Solano County is a stunningly beautiful place with thriving agriculture, which includes some of the richest fruit growing soil in the state. It abounds in oak savannas, rolling hills and rocky outcrops, and miles of wetlands, making it one of the waterfowl hotspots of the Bay Area.
Ninety percent of Solano County’s 430,000 residents live within one of the county’s seven cities—from water-front towns like Benicia and Suisun City to bustling job centers like Fairfield to the farming communities of Dixon and Rio Vista.
Over the years, Greenbelt Alliance has worked with partners like the Orderly Growth Committee to institute groundbreaking policies that encourage smart growth within existing towns and cities and promote the protection of Solano County’s natural and agricultural heritage.
In January 2017, Greenbelt Alliance committed to an even deeper level of involvement in Solano County, opening a new office in downtown Fairfield.
We’re now working with local partners to create a regional park and open space district for Solano County. These districts have proven exceptionally effective at protecting and stewarding greenbelt lands and expanding local recreational opportunities.
Solano is the only county in the Bay Area that does not have a parks and open space district.
The district could provide essential resources for beloved areas such as Lagoon Valley, Mare Island Shoreline Heritage Preserve, and Rockville Hills Regional Park.
The Solano County Board of Supervisors strongly support creating a park and open space district and are working with community members in a visioning process. Establishing a district will require a countywide ballot measure.
Greenbelt Alliance is also working to renew the city of Fairfield’s urban growth boundary before it expires in 2020. These boundaries draw distinct lines where communities can and cannot grow, and are essential to stopping sprawl development. And we’re supporting the implementation of the Heart of Fairfield Plan, which lays out a vision for making downtown Fairfield an even better place to live.
Our Goals in Solano County
- Create a countywide park and open space district in Solano County by securing support for ballot measures that establish and fund the district.
- Renew urban growth boundaries in Fairfield by 2020 and in Benicia by 2023.
- Foster thriving, walkable neighborhoods with new homes, shops, and jobs for people across the income spectrum, as proposed in the Heart of Fairfield Plan.
- Build a new constituency of Solano residents invested and interested in “good growth” policies.
Take Action
https://www.greenbelt.org/actions/send-a-letter-to-support-a-solano-county-park-and-open-space-district/
Our Work
Our Partners: Orderly Growth Committee, Solano Trails Advocacy Group, Solano Sierra Club, Sustainable Solano
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