Our community comes together after the fires to support the parks
In October 2017 when wildfires raged throughout Sonoma County, our parks played a critical role, giving first responders space to control the advancing flames. Now as our community continues the process of healing and recovery, Regional Parks once again occupies a central role. Beginning just days after the firestorms subsided, Regional Parks managers and staff worked tirelessly to assess park damage, plan repairs and preventive measures, and create opportunities for both people and nature to heal. Donors like you were exceptionally generous, with 300 individuals from as far away as Chicago donating more than $100,000 for fire recovery!
Here are some of the inspiring projects taking place because of your donations:
- Hood Mountain Pygmy Forest Restoration − Several miles of fire breaks on Hood Mountain contained the fires, but destroyed the park’s rare pygmy forest of Sargent’s Cypress trees. Regional Parks will work with a consulting biologist and students from the Natural Resources Department at Santa Rosa Junior College to restore this globally significant site.
- Nature Heals Programs − Launched in spring 2018, Nature Heals helps local residents recover from the trauma associated with natural disasters by spending time in nature. In particular, the Foundation's Fire recovery Fund has been been paying for bus transportation to enable students from fire-impacted schools to come on field trips at Regional Parks.
- Wildfire Preparedness − Regional Parks is reducing the threat and intensity of future fires by increasing sheep and cattle grazing to reduce fuels, and by hiring crews to create fuel breaks between parklands and neighborhoods.
Regional Parks provide a vital resource for our community, giving fire survivors − and all residents impacted by the fires − a peaceful place to escape stress, breathe fresh air, and relax in nature. Your donation today will support additional opportunities for the parks to restore us, just as we are working to restore the parks.
