Regional Parks Newsletter
December 2020
What does the stay-home order means for parks?
Couple in face coverings at Doran Beach
Due to the rise in COVID-19 cases, Sonoma County has joined other Bay Area counties in preemptively adopting the state's regional stay-home restrictions. The rules now in effect through Jan. 9 recognize that outdoor activity is critical for our health and do not limit access to parks, beaches and playgrounds.

However, the latest health order does prohibit camping, so we have closed all regional park campgrounds. And with health officials urging us not to gather with members of other households, we have cancelled in-person programs and events as well.

Your parks and trails remain essential resources for you. Please continue to practice physical distancing when you visit and wear your mask when you're near others.

For more information about park safety guidelines, check our COVID-19 status page. For the latest on Sonoma County's coronavirus resources, go to SoCoEmergency.org.
Time outside can be the best gift of all
A constant throughout this past year is the knowledge that getting outside and enjoying nature is important. The parks provide health benefits – physical, emotional and mental - for many Sonoma County residents and visitors.

Now more than ever, the gift of time outdoors is a meaningful way to support the well-being of family, friends, clients and co-workers. With a Regional Parks gift membership, you can give a year of easy access to Doran Beach, Spring Lake, Riverfront, Taylor Mountain and more than 50 other parks, a night of camping and other oppportunities to get outside in 2021. Plus, all membership proceeds go directly toward operating the parks.
  
Holiday-themed gift memberships are available now at REI, Oliver's Markets, Sebastopol Hardware, Garrett Ace Hardware in Windsor and Healdsburg, Copperfield's Books in Petaluma and Sonoma Outfitters, Fleet Feet Sports and Trek Bicycle in Santa Rosa.

Thank you for being a member of the parks community. We wish you safe holidays and a brighter 2021.
Hiking suggestions: Some favorite trails for winter
With so many uncertainties to contend with this year, one thing we can be grateful for is Sonoma County's moderate winters. The hiking doesn't stop this time of year. To the contrary, conditions can be ideal: The air is crisp, the skies are spectacular, and the landscape is lush. Here are some of our favorite parks and trails for the season.  
Virtual activities to keep us connected
Although we've canceled in-person activities and events, per the latest stay-home order, we still have virtual activities to entertain you and help you learn more about your parks.

Our naturalists go live on Facebook at 2:30 p.m. every Thursday to share a little about who and what make the parks so special. Our Wild Words book club convenes online each month to discuss the natural world through literature.

And on our Nearby Nature page, you can download a coloring page, find a quest to hike with your family or watch a webinar about Sonoma County's wonders.
Year-end giving that helps your parks
Planning your year-end charitable giving? Please remember the Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation, which helps fund park programs and improvements.

Donations to the nonprofit Parks Foundation will help fund fire recovery at Foothill and Hood Mountain, build new trails at Taylor Mountain, expand our youth programs and protect habitat like the rare vernal pools at Sonoma Valley Regional Park.

Foundation board members are matching total year-end donations up to $25,000, so a contribution today will make an even bigger impact.
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Sonoma County Regional Parks
707-565-2041