Parks Foundation helps create Doran Visitor Center

In response to demonstrated interest from the public, Regional Parks opened the Doran Visitor Center in August 2017. The visitor center is located in a trailered cabin parked near the boardwalk.

Doran Park rangers and staff developed a variety of interactive displays that interpret the diverse habitats found at Doran: the sand dunes, ocean, wetlands and intertidal zone. The exhibits include the preserved skeleton of a sea lion, a children’s discovery activities and touch table, and large interpretive panels created by local artist Molly Eckler illustrating the habitats of Doran Regional Park and the Sonoma Coast.

The long-awaited Doran Visitor Center provides an enhanced experience for park goers to learn about the local flora and fauna of the area, purchase park memorabilia, and ask questions of Regional Parks’ trained volunteers at the center.

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Generous donor funds new restrooms and trail work at Doran Beach

In 2016 and 2017, the Parks Foundation received generous grants totaling $170,000 from the Peter E. Haas, Jr. Family Fund to construct a much needed restroom to serve the Gull and Shell Campgrounds at Doran Beach. The Haas family's generous gift enabled Regional Parks to construct a new, more attractive facility featuring flush toilets. The pre-fabricated building, shown on its way the the park, is in full compliance with current accessibility standards.

In addition to making construction of the new restroom possible, the Peter E. Haas Jr. Family Fund granted the Parks Foundation $25,000 towards construction of a new trail connecting the Doran Beach campgrounds to Smith Brothers Road.

The planned trail from the Doran Beach campgrounds to Smith Brothers Road will provide Doran visitors with a much safer alternative than walking or biking along Highway 1.  READ MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT.

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