Petaluma Adobe targeted for closure

<p>With Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park high on the state list of park closures, Assemblyman Jared Huffman said Thursday he is convening a group of nonprofit and government agencies that he believes will keep it open.</p><p>"I want to be pro-active when the list becomes public," said Huffman, D-San Rafael, who is chairman of the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee. "I think we can put together a group that will keep it open with bailing wire and duct tape."</p><p>His conference Tuesday will include officials from Sonoma County as well as the county's Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District.</p><p>"We have a devastating scenario facing our state parks, so I'm trying to highlight the severity of the funding shortfall, the economic impact and come up with some creative strategies communities can explore to keep their parks open," Huffman said.</p><p>One measure could include an initiative next year for a surcharge on vehicle registration.</p><p>He said he is almost certain the Petaluma Adobe, which is in his district, will be on the hit list because the historic compound on Petaluma's east side has ranked as one of the lowest revenue producers in the state system.</p><p>"Still, there are historical groups and school groups that consider this an important asset," Huffman said. "I think they, along with the county Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District, will be able to work something out."</p><p>The adobe, a registered National Historic Landmark, was constructed by Mexican Gen. Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo starting in 1834 as the main building of his vast, 66,000-acre rancho. It was a working ranch before it was acquired by the state in 1951.</p><p>It drew about 14,000 visitors last year and generated about $9,000 in revenue, said Dave Gould, superintendent of state parks' Diablo Vista District.</p><p>By comparison, three other Vallejo landmarks in Sonoma State Historic Park in the city of Sonoma drew a combined 450,000 people and raised $118,000, Gould said.</p><p>Unlike the Petaluma Adobe, the Sonoma monuments are in the center of a tourist area; the adobe is miles from historic downtown Petaluma near the eastern city limits.</p><p>Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has said closures would be based on such criteria as attendance and revenue. Gould said he was awaiting a final decision sometime next week after initially expecting word two weeks ago.</p><p>"We're holding out a glimmer of hope that the delay is that the budget cut might not be as much as projected," Gould said.</p><p>However, he said if the Petaluma Adobe is on the list, regular operating hours will cease. The park could open for special events, such as the annual Fandango celebration and for school outings, he said.</p><p>Huffman said his office is studying whether the park could be run, at least in part, by volunteers. Also, he said local groups could be tapped for fund raising.</p><p>He acknowledged the adobe's location away from private business makes it a hard sell.</p><p>"It's a low-cost park," Huffman said. "So it's good news and bad news."</p><p>People visiting the Petaluma Adobe on Thursday said it is worth saving.</p><p>Teacher Kim Towsley, who was leading a field trip of 33 fourth- and fifth-graders from San Francisco, said exhibits there such as sheepshearing and wood-fired stoves make "history come alive."</p><p>"I could make candles with them in the classroom, but it's not the same as walking around this place," said Towsley, who teaches at Argonne Elementary School. "It would be very sad if it closed."</p><p>-- You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 762-7297 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com.</p><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xR_x1gOzBOQ&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xR_x1gOzBOQ&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><p>He said he is almost certain the Petaluma Adobe, which is in his district, will be on the hit list because the historic compound on Petaluma’s east side has ranked as one of the lowest revenue producers in the state system.</p><p>â€Ã※“Still, there are historical groups and school groups that consider this an important asset,� Huffman said. â€Ã※“I think they, along with the county Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District, will be able to work something out.�</p><p>The adobe, a registered National Historic Landmark, was constructed by Mexican Gen. Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo starting in 1834 as the main building of his vast, 66,000-acre rancho. It was a working ranch before it was acquired by the state in 1951.</p><p>It drew about 14,000 visitors last year and generated about $9,000 in revenue, said Dave Gould, superintendent of state parks’ Diablo Vista District.</p><p>By comparison, three other Vallejo landmarks in the Sonoma State Historic Park in the city of Sonoma drew a combined 450,000 people and raised $118,000, Gould said.</p><p>Unlike the Petaluma Adobe, the Sonoma monuments are in the center of a tourist area; the adobe is miles from historic downtown Petaluma near the eastern city limits.</p><p>Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has said closures would be based on such criteria as attendance and revenue. Gould said he was awaiting a final decision sometime next week after initially expecting word two weeks ago.</p><p>â€Ã※“We’re holding out a glimmer of hope that the delay is that the budget cut might not be as much as projected,� Gould said.</p><p>However, he said if the Petaluma Adobe is on the list, regular operating hours will cease. The park could open for special events, such as the annual Fandango celebration and for school outings, he said.</p><p>Huffman said his office is studying whether the park could be run, at least in part, by volunteers. Also, he said local groups could be tapped for fundraising.</p><p>He acknowledged the adobe’s location away from private business makes it a hard sell.</p><p>â€Ã※“It’s a low-cost park,� Huffman said. â€Ã※“So it’s good news and bad news.�</p><p>People visiting the Petaluma Adobe on Thursday said it is worth saving.</p><p>Teacher Kim Towsley, who was leading a field trip of 33 fourth and fifth-graders from San Francisco, said exhibits there like sheep-shearing and wood-fired stoves make â€Ã※“history come alive.�</p><p>â€Ã※“I could make candles with them in the classroom, but it’s not the same as walking around this place,� said Towsley of Argonne Elementary School. â€Ã※“It would be very sad if it closed.�</p>