restroom installations. The loan is reduced by $75,000 each year our agreement remains valid, which will result in a zero balance after 10 years,” the county stated.
“In addition to the forgivable construction loan, the annual cost to the county was expected to be $418,293 the first year, $298,005 the second year and $306,945 in the third year. These costs include one park ranger, one park aide, patrol equipment, vehicles, security, asset upkeep, volunteer and cleaning material costs.”
Fairfield also contributed to the park, but those contributions were not immediately available.
Supervisor Wanda Williams, who once worked for the Solano Land Trust, gushed over the vision coming into reality.
She had gone to the Solano Land Trust to learn more about the organization.
Her two sons, Michael and David, cherished the Access Adventures activities at another Land Trust property, Rush Ranch, and soon found herself having “volunteered” to be on a committee looking at how to best provide public access to the new future park.
Later, she would go to work for the group and still sits on the board of directors.
Williams said her sons, both having passed, would have loved taking their wheelchairs up the All People’s Trail, which had more than a little bit of Williams’ own ideas and input blazed into it.
Another 2.1-mile trail section will be named after Doris Klein, a driven advocate for the 550-mile Bay Ridge Trail, which now includes that part of the Patwino park, connecting to other sections of the trail in Solano and across to Napa County.
“The long-awaited, multi-use trail winds through gatherings of blue and live oaks and up to ridges that overlook Suisun Valley and beyond,” a brochure by the Bay Area Ridge Trail council states in honor of Klein.
About 413 miles of the trail are open – 40 of which are in Solano County. When done, the full trail will connect more than 75 parks and open space preserves, the organization said.
The park is also part of the state’s Golden Bear Pass system.
The ribbon-cutting event – requiring sharp cuts through two stretched ribbon locations – has marshaled through flood and disease.
Braddock said that it was during the Covid-19 pandemic that the vision of the full park came into focus for her. It reaffirmed the need for parks and open spaces for the physical and mental well-being.
The connection to its native heritage adds a spiritual connection, too. The park, which opens officially on Saturday, is located at 2061 Rockville Road. It will be open Fridays through Mondays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Parking is $5 per car and $10 for horse trailers.
Other speakers at the event included Laura Livadas, development manager for the Land Trust; Gloria Sandoval, deputy secretary for Natural Resources; Amy Hutzel, executive officer of the California State Coastal Conservancy; and Ryan Mack, deputy director of the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council.
Legislative commendations from Rep. John Garamendi and state Sen. Bill Dodd also
were presented.
Daily Republic August 22, 2024
Patwino Park Celebrates Long Journey to Reality
By Todd R. Hansen