Sonoma County Close to Making Two New Parks

Two forested properties in Sonoma County are a step closer to becoming public lands. The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors recently approved a combined eight-point-four-million-dollars to buy the 394-acre Russian River Redwoods south of Guerneville and the 384-acre Camp Meeker Forest Open Space north of Occidental. The Camp Meeker land will be open to the public once the deal closes in late September. Ownership and management will change hands from Saint Dorothy’s Rest and the Episcopal Diocese of California to the Camp Meeker Recreation and Parks District. But, public access to the Russian River Redwoods could take up to ten years to get approved. The properties were bought through the tax-supported Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District.