Rohnert Park’s Copeland Creek Trail extension about to break ground

Dozens of people are expected to turn out in Rohnert Park Thursday morning for the long-awaited groundbreaking of an extension to the city’s popular Copeland Creek Trail.

The extension will eventually connect the eastern end of the path on the Sonoma State University campus to Crane Creek Regional Park - about a ?1.5-mile stretch. The construction is expected to be completed in summer 2019 at a cost of about $2.6 million, with ?$1.7 million coming from the city of Rohnert Park and the remainder from the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District, Sonoma State University and Sonoma County Regional Parks.

The project has been in the works for 10 years, but stalled when the recession hit, said Eydie Tacata, management analyst for the city.

The project will be completed in? three phases. The ceremony marks the start of phase one, which will create a route from Petaluma Hill Road east to Crane Creek Regional Park.

“In the general plans of Sonoma County and Rohnert Park, there’s always been an interest in having a regional park that services Rohnert Park,” Tacata said.

You can reach Staff Writer Christi Warren at 707-521-5205 or christi.warren@pressdemocrat.com.