Another 20,000 acres of natural lands—from rivers and creeks to the top of Mt. Veeder and the ridges of Skyline Park—could be protected with a proposed new Napa County open space measure. The Napa County Board of Supervisors will decide in late August whether to place a new quarter-cent sales tax before the voters in March 2020.
Greenbelt Alliance is ready to jump in and help pass the measure that would generate $9 million a year to forever protect critical open space lands, improve trails and campsites, and help city parks and recreation.
- At least 52 percent would be spent on preserving watersheds, rivers, lakes, open space and wildlife habitat;
- 25 percent on operating, maintaining and improving open space;
- 20 percent on parks and recreation projects in local cities; and
- 3 percent on administrative overhead.
The measure will open up new and exciting possibilities for open space protections and outdoor experiences for Napa residents and visitors for the next 15 years and beyond. The newly adopted Napa County Regional Parks and Open Space District Master Plan provides illuminating details on multiple projects and plans in the works! These run the gamut from bike trails along the Napa River to trails that lead to the top of Berryessa Peak to a camp and nature trail for the visually impaired.
Since the Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District (Napa Outdoors) was formed in 2006 by a vote of the people, it has operated on monies allocated each year by the supervisors from the county general fund. This has allowed Napa Outdoors to preserve 5,090 acres of open space, open up 53 miles of non-motorized recreational trails, and save two State Parks from closing, including 1,900 acres of forest, a campground and day-use area, and the water-driven Bale Grist Mill, along with many other projects to benefit Napa residents and visitors.
The new open space measure will allow Napa Outdoors to rise to the next level and take on so much more!
In 2016 the Napa County Board of Supervisors placed a similar open space measure on the ballot, which almost passed but fell just 1.9 percent short of the required 2/3 majority.
At Greenbelt Alliance we are committed to partnering with the people of Napa to get the open space measure over the line this time. Please help! As a first step, let the Napa Board of Supervisors know that you support more open space in Napa County.
Take Action
On or before August 20, 2019, please send a short, personal email or call the Napa Board of Supervisors to ask them to put the new Napa open space measure on the ballot.
1195 Third Street
Suite 310
Napa, CA 94559
Phone: 707-253-4386
Use the following contact information to email the Board of Supervisors directly:
- Brad Wagenknecht: brad.wagenknecht@countyofnapa.org
- Ryan Gregory: ryan.gregory@countyofnapa.org
- Diane Dillon: Diane.Dillon@countyofnapa.org
- Alfredo Pedroza: alfredo.pedroza@countyofnapa.org
- Belia Ramos: belia.ramos@countyofnapa.org
For more information about our work in Napa, contact North Bay Regional Director Teri Shore today.
Photo: Jesse Gardner via Unsplash
