Share your vision for Carrington Coast Ranch Regional Park and Open Space Preserve

Sonoma County Regional Parks seeks community input to help shape the future of Carrington Coast Ranch Regional Park and Open Space Preserve on the Sonoma Coast. The department is creating a master plan to guide the property’s development, public access, recreational and educational uses, and habitat enhancements. The public is encouraged to share their desires, thoughts, and feedback by taking an online survey at SoCoParks.org/Carrington-Ranch, now through Sept. 30, 2023.

The 332-acre future regional park is located next to the Sonoma Coast State Park, adjacent to Highway 1 and north of Salmon Creek. The property is primarily open grassland with expansive views of the Sonoma coastline and Salmon Creek meeting the Pacific Ocean. It also contains a historic farmhouse and homestead from the 1800s, wrapped in a windbreak of Monterey cypress trees.

The property is notable for its location near other publicly owned coastal land, offering diversity in outdoor activities that complement the nearby beach experience. A future section of the 1,200-mile California Coastal Trail runs through the Carrington property, potentially providing a safe route for hikers, cyclists and equestrians between Marshall Gulch and Salmon Creek.

The property that comprises Carrington Coast Ranch was transferred from the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District (Sonoma Ag + Open Space) to Sonoma County Regional Parks in December 2020, with Sonoma Ag + Open Space contributing $1,450,900 towards studies, planning, design, engineering and construction. Planning for the park’s future opening has been ongoing since then, and public Park Preview Days, co-hosted with Ag + Open Space, have been giving the community glimpses of this property’s potential.

An additional $150,000 in funding is being provided by the California State Coastal Conservancy for master planning, resource management, design of a new section of the California Coastal Trail, and a Camping Feasibility Study. Regional Parks has identified $650,000 from Parks for All — Measure M funding and $90,000 from park mitigation fees for the project's master planning process and initial public access improvements. The Regional Parks Foundation is also contributing $10,000 to the project.

Public input will be incorporated into developing the master plan alternatives – a process which typically takes 12 to 18 months and involves extensive environmental review – with the goal of creating an accessible park with an emphasis on low-impact recreational activities, interpretive programs, and educational experiences, while balancing ecological protection and enhancement.

The draft alternatives will undergo another public review period, with additional feedback incorporated into the final draft master plan, which is expected to go before the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors for approval next year.

Learn more about the future regional park and take the survey at SoCoParks.org/Carrington-Ranch. There, you can read about the project in detail, view an interactive map and submit questions and feedback. A hard copy of the survey and documents can also be requested by contacting Park Planner Mark Cleveland at Mark.Cleveland@sonoma-county.org or (707) 565-3349.

 
###

Media Contact:
Sarah Phelps, Marketing Specialist
Sonoma County Regional Parks
Sarah.Phelps@sonoma-county.org
(707) 331-9027

Sonoma County Regional Parks provides essential opportunities for people to connect with nature. We contribute to the vibrancy and well-being of our community by expanding access to recreation experiences, serving as responsible stewards of cultural and natural resources, and ensuring that our parks are clean, safe and welcoming. Learn more at SonomaCountyParks.org.