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Greenbelt Alliance In the News

July 2, 2005

County studies regional park possibilities

The nonprofit Solano Land Trust owns the land. It asked the county to open 1,039-acre Lynch Canyon as a park as a first step, with the King and Swett ranches to follow.

The parks issue came up during county's 2005-06 budget hearings this week.

"The fact that we have assembled 5,000 acres in the hot spot of growth in the Bay Area is really a remarkable accomplishment," Brent Schoradt of the Greenbelt Alliance told the Board of Supervisors.

But the board declined to set aside money for a Lynch Canyon park - at least, not yet. The Land Trust estimates one or two rangers are needed at a cost of $100,000 each.

Instead, the Board of Supervisors agreed to help out the Land Trust in a smaller way. It contributed $65,000 the Land Trust needed to go forward with a $260,000 study.

This study will look at how to manage the King and Swett ranches as parks. Such a study already exists for Lynch Canyon.

Supervisor Barbara Kondylis backs having the county open up these hills as a park. But, she noted, a majority of the board wants more answers before taking the initial step with Lynch Canyon.

"You can go top of the line with picnic grounds and all kinds of amenities to just providing some rangers and doing some trails," Kondylis said.

Supervisor Mike Reagan has another concern. He wants to know how a park in the hills can recoup some of its costs. He's mentioned such possibilities as leasing out land for wind turbines.

Doing a management study for the King and Swett ranches will take about 18 months, Land Trust Executive Director Marilyn Farley said.

Whether supervisors reconsider the Lynch Canyon park before then remains to be seen. Supervisors John Silva and John Vasquez are to meet with Land Trust officials this month.

Reach Barry Eberling at 425-4646 Ext. 232 or at beberling@dailyrepublic.net.

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