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The San Geronimo Golf Course is an 18-hole public course that spans 157-acres at the center of the San Geronimo Valley floor near the villages of Woodacre, San Geronimo, Forest Knolls, and Lagunitas. The course was constructed in 1965, intended for use as a private course, but was unsuccessful in selling enough memberships to support the course and soon converted to a public course which remained the primary use of the property until it was listed for sale in 2017. After an independent, expert analysis indicated the golf course was unlikely to survive at the location, rapid action was needed to ensure the property did not fall into the hands of a developer so that the community could continue to benefit from the land and influence its future use. Marin County and the Trust for Public Land worked together to acquire the property. Today, the future use of the property hangs in question as a lawsuit has delayed public acquisition of the property and planning efforts.
In the fall of 2017, the San Geronimo Golf Course was listed for sale, an offer was made and accepted by the Trust for Public Land (TPL) and Marin County Parks (Parks). The intention of the purchase is to maintain the San Geronimo Valley's rural character for future generations by creating a public park and restoring critical habitat.
TPL acquired ownership of the property at the end of December 2017, with the intention to transfer the title to Parks for 50% of the total purchase price. On December 12, 2017, Marin County's Board of Supervisor's approved Parks' plans to acquire the property and Parks took over management and planning. As a result, Parks began seeking funds for public planning and to finalize the County purchase from TPL. Golf operations also ceased at this time. In response to public concerns over the removal of golf during the planning process, Parks promised to find an interim operator to resume golf for two-years while the County moved through the public planning and visioning process.
The Marin County Board of Supervisors adopted the December 12, 2017 Resolution Number 2017-135 approving the purchase of the golf course property. Following the Resolution, the San Geronimo Advocates (an organized group of golfers and residents), filed a lawsuit arguing that Marin County failed to meet the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). In July 2018, the Marin County Superior Court blocked Parks' ability to complete the purchase and begin the public visioning and planning process by issuing an injunction, stating that the "County committed to a 'project' that included not only the purchase of property, but a definite course of action that required CEQA analysis, without having engaged in such analysis."
The injunction stops all efforts for fundraising, public planning, and prevents Parks from providing ranger programming for the public like art in the park, biking with a ranger, etc.
In addition, the lawsuit could set a dangerous precedent for conservation projects throughout the state by challenging the CEQA categorical exemption when creating parks and open space.
The opportunity to set aside land and conserve habitat for species is not something that frequently occurs. Most land is developed for use by humans leaving very little habitat for other species to flourish. The San Geronimo property is located in an important area that has ecological and community benefits.
The conversion of the property to a park and restoration of habitat will create several ecological benefits for the upper watershed of Lagunitas Creek and Tomales Bay watershed that will improve endangered coho salmon and threatened steelhead trout habitats and water quality, minimize and/or eliminate the use of fertilizers and pesticides, save water, protect migratory birds and other native wildlife, and result in additional tree plantings.
The property is uniquely positioned and borders the San Geronimo Valley Community Center, middle school, and elementary schools. Utilizing the existing pathways on the property for pedestrian and bicycle traffic will remove children from the high traffic, small shoulder of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. In addition, the Community Center, middle school, and elementary schools could utilize the network of pathways for safe access for increased educational opportunities to access Roy’s Redwoods Marin County Open Space Preserve and other areas of San Geronimo Valley for activities including field trips and exercise.
Creating a park will serve a broad base of community constituents, provide several critical environmental benefits, and be a lasting legacy and gift to the current and future generations of Marin County and the San Geronimo Valley.
You can help by submitting a letter to the Marin County Board of Supervisors letting them know you support creating a park! Just complete the below form and you will be routed to a letter you can edit. A copy of the letter will also be sent to TPL.
Please make sure to add your personal thoughts about why creating a park matters to you. Whether you love fish, birds, open space, cycling, or walking your dog. It is important to remind our local elected officials that a park has more than one use and has broad community support!
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