Plans to transform a two-mile strip of land into Santa Rosa’s version of Central Park are a big step closer to becoming reality. The state of California signed off on releasing the land this week. That allows Santa Rosa to next purchase the land in the eastern part of the city and start developing it into park land. Finalizing the sale and developing the recreation space may take months to years. The land was initially going to be used to extend Highway 12 from Farmers Lane through Spring Lake Regional Park.